Vaccine News & Notes — February 2024
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Parents PACKDeadline approaching for essay contest submissions
The 2024 Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest is still accepting submissions from students in grades 6 to 12 in the U.S. and Canada, but the deadline is quickly approaching! The last day for submissions is Feb. 15, 2024. Please encourage any students you know to consider submitting an entry. This year’s writing prompt is, “Dr. Hilleman made his impact on the world through the development of vaccines. What scientific issue would you take on if given the chance and why?”
Find out more, including contest rules and prizes, on the Hilleman Film website.
Dr. Offit publishes a new book
If you have read any of Dr. Offit’s previous books, you are familiar with his skill when it comes to presenting complex ideas in an approachable and logical way, often with an injection of humor. Tell Me When It's Over: An Insider's Guide to Deciphering COVID Myths and Navigating Our Post-pandemic World is no exception. The new book, published by National Geographic Books, will be released on Feb. 13, 2024. With the benefit of our collective hindsight, Dr. Offit reviews some of the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic while also describing what to expect moving forward not only when it comes to the virus that causes COVID-19, but also when it comes to future pandemics. Even if you are “tired of COVID,” this book is a quick read that is worth your time, particularly for its dismantling of popular myths and misconceptions about COVID-19 — some of which continue to be heralded as true by large groups of people.
Find out more or pre-order your copy today: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The VEC partners with SciCheck.org
The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) is excited to announce a new partnership with SciCheck.org, a part of FactCheck.org that focuses on “false and misleading scientific claims that are made by partisans to influence public policy.” If you see a science-related claim that you are wondering about, check with SciCheck.org. Each month, we will be sharing a recent article from SciCheck.org on this new page on our Vaccine Update website.
Find out more:
Info about clinical trials
If you have ever wondered about how clinical trials are completed and regulated, check out the Vaccine Makers Project’s recent article, “Spotlight on: Clinical Trials — Testing Medical Advances.” The article, written for the VEC’s newsletter for educators, describes historical aspects of clinical trials, informed consent, how clinical trials are designed, and more. A list of related resources is also included.
Categories: Parents PACK February 2024, Vaccine News & Notes
Materials in this section are updated as new information and vaccines become available. The Vaccine Education Center staff regularly reviews materials for accuracy.
You should not consider the information in this site to be specific, professional medical advice for your personal health or for your family's personal health. You should not use it to replace any relationship with a physician or other qualified healthcare professional. For medical concerns, including decisions about vaccinations, medications and other treatments, you should always consult your physician or, in serious cases, seek immediate assistance from emergency personnel.