Vaccine News & Notes — April 2021

The FTC warns of bogus COVID vaccine surveys

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning consumers of a new scam to steal your money and personal information through a bogus COVID-19 vaccine survey. Scammers promise a free reward in exchange for completing a survey about COVID-19 vaccine. But, the “free reward” comes at a cost. Survey participants are asked to pay a shipping fee to receive their reward. According to the FTC, “No legitimate surveys ask for your credit card or bank account number to pay for a ‘free’ reward.”

Read more and get tips from the FTC.

New COVID-19 videos

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) recently sat down with Dr. Hank Bernstein to discuss some common questions we have been asked about COVID-19. Dr. Bernstein is a Professor of Pediatrics at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and a voting member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The ACIP members reviewed the COVID-19 clinical trial data and made recommendations regarding use of the approved vaccines. Some of the questions Dr. Bernstein answered include:

• Will I Be Able to Get the Coronavirus Vaccine at the Same Time as Other Vaccines?
• Will Booster or Annual Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines Be Needed?
• Can Women Who Are Pregnant Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
• Can I Get the COVID-19 Vaccine If I Am Breastfeeding?

The complete Talking about Vaccines with Dr. Hank Bernstein series is available on the VEC website and YouTube.

Is in-person learning safe during the pandemic?

As schools across the nation return to in-person learning, many parents and students have mixed emotions. While eager for some sense of normalcy, concerns about safety and new protocols are also weighing on families. In the article, “Returning to in-person schooling during COVID-19,” some of our Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia colleagues discuss how to safely return to in-person learning. The article includes:

• Information about schools and COVID-19
• Reminders for a safe return to school
• Answers to common questions parents are asking

Check out the article today.

Jojo wonders...what are VACCINES?

Is your child scared of getting a shot? Jojo is too! In this new children’s book, Jojo wonders...what are VACCINES?, high school freshman, Aimen Patel, helps ease children’s fears by helping them think about vaccinations in the context of how they learned to read.

Find out more or order a copy.