Vaccine News & Notes — October 2017

New booklet helps parents sort out rashes

The VEC released recently a new booklet, Rashes: What You Should Know, which details 19 conditions known to cause rashes including several that are vaccine preventable. Each condition page includes a picture, list of typical symptoms, how long the rash typically lasts, how it spreads, and how to prevent it. The booklet also includes notes on what type of information parents should collect about a rash to share with healthcare providers and a place to record the history of rashes experienced by family members.

The booklet is available in English and Spanish.

Pneumococcal vaccine is for children and older adults

The VEC recently published a new question-and-answer sheet about pneumococcus, which answers common questions about pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal vaccines (PCV13 and PPSV23). Information on the sheet is relevant to both infant and adult pneumococcal vaccine considerations. The sheet is available in English and Spanish.

Influenza vaccine safety

In a recent column for The Daily Beast, Dr. Offit discussed the limitations of a recent CDC study about influenza vaccines during the first trimester of pregnancy.

PBS NewsHour airs segment on school immunization requirements

The approximately eight-minute segment examined several states tightening their immunization requirements while focusing on a current situation in Vermont.