When and where to get your 2024 flu shot — and why it’s particularly important this year
October 23/2024
U of T experts on the flu vaccine, where to get it and why it matters By Ishani Nath None of Jeff Kwong’s patients have asked about the influenza vaccine yet this year — but the family physician and other public health experts want to make sure that getting vaccinated...
Mpox in Ontario: ‘It’s crucial to get a second dose,’ U of T expert says
July 29/2024
Rising mpox cases and a new variant of the virus are renewing calls for vaccination. By: Ishani Nath This post was originally published on July 29 and has been updated to include Daniel Grace and more recent mpox data on November 4. Mpox is raising renewed calls for vaccination across...
Thinking of getting your child’s measles vaccine early? Here’s what parents need to know
June 24/2024
Experts run through the benefits and risks of getting measles vaccines earlier than the recommended intervals. By Betty Zou and Ishani Nath With measles cases in Canada reaching historic highs, public health officials are urging parents to ensure children are up to date on their measles vaccinations — especially for...
Breaking down NACI’s latest RSV immunization recommendations for infants
June 14/2024
Assistant Professor Tiffany Fitzpatrick explains NACI's latest RSV immunization recommendations for infants and what this new guidance means for parents. By Ishani Nath Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common respiratory virus in infants and young children, and until recently, there weren’t many options for protection. But that is...
Contest Winners Find New, Fun Ways to Explain Vaccine Science
April 26/2024
Winning entries, and honourable mentions, from the inaugural Explain It Like I’m 6: A Vaccine Education Contest. By Betty Zou and Ishani Nath Aliens, wizards, ninjas and an inquisitive bunny named Muffin. These are just a few of the characters the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases (CVPD) and Emerging &...
Having conversations with Canadians about why they do — or do not — get vaccinated
April 19/2024
How U of T researcher Gilla Shapiro is using a new approach to understand what drives HPV vaccine uptake in Canada. Ishani Nath Gilla Shapiro wants to have a conversation with you about HPV vaccines. Specifically, the U of T researcher is leading a new research program to understand why...
Reminder: Measles Vaccines Protect Those Who Cannot Protect Themselves
March 18/2024
With measles cases popping up across Canada, U of T researchers explain why getting vaccinated helps those who can’t. By Ishani Nath Measles cases are popping up across Canada, and with low vaccination rates and travellers returning from March Break, health officials are concerned this preventable disease may continue...
Got questions about vaccines for kids? A new phone line offers answers
January 17/2024
The Vaccine Consult Service pilot project, launched by members of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases (CVPD), aims to help increase vaccine confidence by answering Ontario parents' questions about vaccines. By Ishani Nath Canada is in the thick of respiratory illness season, yet the number of individuals getting the updated...
Infants are vulnerable to chickenpox earlier than previously assumed, new study finds
November 21/2023
Findings published in PLOS ONE indicate that in most cases, the protection passed from mother to infant fades after two months, leaving infants at risk of infection. Ishani Nath Infants are not protected against the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox, for several months before they are eligible for...
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy leads to lower risk of neo-natal death, U of T researchers find
October 25/2023
“[This study] provides further reassurance on the safety of maternal mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during all trimesters of pregnancy for newborns and infants," said the study. By: Gabrielle Giroday This story originally appeared on Temerty Faculty of Medicine's news site. New research shows pregnant mothers who receive mRNA vaccines to...