This Year’s Flu Shot Lowers Risk of by Hospitalization by 35%
This season’s flu vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization by 34.5%, according to data from the Southern Hemisphere. Each year scientists look at the effectiveness of the vaccine during Southern Hemisphere’s winter to project the effectiveness of the shot in the Northern Hemisphere. As is typically the case, the vaccine was even more protective for individuals with chronic diseases. People in this high-risk group who got vaccinated reduced their chances of hospitalization by 59% compared to high-risk individuals who not receive the vaccine.
These findings “support CDC and WHO’s recommendation that all eligible persons aged [at or above the age of] six months should receive influenza vaccination,” said researchers at CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
Study Confirms Breast Milk’s Power to Protect Babies from Infections
A new study reaffirmed a strong body of evidence showing that breast milk protects babies against infectious diseases. The international study found that mothers passed on antibodies through their breast milk to the baby, defending the child against severe illness from microbes. Breast milk provided especially strong protection against rotavirus.
Full Story: HealthDay
