Connect with us

Health and Wellness

The results for the combined Covid and flu vaccine seem promising. Here’s how it can benefit public health

Published

on

Earlier this week, Moderna announced positive results of a phase III clinical trial regarding a combined vaccine against Covid-19 and influenza.

So what exactly did the study show? What impact would a two-in-one vaccine for Covid and flu have on public health? Let’s have a look.

Combination vaccines are already used for other diseases

Combination vaccines have been used successfully for several many years in Australia and around the world.

For example, the DTP vaccine, a shot that mixes protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough), was administered for the first time. in 1948.

Since then, the DTP vaccine has been further combined to supply protection against other diseases. AND hexavalent vaccinewhich protects against six diseases – diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, hepatitis B and hepatitis B (an infection that can cause swelling of the brain) – is now a part of routine childhood vaccination programs In Australia and anywhere.

Another necessary combination vaccine is MMR vaccinegiven to children to guard against measles, mumps and rubella.

So what did the study show?

Moderna’s Phase 3 trial enrolled roughly 8,000 participants across two age groups. Half of them are adults aged 50 to 64. The other half are people aged 65 and older.

There were participants in each age groups random receive either a mix vaccine (so-called mRNA-1083) or a control. Control groups received the COVID vaccine and the corresponding influenza vaccine delivered individually.

A control group aged 50 to 64 was given the flu vaccine Fluarix and Moderna’s mRNA Covid-19 vaccine, Spikevax. A control group over age 65 received Spikevax together with Fluzone HD, an improved flu vaccine developed specifically for older adults.

Participants in the control groups received Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine and a separate flu vaccine.
Numstocker/Shutterstock

The study assessed safety, including any reactions after vaccination and the protective immune response induced by the vaccines.

Moderna reported that the combination vaccine induced higher immune responses in each age groups against COVID and three strains of flu in comparison with concurrent shots.

From a security viewpoint, the combination vaccine was well tolerated. Adverse events were similar in the experimental and control groups. The commonest unwanted side effects were muscle pain, fatigue and pain at the injection site.

While the study’s results are promising, they’ve not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, which implies independent experts haven’t yet peer-reviewed them. Further studies could also be obligatory to check the effects of the combination vaccine in younger age groups.

What are the benefits of combination vaccines?

We cannot overemphasize this importance of vaccines. Every yr they prevent as much as 5 million deaths worldwide from a spread of life-threatening infections.

At the same time, we can at all times do more to extend vaccination uptake, especially in areas with fewer resources and amongst vulnerable populations.

Combination vaccines have various benefits. For example, the need for fewer injections reduces costs for healthcare systems, reduces storage requirements, and reduces the burden on parents. All of these items can be especially invaluable in low-income countries.

It is price noting that studies show combination vaccines make it more likely people will undertake routine vaccinations.

A mother holding a smiling baby on her lap.  After vaccination, the doctor looks after the child's arm.
Many combination vaccines are already in use.
Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

Two necessary diseases

Every yr, especially during the winter months, tens of millions of individuals contract respiratory infections. Indeed, some parts of Australia are reportedly seeing rapid growth cases of flu at this point.

According to the World Health Organization, roughly 3 to five million people worldwide suffer from severe influenza annually, and roughly 650,000 people will die from the disease.

Covid has caused over 7 million deaths to this point throughout the world.

As the COVID pandemic continues, now we have seen pandemic fatigue as some people have turn out to be complacent about getting vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus. AND 2023 study in Australia found that 30% of the surveyed population was hesitant and 9% immune to taking Covid booster doses.

The variety of flu vaccinations that many individuals are likely to get annually could also be higher. That said, electricity in Australia influenza vaccination rates for 2024 are still quite low: 53% for adults over 65, 26% for those 50 to 65, and lower for younger age groups.

A two-in-one Covid and flu vaccine could possibly be a vaccine a vital public health tool increasing vaccination coverage against these two necessary diseases. In addition to protecting individual health, this may have additional advantages for the economy and our healthcare system.

Moderna said it will present trial data at upcoming medical conference and submit it for publication. The company also said it would submit an application soon regulatory approvalwith the possibility of delivering a mix vaccine in 2025.

At the same time, Pfizer and BioNTech late-stage trials for a combined Covid-19 and flu vaccine are also underway. We will wait with interest for further developments.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Health and Wellness

Mental health care and medical abortion are on the rise amid the election

Published

on

By


Following the 2024 presidential election, which put Donald Trump in the White House for a second term, Americans’ demand for mental health facility visits and contraception and medical abortion orders has increased.

reported data from Zocdoc, a web-based medical appointment booking service, which showed a 22% increase in mental health appointments the day after the election. Calls for greater than doubling of mental health care for Lyra Health, the world’s leading provider of mental healthcare services for workers. The company identified nearly half of its 24-hour hotline patients as first-time callers.

According to sexual and reproductive health platform Wisp, medical abortion orders skyrocketed to 600% on November 5. The day after the election, the company saw a virtually 1,000% increase in sales of emergency contraceptives. “Trump’s nomination as president-elect has created further uncertainty about women’s reproductive rights,” said Monica Cepak, CEO of Wisp. The company saw sales of emergency contraceptives from recent customers increase by 1,650%. “These statistics show that women are stockpiling this offer in anticipation of further restrictions being introduced,” Cepak added.

As already mentioned by o BLACK ENTERPRISESafter v. was overturned in 2022, abortion rights amendments were amongst Americans’ top concerns heading into the 2024 presidential election. November ballots in 10 states, including Florida, Montana, Colorado and Nebraska, in line with NBC News exit polls , included abortion initiatives. Voters showed strong support for abortion in states akin to Arizona, Maryland, New York and Nevada in an effort to guard reproductive rights.

Proponents of reproduction he said what Trump’s victory could mean for black women in America, who reportedly have higher maternal mortality rates in comparison with their white counterparts. Kelly Blanchard, president of the global sexual and reproductive health research nonprofit IBIS Reproductive Health, believes Kamala Harris has been a “true advocate for sexual and reproductive health rights and justice.” Under the recent Trump administration, Power to Decide senior policy manager Monica Edwards fears that “this Project 2025 document will now be the playbook for the contraception ban, the abortion ban, and the broad ban on reproductive health rights and justice.”

TO BE noted the report published in May by the National Partnership for Women and Families (NPWF) and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, which revealed that of the 11.8 million black women of childbearing age nationwide, seven million live in states where abortion restrictions have been or are planned.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
Continue Reading

Health and Wellness

Tia Mowry revealed the reason for her divorce with the help of Jackée Harry

Published

on

By

Getty

appears to be doing well as episodes of the show encourage conversation. In the latest episode, the actress sat down with her ex-partner Jackeé Harry to debate dating after their divorce.

Social media users are reacting to several talking points, especially Harry, who seemingly alludes to why Tia and her ex-husband Cory Hardrict split after 14 years. The actress suggested that Hardrict was unhappy because Tia’s profession was going higher than his. Fans have been speculating about the reasons for the split since announcing their separation in late 2022 and finalizing their divorce in April 2023. The 46-year-old has not provided an actual reason.

“If I may say, someone else was unhappy that they weren’t working,” Harry said during the chat. “One partner making more cash or being more successful is a niche that’s so wide that it’s inconceivable to fight it. You cannot have competition. It just doesn’t work,” Harry, 68, said.

“You can’t stop your career because you want to level it up,” added the actress, also emphasizing that she doesn’t “dislike” Hardrict. – But I already told him. I said, “I’m on Tia’s side.” I do know that in a divorce you’ve got to decide on one side. I don’t desire him to feel bad.”

In addition to briefly touching on the contentious issues in the former couple’s relationship, the former colleagues also spoke more broadly about dating and the idea that you could have all the things in life.

“You told me you can’t have everything in life,” Mowry told Harry, who played his mother, Lisa, in “Sister, Sister” through tears.

“Not all at once,” Harry interjected. “I told you I had it for three years of my profession, I had all of it my whole life. I had a person, a baby and money. Yes, all the things was working after which all of it went flawed,” she admitted.

From 1996 to 2003, Harry was married to hair stylist Elgin Charles.

“It was phenomenal. I had support. I had nannies. I had beach boys. I mean, I had everything, but you can’t have it all the time. Someone has to stay home with the kids or nurture the man’s ego. […] Do I sound bitter?” she asked.

During her confession, the mother of two children also admitted that she was afraid that she might make the same mistakes after the divorce.

“Working, being a mother and putting a lot of effort into dating right now is a lot to juggle and balance.” She continued: “And I can’t help but wonder if I’m repeating the same mistake now.”

Mowry has been open about her journey of healing from her divorce and sometimes posts relatable dating videos on TikTok. Even though fans are heavily criticizing her for leaving Hardrict and starting a brand new life, we hope that the actress will find the love she is looking for.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
Continue Reading

Health and Wellness

Are you thinking about dating someone with kids? Read this book first.

Published

on

By

Getty Images/Cavan Images

Erica Grace is an creator, lawyer, and parenting dating consultant who believes that a single person (without children) can have a healthy and long-term relationship – dare I say marriage – with a parent.

“I would be bored if I said no,” Grace tells ESSENCE. “I want to fall in love again and I have two children.” The creator is a single mother who can be divorced, but her relationship and experience with dating her parents didn’t start out that way.

The New York native was once single, without children, and dating a person with a daughter. The couple fell in love, got married and had children. Eight years after her wedding, she decided to go away the wedding as a result of infidelity. In the midst of her destruction, Grace decided to show her grief into service. This was the catalyst for her recent book, . The self-help text took six years to jot down, but divorce was the motivation for Grace to place her insights on paper and share them with the world.

“I went into this as a single girl dating her parent. So this situation allowed me to fully understand the different players in a blended family,” the creator tells ESSENCE. “If I will help someone within the situation I’m in – in order that their marriage doesn’t end due to lack of boundaries or lack of preparation – then I feel like I’ve done something about the suffering.”

In , Erica Grace provides a “road map” for navigating what it takes to ascertain a high level of commitment with someone with children, however the creator emphasizes that the book is a tool for stepdads, single parents, and single people dating alike with parents . She explores topics similar to boundary-setting, co-parenting, and step-parenting from her and her interviewees’ perspectives, as their anecdotes are interwoven throughout the text. As single parenthood becomes more common within the United States, with 23% of youngsters living with one parentthere isn’t any doubt about the accuracy of the text, especially for people within the dating pool.

We talked to Grace about what people should know in the event that they’re considering dating someone who has kids (or are even completely against the concept). Here he discusses things to look out for, healthy blended families, the sadness of being separated out of your mother or father, and rather more.

“Boundaries need to be set from the beginning”: Thinking about dating someone with kids? Read this book first.
Courtesy of Erika Grace

The gist: You seemingly start the marriage by discussing your experiences as a young single person dating someone with children – what were your weak points What should others be careful for?

Erica Grace: It’s very easy to get blindsided within the early stages of dating. You are blinded by the sweetness of a baby, you are blinded by love, or perhaps you are even simply lost in infatuation with an individual. That one person you date, love, or desire tells you things that is probably not the entire picture. So if I had more knowledge and knew what to look out for, I might have noticed the flags. To have healthy blended families or healthy parenting relationships, boundaries have to be set from the start. And in order that became the crux of the book.

What are a very powerful things to think about as a single person when establishing a relationship with a parent?

If you are dating a non-custodial parent, you must ask whether the person you are dating has a parenting agreement. How often are they with their child? Do they spend every other weekend with you and never with their child? If so, that is a red flag. Do they contribute financially to the kid’s life? What is the connection between them and the kid’s other biological parent? It will take time to acknowledge the connection between the parent you are dating and your child’s other biological parent, but listen to their communication. If you’re driving with your partner and your child’s other biological parent calls, does your partner answer? How do these people interact; are they friendly? What do text messages seem like between them? You can return 10 years in text messages with my ex-husband. You’ll see every conversation we have ever had, nothing has been deleted. And then you will see the character of our conversations change between April 2023, our divorce, and the current. After this change, there isn’t any indication that I’m related to him.

On the opposite hand, if you’re dating a custodial parent, you need to grasp that your dates will have to be planned – there’s not much room for spontaneity. But ask yourself, what’s their relationship with their child? How do they interact? What are the degrees of respect? Does a mother call her son “my king”? What is their parenting style? How do they discipline their children? Is this completely different from how you would wish to discipline if you had a baby together? Remember that this person’s parenting style probably won’t change.

How should you approach parent and child dating with a couple of person?

Whatever you’re struggling with at once, multiply it by two or three. And in case your partner is messy with one ex but not the opposite, you’re still dealing with a large number. I do not think people must be excluded from the dating pool simply because they’ve a number of exes, but you higher do your due diligence.

In one other chapter you talk about the order of things. You say that in a partnership, God comes first, then the spouse, then the youngsters, after which everyone else. How did this order come about?

When you come from a family unit, there isn’t any doubt who will come first in this situation. In the case of a blended family, the situation is totally different because often the kid existed before the brand new partner. So this could be strange, especially if no boundaries have been set with this child.

So, if you ever allow your child to be within the space where your partner should exist, it would be really uncomfortable when you introduce him to someone recent. So if you’re the variety of woman who calls her son “king,” good luck finding a brand new “king” to bring into this space. Or if you’re a dad who’s connected to your daughter in a way where you confide in her, or if she’s doing the dishes or taking good care of the younger kids, that makes it harder or harder for someone else to come back into that space. You robotically grow to be a nasty stepfather because every little thing changes when a brand new person comes along. The key to this is that you have to be in a really healing space to be certain that you are selecting a superb partner.

But yes, your spouse comes before your kids. You must create this relationship with your spouse, especially when young children are involved. You wish to make certain that you are raising them together as a unit and that each one children, whether or not they were from a previous relationship or out of your relationship, were loved the identical, disciplined the identical and every little thing was equal. And if you do not have this order, your own home might be a large number.

In the book you discuss the difficulty of mourning, more specifically when you break up with parent, then you break up with their child. But as you explained, it goes beyond that. What does mourning seem like when you reunite with your parent and grow to be a part of a blended family?

Oddly enough, the mourning chapter was written before the divorce. It began with me growing up in a family unit and really having to mourn that. I at all times loved my stepdaughter, but I understood that there would at all times be one other adult who would have a say in what was occurring. I also wished she could possibly be at every event. I needed to regret it.

After the divorce, this separation developed. That’s why I feel that as a single person marrying someone with children, you should regret not having a standard family. Then, as a single mom, I needed to mourn the indisputable fact that my children would have to go away home and never be with me at times, which was painful. I wrote a chapter titled “Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater” since it focuses on what happens after a wedding ends. What will occur to my relationship with my stepdaughter? I raised her for eight years. It’s unfair to her and unfair to my children and her siblings.

What are your hopes for this book? What type of insights and inspiration can you offer readers, with or without children, who would really like to have a healthy, sustainable and long-lasting relationship?

I hope that married people can use this as a tool to recalibrate. I hope that folks in relationships with individuals who have grow to be stepparents actually read this book – and not only stepparents. They need to grasp their weak points; perhaps they need to give their spouse a voice. Perhaps in some sense they’ve to start out from scratch. I hope this allows people to recalibrate so that they can have a healthier relationship. I also hope that folks in extremely unhealthy relationships may have the strength to go away. There is a chapter within the book titled “Knowing When to Go.” People shouldn’t enter into relationships that cause them pain in any way. Discomfort is okay, pain isn’t.

Single people shouldn’t blindly enter right into a relationship, let alone marriage, with a parent. Ask questions. And for single parents, once you get married the order of things is: God, your spouse and your kids. But when you come together, you come together for yourself and your kids. Choose a partner that is sensible for you and your child.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending