-
Poll: Belief in false measles claims correlated with lower vaccination rates
BY JENNIFER SHUTT Kentucky Lantern WASHINGTON — Americans are increasingly unsure what to believe about measles as an outbreak spreads throughout the country, according to a survey released Wednesday by the nonpartisan health research organization KFF. The poll shows that nearly a quarter of those asked believe a commonly repeated false claim that getting a child
-
Healthy Happenings: Check your vaccination status
BY DOROTHY DILLON Protecting yourself and your community by ensuring you are up-to-date on the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine. Measles is highly contagious, but you can be protected by getting the MMR vaccine. How to check your vaccine status: • Check your immunization records through your doctor or local health department • Look
-
Lexington has outbreak of whooping cough
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS An outbreak of whooping cough has been declared in Fayette County after nine cases have been confirmed by the local health department since late April. Whooping cough, known medically as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing and sneezing. It affects people of all ages but
-
UK hosts national meeting to raise immunization rate for vaccine against cervical and other HPV cancers, in which Kentucky leads U.S.
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS Kentucky leads the nation in the rate of cases of and deaths from cervical cancer, a disease that is largely preventable by a vaccine. The vaccine targets the human papillomavirus, which can cause cancers of the cervix, genitals, anus, neck and head. Kentucky also leads the nation in cancers
-
This looks like the year for an epidemic of measles, the most contagious disease, which can be deadly but is very preventable
BY KATELYN JETELINAYOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST Yesterday I got a Google news alert: “Measles.” Yes, measles. In the 21st century. At the height of winter. Measles typically spreads in spring. What’s going on? Two active and unrelated measles outbreaks among unvaccinated people: Philadelphia and New Jersey A Delaware children’s hospital on alert after an unvaccinated patient
