In a scientific/public health triumph, the first vaccine for the prevention of Ebola virus infection has been approved. If administered prior to 10 days after exposure, its protective efficacy is 100%.

Infection preventionists may one day be faced with a pandemic flu or the release of a bioterrorism agent that calls for mass vaccinations or post-exposure prophylaxis of healthcare workers. One novel way to prepare now is to stage annual flu vaccinations as an emergency drill. 

In this cross-sectional analysis, pregnant women disproportionately accounted for 24-34% of influenza-associated hospitalizations among women aged 15 to 44 years, and infants younger than 2 months of age comprised the highest proportion of pertussis deaths. The reasons why pregnant women did not elect recommended immunizations included not believing they were effective, not knowing they should receive Tdap every pregnancy, and being concerned that the vaccines would harm the fetus.

The antivaccine movement is lobbying state legislatures to widen exemptions against childhood school immunizations and other mandates. As infection preventionists, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology has taken on the fight.

Given the nation’s antivaccine movement and the annual safety myths and efficacy quibbles about the seasonal influenza vaccine, public health officials are keeping it simple this year: A flu shot can keep you out of the hospital and the morgue.

A new analysis of a national survey underscores the importance of continued efforts to strengthen practitioner adoption of evidence-based approaches to recommending the HPV vaccine.