Vaccine

11.2.16: The High Price of Free Vaccines, Facial Recognition Bias, & The Bookshelf

By Word of Mouth • Nov 2, 2016
Matt Allworth via flickr Creative Commons / https://flic.kr/p/7ZZiPM

Doctors Without Borders provides emergency medical aid to people the world over, and is funded almost entirely by individuals. So, why did they turn down free pneumonia vaccines from Pfizer? On today’s show we’ll look into the hidden costs of free vaccines.

Plus, futuristic TV shows and movies make facial recognition technology seem like a sure bet, but a new report reveals problems with racial bias, and reliability. And like it or not, it's already being used today.

We’ll also check in with the latest installment of The Bookshelf with author Chelsey Philpot.

Lebanon Hospital Urges Patients to Get Revaccinated After Refrigeration Issue

By • Jan 14, 2016
Credit ZaldyImg/Flickr

 

A New Hampshire hospital that discovered its vaccines were stored at inconsistent temperatures is asking more than 800 children to get revaccinated.

State public health officials say the affected vaccines from Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon aren't harmful but might have lost some potency. That means they could provide less immunity to disease.

The problem occurred over the course of 14 months, from September 2014 to October 2015. The hospital is offering to revaccinate 827 patients at no cost to them or their insurance companies.

CDC Says Flu Vaccine Should Be More Effective This Season

By • Sep 17, 2015

Last year's flu vaccine didn't work very well. This year's version should do a much better job protecting people against the flu, federal health officials said Thursday.

An analysis of the most common strains of flu virus that are circulating in the United States and elsewhere found they match the strains included in this year's vaccine, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

2.26.15: Malaria Vaccine Struggles To Find Funding, The Uncommon Core, & Good Gig

By Word of Mouth • Feb 26, 2015
VCU Tompkins-McCaw Library Special Collections / flic.kr/p/27bFm2

  Malaria threatens more than half the world’s people. Yet there is still no way to immunize against it. On today’s show, why a promising vaccine developed by an upstart in the biotech scene is not getting funded. 

Plus, Levi Strauss started making jeans during the gold rush, introducing the  most iconic symbol of American style. Today’s Good Gig profiles the Levi’s in-house historian who sifts through mine shafts and dusty attics to find the stories behind every crease. 

Listen to the full show and click Read more for individual segments.

1.27.15: Black History Is American History & Making A Fashion Statement For The Sake Of Vaccinations

By Word of Mouth • Jan 27, 2015
Logan Shannon / NHPR

In a series of comic books, Joel Christian Gill shines a light on unsung African American figures from history. On today’s show, he tells us why he’s launched a campaign against Black History Month, and makes the case that #28DaysAreNotEnough.

Then, an outbreak of measles traced to Disneyland has outraged parents and cast anti-vaccine advocates as dangers to the public. We’ll hear about a propaganda tool that targeted anti-vaxxers in 18th Century France: fashionable hats!

Listen to the full show and click Read more for individual segments.

Health Officials: Not Too Late To Get A Flu Vaccine

By • Dec 14, 2014
Lance McCord via Flickr CC

New Hampshire health officials say it's not too late to get the flu vaccine.

Officials said even though the vaccine is not a perfect match for the strain of flu that's making most people sick in the United States this year, it still offers some protection against the flu and its complications.