Vaccines
Clinical Inquiries
What illnesses contraindicate immunization?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: The Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reports that the only contraindication for all vaccines is a history...
Clinical Inquiries
Who should get hepatitis A vaccination?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: The following groups are at increased risk of contracting or having severe outcomes from hepatitis A and should receive...
Practice Alert
Meningococcal vaccine: New product, new recommendations
Practice Alert
Influenza vaccine: New recommendations for infants and children aged 6 to 23 months
Clinical Inquiries
Should the varicella vaccine be given to all children to prevent chickenpox?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Healthy, unimmunized children who have not had varicella infection should be vaccinated (strength of recommendation: A,...
Q&A
Vaccinations containing thimerosal do not increase rates of autism
BACKGROUND: Thimerosal has historically been used as a preservative in many vaccines. Thimerosal contains ethyl mercury that has been postulated...
Q&A
Influenza vaccine does not prevent acute otitis media in young children
BACKGROUND: Influenza vaccines have been shown to prevent acute otitis media in children aged <2 years; reductions of 30% to 44% have been...
Practice Alert
Prevention and treatment of influenza
Clinical Inquiries
Is pneumococcal vaccine effective in nursing home patients?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Evidence from clinical trials supports the use of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine for prevention of pneumonia in...
Q&A
Vaccine prevents genital herpes in subgroup of women
BACKGROUND: Can a vaccine prevent genital herpes? HSV infection occurs worldwide and is epidemic in some populations, despite the availability of...