While some of the controversy surrounding vaccines, particularly related to measles, has died down somewhat since last year, there are still plenty of stories on studies on vaccines worth keeping an eye on.
Here are five recent stories published by Becker's Hospital Review on vaccines, starting with the most recent.
1. 6 things to know about vaccine refusal, measles and pertussis
The resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States prompted researchers to examine the association between vaccine refusal and the epidemiology of diseases such as measles and pertussis. They found a substantial proportion of the U.S. measles cases in the era after elimination were intentionally unvaccinated, and vaccine refusal was still associated with an increased risk for pertussis in some populations.
2. Conflicting expectations linked to low HPV vaccine series completion
All too frequently, girls between the ages of 11 and 17 who initiate the human papillomavirus vaccine fail to complete the complete the inoculation series. A study published in the journal Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics shows most series completion failure occurs because providers expect parents to make appointments while parents expect to be reminded.
3. Flu vaccine poses no additional risk to surgical patients, study finds
Historically, surgeons have been concerned with giving patients the flu vaccine while they are in the hospital, for fear of vaccine-related fever or muscle pain, but a new study from Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente shows a flu shot poses no such risk.
4. Despite best efforts from researchers, WHO warns Zika vaccine likely years away
Although many companies and institutions have announced initiatives to kick development and research into high-gear, human clinical trials for Zika vaccines are likely at least 18 months away, according to a statement from World Health Organization assistant director general Marie-Paule Kieny, MD.
5. HPV vaccination rates highest amongst girls in Hispanic communities, study finds
Teenage girls residing in impoverished, majority Hispanic communities have the highest rates of receiving at least one dose of the human papillomavirus vaccine, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.