Medical Breakthrough '08: Younger Vaccines

With new medical breakthroughs in vaccines offer children illness prevention at younger ages.

FluMist
Recently approved for the ages 2 to 5 crowd, the nasal spray vaccine takes the sting out of flu prevention. That's a good thing, as 226,000 people are hospitalized each year, and 36,000 die.
Available: Now

Menactra
Though rare, bacterial meningitis can be deadly. The FDA recently expanded the age range for this vaccine to include children 2 to 10 (original approval in 2005 was only for people 11 to 55).
Available: Now

From Reader's Digest - March 2008

 

• • Breakthroughs
• • Your Medical Care
• • Mind & Body

• Medical Breakthroughs for 2008
• New hope for cancer, diabetes, dementia and more.
• 
• Medical Breakthrough '08: Better Than Mammo
• Less invasive mammography alternatives are on the medical horizon.
• 
• Medical Breakthrough '08: 24/7 Blood Sugar Test
• Testing your blood sugar may soon be as convenient as checking the time.
• 
• Medical Breakthrough '08: Promising Drugs for Treating Alzheimer's
• The new medications are hopeful memory keepers in the fight against Alzheimer's.
• 
• All About Meningitis
• Get advice on the symptoms and effects of deadly meningococcal disease, who’s at risk, and how you can prevent it with the vaccine.
• 
• Flu Shot, or Not?
• Arm yourself with reliable resources and information to protect yourself and your family during the flu season.
• 

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When my wife called a friend on our touch-tone phone, the line was busy. She tried several more times, but without success. Watching her, I asked why she wasn't using the redial button. "Honey," she answered, "I need the exercise."

-- Henry H. Politzer