Advocates Applaud CDC's Broader Recommendations for HepB Vaccination
Adding the hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine to the routine schedule for children dramatically decreased infections by more than 90%. Now, the CDC is recommending universal vaccination for adults aged 19 to 59 years. Learn more about why public health officials took that action, as well as information on when adults aged 60 years and older can be vaccinated.

Questions About PPSV23 Effectiveness for Community-Acquired Pneumonia
How effective is the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) for the prevention of serotype-specific, community-acquired pneumonia? Thanks to new technology, a study has come up with the answer to that question. Concerns exist about the effectiveness of the PPSV23 in preventing some types of community-acquired pneumonia. Using new techniques, researchers were able to quantify how little protection is actually offered. Read more.

COPD Patients Unaware of HZ Risk, Need for Vaccination
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients tend to be unaware of how much more likely they are to develop herpes zoster (HZ)—commonly called shingles—and how important vaccination is for them, according to a new report. A survey reported in Vaccines found that about a fourth of study participants who previously had HZ said their pulmonary symptoms worsened during infection. Read more.