Immunization reduces infant hospitalization and death from multiple illnesses. For example: RSV immunization in infants is 90% effective at preventing RSV hospitalization in infants during their first RSV season. COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19 by about 76% in infants and young children (ages 6 months - 4 years).

Immunization during pregnancy protects infants after they are born, while they are still too young to be vaccinated. For example: RSV vaccination in pregnancy is about 70% or more effective in preventing severe illness from RSV in babies through their first 6 months of life. COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been found to reduce the risk of infant hospitalization from COVID-19 by up to 60%.

On-time vaccination for babies is safe and protects their lifelong health. For example: Hepatitis B vaccination is given to babies beginning at birth because babies can are often exposed by their mothers or by others in their life who don’t know they have it. Babies exposed at birth or in their first year of life have a 90% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B, which leads to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and more. 1 in 4 babies who develop chronic hepatitis B will die as a result.

Infant immunization has significantly reduced infant deaths, but now immunization rates are decreasing. In the last 50 years, vaccination accounts for 40% of the improvement in infant survival, and more children now live to see their first birthday and beyond than at any other time in human history. The measles vaccine alone accounts for 60% of those lives saved. Unfortunately, vaccination rates are decreasing, and illnesses that were once eliminated, like measles, are becoming more common.

This week is National Infant Immunization Week. Immunizations are critical for protecting babies from becoming seriously ill, dying, or developing lifelong health issues from preventable illnesses. Keep your babies up to date, & learn more: www.healthychildren.org/English/safe... #NIIW

Exercise advice for long covid may be doing more harm than good Exercise has been touted as a tool for managing and treating long covid, but much of the evidence has neglected one of its most debilitating symptoms: post-exertional malaise

New Scientist: 'Exercise advice for long covid may be doing more harm than good'

'Exercise has been touted as a tool for managing and treating long covid, but much of the evidence has neglected one of its most debilitating symptoms: post-exertional malaise'

www.newscientist.com/article/2523...

medical professionals don’t even understand that chronic means chronic. like yes these symptoms are daily, they are every day, they are for years, they are for life. but they just cannot imagine it so they think we are lying. i wish we were believed. i don’t have the strength to fight you.

A promotional graphic for the EveryDoctor organisation on a bright red background. On the right is a headshot of Dr. Julia Patterson, CEO of EveryDoctor, smiling at the camera. To her left, bold text reads: "GOOD LAW Project. Our CEO Julia joins Good Law Project’s new podcast: The Shadow Contract. An investigative podcast about Palantir, NHS data and the fight for public trust." At the top left is the EveryDoctor logo, and at the bottom right is a QR code with the caption "Listen now."

Tired of the spin on Palantir and the NHS? The Shadow Contract - a new investigative podcast from @goodlawproject.org - cuts through the noise.

Our CEO Dr Julia Patterson features in Episode 1. All four episodes are out now.

Listen: goodlaw.social/a87e02

WHO COVID vaccine composition TAG requesting data for next update due May 2026:

“Key antisera & antigens of interest for the May 2026 decision-making include antisera to: JN.1, KP.2, XEC, LP.8.1, NB.1.8.1, XFG, BA.3.2 and potentially emerging variants.”

www.who.int/news/item/30...

Wheeeeeeeeeeee I'm a Hugo finaliiiiiiiiiist

Congratulations to all the other Hugo finalists today! It is a good day.

Study links long COVID in kids to worse grades, attention, and social life

“Efforts are needed to develop and evaluate interventions to mediate these negative effects of LC [long COVID] that could last through adulthood…”

As a first step, more adults need to snap out of their denial and accept that COVID is still out there and still dangerous.

The cover is a large spaceship in space above a green planet, caught at just the moment when a setting or rising sun will cause lens flare.

JR Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovksy. I'm late to the party but, yes, this is excellent. The joy of good SF is an author with such imagination that you leave the book feeling your mind has been expanded. 600 pages is a lot but that said I read the last 150 in one sitting, I was so gripped.

Hospitalization rates for illnesses like COVID, flu have doubled since pre-pandemic, report finds | CBC News Striking new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows hospitalization rates for vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases more than doubled in 2024, compared to pre-pandemic...

Hospitalization rates for illnesses like COVID, flu have doubled since pre-pandemic, report finds

Two years ago I started a master’s in AI/ML to help cure long COVID.

In two weeks I graduate. One of the hardest things I’ve done, and still nothing compared to long COVID itself.

Rapamycin and GLP-1 keep bringing me back.

But mostly, I did it for my kids and you all.

“Most artists are concerned about how long they’ll be around. I’m concerned about how long my music will be around.”
- Prince

On this day 2016, Prince passed at 57. It's been a decade since the end of The Purple Reign. Stunning musician, Rock, R&B, Pop & Funk legend, beyond brilliant guitarist.

Black background with WHN branding at the top reading “whn.global.” Large pink and white text says: “Masks don’t work.” Below it: “Let’s debunk this →” Smaller text near the bottom reads: “Short answer: They do, but only when used correctly, and not all ‘masks’ are created equal.” At the bottom: “World Health Network — Science for a safer, healthier world.”

Black background with “whn.global” at the top. Large pink text says: “The physics is clear: well-fitted respirators (N95/FFP2 or better) cut what you breathe out and what you breathe in.” Below, white text with one pink-highlighted phrase says: “Confusion often comes from studies that used loose surgical/medical masks, allowed people to take masks off while exposed, or mixed very different mask types and fits, conditions that blur the true benefit.” At the bottom: “World Health Network — Science for a safer, healthier world.”

Black background with “whn.global” at the top. Large pink heading says: “Dose matters.” Below, large white text says: “Infection risk rises with the dose you inhale; cutting that dose (even partially) lowers risk. When both people mask, the reduction compounds, dropping exposure much more than one person masking alone.” At the bottom: “World Health Network — Science for a safer, healthier world.”

Black background with “whn.global” at the top. Large pink heading says: “Fit is crucial.” Below, white text says: “Respirators are designed to seal and maintain high filtration across a range of particle sizes. Loose surgical/medical masks mainly help with source control and can leak around the edges; a well-fitted respirator protects you and others.” Lower down, smaller white and pink text says: “For more information, visit our ‘Yes, We Continue Wearing Masks’ page: whn.global/yes-we-continue-wearing-masks/” At the bottom: “World Health Network — Science for a safer, healthier world.”

“Masks don’t work.”

We still hear this a lot, and it usually comes down to misunderstanding how masks actually work.

Masks aren’t just tiny strainers. High-quality masks (like N95s) use electrostatic charge to attract and trap airborne particles, including those that carry viruses.

How many Doctors now have long Covid and why aren’t the BMA calling for preventions? Preventions will stop this cycle. We must start preventing long COVID. Very disappointing they aren’t doing this.

Just to give my followers a well-deserved break from infectious diseases…here are some bluebells I snapped last week in an ancient woodland in SE England

Bumblebee on a broad bean flower

Growing your own food can reduce your impact on the environment – and many crops have nectar-rich flowers that also feed bumblebees, butterflies and other pollinators.
Try:
🐝 Broad beans
🐝 Blueberries
🐝 Herbs
🐝 Apples
More: www.littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/gro...

COVID vaccines tied to less hospital care, long COVID, and economic burden

In the UK the NHS is absolutely overwhelmed, but the government has tightened the eligibility criteria for free Covid vaccination to the point that only a small minority of the population is eligible. Offering free vaccination to everyone would be an easy win here

www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/cov...

Red States Thought They Could Stop Abortions. They Ended Up Stopping Only the Lifesaving Ones. Abortion bans are failing.

Overall abortion rates have increased since Dobbs, but abortions for medical reasons have become more difficult to access. Horror stories of women dying, nearly dying, or birthing dying children have been reported on a regular basis in states with abortion bans.
archive.is/XRRNo

The first panel shows a crow with the title "How to live a good life". The second panel shows a crow cawing at itself in the mirror with the subheading "Make friends". The next panel says "Explore" and shows a crow looking into a commercial waste bin. The next says "Try new things" with a crow eating something vile. The next one says "Be curious" and shows the crow grabbing a hissing cat's tail". The final frame says "Get a hobby" and shows the crow looking closely at a book of matches.

How To Live A Good Life #oldknees

This macro photograph captures the unopened bud of a striped tulip, covered in fine drops of dew. Description and Variety The flower has a classic goblet shape. Its petals are white and creamy with vibrant, artist-painted purple or crimson strokes. The plant's appearance is typical of modern varieties of the Triumph group: Flaming Flag is one of the most similar varieties, known for its lilac-purple "feather" strokes on a white background. Rembrandt's Favorite also has a similar variegated coloring, reminiscent of the paintings of great masters. Appearance Features Texture: The petals are dense, smooth, with a slight satin sheen. Details: Drops of water are visible on the petals, highlighting the freshness of a spring morning. Greenish veins, often found in Viridiflora-type varieties or young buds, are visible at the base of the petals. Background: The bud is located on a long, straight stem against a background of washed-out green leaves, accentuating the flower itself. This unusual coloring may be a varietal characteristic or—in rare cases in older varieties—a manifestation of the variegation virus, historically prized in Holland for creating unique patterns.

The freshness of a spring morning... Happy Tuesday to everyone! 👋🌷🔆
#Tulip #macro #TulipsTuesday #macrophotography #TulipTuesday #flowers #gardening #spring #bloomscrolling #EastCoastKin

Study links long COVID in kids to worse grades, attention, and social life

Yet another reason to clean the air, encourage routine testing, increase paid leave, change policies that encourage presenteeism despite illness, and create cultures where there is no shame attached to masking

COVID vaccines tied to less hospital care, long COVID, and economic burden

"COVID vaccines tied to less hospital care, long COVID, and economic burden."

"People vaccinated against COVID in Germany in 2023 experienced reduced hospitalization rates, fewer long-COVID diagnoses, and lower all-cause mortality than those who weren't vaccinated, according to a new study"

Study links long COVID in kids to worse grades and attention problems A large NIH-funded RECOVER-Pediatrics study found that children and adolescents meeting the long COVID research threshold were more likely to have caregiver-reported worsening grades, attention diffic...

Study links long COVID in kids to worse grades and attention problems.

"A major U.S. cohort study suggests long COVID in children may reach far beyond lingering symptoms, affecting how they learn, focus, and connect with friends at school."

Today I turn 89. I’ve seen this country at its best and its worst, and I know how much community matters. For my birthday, I’m asking you to stand with PFLAG and support the work that’s helped so many in the LGBTQ+ community, including me. give.pflag.org/page/95493/d...

Got our solar panels installed this AM. They came at 8:30am and we're gone by 1:30pm. 13 panels and 10kwh battery.

We can't export to the grid yet (the network operator has been flooded with new requests) but we charged our car with the sun this afternoon. Great feeling, strongly recommend.

The Onion Has a New Plan to Take Over Infowars

Here's how we're taking over InfoWars.

Happy 89th Birthday George Takei!

George Takei, born on April 20, 1937, in Los Angeles, California, is an actor, activist, and social media phenomenon who has lived one of the most remarkable lives in American entertainment.

As a child, Takei and his family were forcibly relocated to Japanese...

A spring themed background with butterflies, sunflowers, and bumblebees. Text says "Celebrate a safer spring. Get up to date on your vaccines! Vaccines for COVID-19, mpox, measles, and other routine childhood vaccinations available in our immunization clinic. We accept private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Vaccines for Children program for children who are uninsured. Administration fees may apply. Call us at 919-560-7608 to schedule. Walk-ins accepted if our schedule and vaccine supply permit (scheduling recommended). Learn more on our website at DCoPublicHealth.org/Immunization

Happy Monday! While you’re planning your week, add getting caught up on your vaccines to your to-do list to help your family have a healthy and happy spring. Call us at 919-560-7608 to schedule your appointments. Learn more: DCoPublicHealth.org/Immunization

The Onion plans to turn Infowars into a comedy site with satirical echoes of the fringe conspiracy theories that Mr. Jones is known for. Tim Heidecker, one of the comedians behind “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, has been hired to serve as “creative director of Infowars.” He said he initially plans to parody Mr. Jones’s “whole modus operandi.” Mr. Heidecker has been working on his impression of Mr. Jones. But eventually, when that joke gets old, Mr. Heidecker said that he hoped to turn Infowars into a destination for independent and experimental comedy. “I just thought it would be just a beautiful joke if we could take this pretty toxic, negative, destructive force of Infowars and rebrand it as this beautiful place for our creativity,” Mr. Heidecker said in an interview. During a recent trip to Philadelphia, he traveled to the Liberty Bell to film a video in character as the new creative director of Infowars.

Get excited.

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/b...

Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial Scientists caution that more research is needed, but nearly all of the patients who responded to the personalized vaccine are still alive six years later.

There’s no routine screening for pancreatic cancer, most cases aren’t operable, and the five year survival rate after diagnosis is around 13%. It’s a traumatic news.

But new personalized mRNA immunotherapy is showing encouraging results in Phase 1 clinical trials.

Keep funding science!

Infowars/Onion combo logo in rainbow saying “I support the onion’s hostile media takeover.”

It’s finally happened. After 18 months. Finally, a media merger you can root for.