Doctor Column

Vaccines Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic Kudos to Drs. Kariko and Weissman Connection January 25, 2024 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD “Traditional Vaccines, I noted, “are made of whole or parts of dead or weakened viruses or bacteria. Once a person is vaccinated against a specific virus, for example, the Hepatitis B virus, the immune system manufactures neutralizing antibodies against that virus. It also puts the ‘face’ of the virus into its memory bank. The next time the person is exposed to the hepatitis B virus, the immune system recognizes its face and sets in motion a series of actions: to locate, kill, and remove it from the body.” CDC Vaccine Update for the 2023 Fall and Winter “Respi” Season October 5, 2023 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD From January to December 2022, COVID-19 was the primary or contributing cause of approximately 244,000 deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccinations Are Not Just for Kids. They’re Crucial to Your Health and Public Safety February 25, 2020 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD You may think vaccinations are just for kids. Not so. Your need for vaccinations continues as you get older. For instance, you benefit by getting vaccinated against influenza annually during the fall or winter seasons. Moreover, you can benefit from newer vaccines which were not available when you were a youngster.