Registration now open for the April “Current Issues in Vaccines” webinar
Registration is now open for the next “Current Issues in Vaccines” webinar, featuring Dr. Paul Offit. Scheduled for April 2, 2025, at noon ET, Dr. Offit will discuss:
- Is a Bird Flu Pandemic Likely?
The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Thomas F. McNair Scott Endowed Research and Lectureship Fund, which allows us to provide free continuing education credits (CME, CEU, and CPE) for these sessions. The webinar series is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University.
Find out more or register today.
New! Infographic and article related to timing and protection from vaccines during pregnancy
The February 2025 issue of Parents PACK, the VEC’s newsletter for the public, included an article and infographic describing which vaccines are recommended during pregnancy and why. The materials also describe notes about timing of vaccination and protection. PDFs of the materials can easily be shared with patients and families. Check them out today:
- Making Vaccine Decisions During Pregnancy: What to Know (article): webpage | PDF
- Vaccines During Pregnancy: Timing and Notes About Protection (infographic): PDF | PNG
Video tour of Penn’s Institute for RNA Innovation
While mRNA technology is most familiar for its use in COVID-19 vaccines, the opportunities for using mRNA in treatment and prevention abound. Late in 2024, the VEC published an article in The Hilleman Chronicle, our newsletter for science and history enthusiasts, describing some of these applications.
More recently, we released a video tour of the labs at the University of Pennsylvania where some of this work is taking place. With gratitude to Drs. Drew Weissman and Jim Hoxie for allowing and arranging for this access and to Dr. Ted Kreider for hosting us, we were able to not only see the labs but also learn more about how mRNA studies are being conducted — from designing and producing the specific mRNA of interest to testing its quality and functionality.
The video was first announced in The VMP Chronicle, our newsletter for educators. The accompanying article included links to additional resources that may be of interest.
“Vax Talk Episode 81: Vaccines Are Required for School”
Voices for Vaccines produces the “Vax Talk” podcast to share information about vaccine-preventable diseases and the impact they have on communities. A recent episode featured Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center. During “Episode 81: Vaccines are Required for School,” Dr. Offit spoke with the “Vax Talk” podcast hosts, Karen Ernst and Dr. Nathan Boonstra, about the history of school vaccine requirements and the role they have played in reducing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr. Offit shared his memories of the time before measles vaccine. He also talked about the introduction of measles vaccine requirements in schools and the pivotal moments along the country’s journey to eliminating measles. Dr. Offit discussed the 1991 measles outbreak in Philadelphia during which nine children died and measles vaccine became compulsory, the changes from a one-dose to a two-dose vaccine recommendation, and the 2014 outbreak of measles that started at Disneyland and ultimately led to changes in vaccine legislation in California. Through Dr. Offit’s recounting of the historical perspective related to measles, the discussion offers a necessary context for understanding the evolution of — and critical role for — school vaccine requirements.
Registration now open for the April “Current Issues in Vaccines” webinar
Registration is now open for the next “Current Issues in Vaccines” webinar, featuring Dr. Paul Offit. Scheduled for April 2, 2025, at noon ET, Dr. Offit will discuss:
- Is a Bird Flu Pandemic Likely?
The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Thomas F. McNair Scott Endowed Research and Lectureship Fund, which allows us to provide free continuing education credits (CME, CEU, and CPE) for these sessions. The webinar series is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University.
Find out more or register today.
New! Infographic and article related to timing and protection from vaccines during pregnancy
The February 2025 issue of Parents PACK, the VEC’s newsletter for the public, included an article and infographic describing which vaccines are recommended during pregnancy and why. The materials also describe notes about timing of vaccination and protection. PDFs of the materials can easily be shared with patients and families. Check them out today:
- Making Vaccine Decisions During Pregnancy: What to Know (article): webpage | PDF
- Vaccines During Pregnancy: Timing and Notes About Protection (infographic): PDF | PNG
Video tour of Penn’s Institute for RNA Innovation
While mRNA technology is most familiar for its use in COVID-19 vaccines, the opportunities for using mRNA in treatment and prevention abound. Late in 2024, the VEC published an article in The Hilleman Chronicle, our newsletter for science and history enthusiasts, describing some of these applications.
More recently, we released a video tour of the labs at the University of Pennsylvania where some of this work is taking place. With gratitude to Drs. Drew Weissman and Jim Hoxie for allowing and arranging for this access and to Dr. Ted Kreider for hosting us, we were able to not only see the labs but also learn more about how mRNA studies are being conducted — from designing and producing the specific mRNA of interest to testing its quality and functionality.
The video was first announced in The VMP Chronicle, our newsletter for educators. The accompanying article included links to additional resources that may be of interest.
“Vax Talk Episode 81: Vaccines Are Required for School”
Voices for Vaccines produces the “Vax Talk” podcast to share information about vaccine-preventable diseases and the impact they have on communities. A recent episode featured Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center. During “Episode 81: Vaccines are Required for School,” Dr. Offit spoke with the “Vax Talk” podcast hosts, Karen Ernst and Dr. Nathan Boonstra, about the history of school vaccine requirements and the role they have played in reducing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr. Offit shared his memories of the time before measles vaccine. He also talked about the introduction of measles vaccine requirements in schools and the pivotal moments along the country’s journey to eliminating measles. Dr. Offit discussed the 1991 measles outbreak in Philadelphia during which nine children died and measles vaccine became compulsory, the changes from a one-dose to a two-dose vaccine recommendation, and the 2014 outbreak of measles that started at Disneyland and ultimately led to changes in vaccine legislation in California. Through Dr. Offit’s recounting of the historical perspective related to measles, the discussion offers a necessary context for understanding the evolution of — and critical role for — school vaccine requirements.