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What is RSV and is there a vaccine?

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: immunisations

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major respiratory virus that is common over the winter period, typically November to February. While the symptoms are mild for many, RSV accounts for around 30,000 hospitalisations of children under 5 in the UK annually, and for 20 to 30 infant deaths. In this post, we look at the symptoms, risk factors and who is eligible for the vaccine.

What is cryptosporidium, and how can you avoid it in the water or on the farm?

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Health Protection
Cryptosporidium parvum protozoa positive (red sphere shape) in human stool smear

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that can cause an unpleasant – and sometimes dangerous – illness called cryptosporidiosis. This nasty bug lives in the intestines of infected humans and animals and is passed out in their poo. It can then …

Whooping cough: One mother's story of love, loss and action

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Children and Young people, immunisations, Uncategorized
A grayscale image of a baby, Riley Hughes, wearing a singlet, looks towards the camera.

Whooping cough cases (also known as the '100 day cough') are rising sharply across England. Between January and March 2024 there have sadly been 5 infant deaths. Vaccination is the best protection.
In this blog post, Catherine Hughes, Founding Director at The Immunisation Foundation of Australia, shares the story of her son Riley Hughes and how their family lost Riley to Whooping cough (pertussis)

How did singing and dancing pills raise awareness of antibiotic resistance? 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Behavioural Insights, Data blog, Social marketing

In 2017, the Keep Antibiotics Working campaign targeted groups who were most likely to use antibiotics (mothers of children aged 0-16, and people aged over 50), and healthcare professionals dealing with patient care and prescribing. In this blog post, we look at a peer-reviewed study investigating the impact of the campaign.