Vaccines

Dr. Moneesh Bhow, medical director of the emergency department at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix, said he expects to see cases continue to rise following Thanksgiving, since holiday gatherings tend to lead to a spike in respiratory viruses.

The Arizona Department of Health Services reported more than 1,000 cases of influenza last week and more than 2,100 cases of COVID-19.

There are two new COVID-19 variants circulating, and scientists believe they’re more transmissible than previous ones, with some estimates suggesting they account for more than a third of current COVID-19 cases.

Arizona Rep. David Schweikert has introduced a bill in Congress meant to fast track the development of vaccines against substance-use disorders.

On Wednesday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the recommendation for adults 65 and older to receive an additional, updated dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Show spoke with Dr. Nick Staab, assistant medical director for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, to talk more about low vaccination rates in Arizona and how a potential measles case and new strains of COVID-19 could affect unvaccinated people.

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health confirmed a measles case Saturday from an international visitor as cases of the highly infectious disease rise across the U.S. and overseas. Officials became notified of the matter through routine lab reporting.

There’s some good news and bad news in the world of vaccines. Most nursing home residents in Arizona still haven’t gotten their COVID-19 booster. And for the first time, vaccines are available to protect against four respiratory illnesses.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Arizona has some of the lowest rates of kids getting vaccinated in the country. The Show spoke with Will Humble about low vaccination rates in Arizona.

Cases of influenza and other respiratory infections are on the rise in Arizona. And health officials say now is the time to get up-to-date on immunizations.