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Robyn Correll, MPH, CHWI

I'm a public health professional working at the intersection of data and communication. 

Here’s what parents should tell kids before the school year begins

Preparing kids for school takes more than vaccines and backpacks. Bullying and technology look different than they did a few decades ago, and the Internet has ushered in a new age of misinformation and anxiety. From Head Start to high school and college, kids need help navigating complex social and safety issues — ideally, before they happen. Here are some things that experts say parents should be thinking about as their kids and teens head back to school.

What Happens When We Ask Parents with Sick (or Unvaccinated) Kids to Stay Away

My son saw a doctor 28 times before he turned 1 year old — roughly once every two weeks. It was miserable but not wholly unexpected. I knew when he started day care he would get sick; I just didn’t know how much. With every illness came the gut-wrenching reminder that I couldn’t protect him from everything, and equally awful: I knew he would probably infect others, too.

What Vaccines Do Health Care Professionals Need?

People who work in health care settings are frequently exposed to germs while being with or around patients. Vaccinating healthcare personnel (HCP), like physicians and nurses, helps protect them from potentially dangerous diseases like flu and whooping cough, as well as protects the patients they care for. All adults should make sure they are up-to-date on all routinely recommended vaccines. But if you're an HCP or work in a health care setting, there are six shots in particular that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Why You Feel Lousy After a Long Flight

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt the long-haul hangover. You know the feeling — after spending several hours on the plane, you pull yourself onto the jetway tired and queasy, with a foggy head and slight headache. You feel gross and not just because you need a shower. While some might blame this general state of ickiness on jet lag, germs or recycled air, the reason we feel so lousy after a long flight actually has more to do with chemistry — specifically, how our bodies react to the change in chemistry that happens miles above the ground. Here’s a look at four key factors that play into this, and four tips for making it easier.

Why Are Some Diseases Making a Comeback?

In the past century or so, humans have fought—and won—their fair share of battles with disease. Vaccines defeated smallpox. Antibiotics conquered scarlet fever. And insecticide scaled back mosquito-borne illnesses. Despite these successes, some diseases appear to be making a comeback. Outbreaks of measles and mumps have made more than a few headlines of late, and once-lost pathogens like cholera are creeping back into medical histories. While the reasons behind the rise and fall of diseases are often complex and difficult to pin down, here are a few key reasons behind some of these resurgences.
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