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Health Blog

Welcome to the ongoing series of blog posts from UTMB Health focusing on key aspects of maintaining your health

image of adolescent brunette girl with glasses and a red and white striped shirt coughing while sitting at a table covered in books and notebooks.

Respiratory viruses and back-to-school

Communities in the area are seeing an uptick in individuals with COVID-19, and with that experts are reminding it's not too soon to think about other respiratory illnesses like the flu and RSV.

Young boy with gray shirt and gray backpack in front of school with left arm exposed revealing a bandaid on the upper portion of his arm.

Back-to-school immunizations

Pediatrician Dr. Lee Elam offers a high-level breakdown of some of the typical vaccinations needed throughout childhood.

COVID vaccine can decrease chances of developing long COVID

There is a myriad of symptoms people describe following COVID. Many complain of brain fog and fatigue. Other common symptoms include chronic cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fast heart rate, diarrhea, lightheadedness, depression and persistent loss of taste or smell. This list is far from comprehensive, as many experiences other symptoms as well.

Get your flu shot

Researchers working on effective CMV vaccine

Developing a vaccine against cytomegalovirus (CMV) is right at the top of researchers’ priority list. However, most people have never heard of the virus.

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Now Medicare Part D covers vaccines at no cost

The new year is starting strong with the news that those with Medicare Part D may receive all recommended vaccines without paying a dime.

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Odds are your holiday meal was vaccinated

Unless you are vegan, odds are that your holiday meal was vaccinated. Whether you had prime rib, a Christmas ham or a turkey with all its fixings, vaccination was involved. Even the whipped cream on the pumpkin pie came from a vaccinated dairy cow. While most of us appreciate the role vaccines play in keeping us and our pets healthy, few recognize the major role vaccines play in our food supply.

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Be aware: COVID is not done with us yet

People are sick of hearing about COVID. So are we! But the truth is, the virus is not sick of us, and it’s not going anywhere. There has been nearly a 30 percent increase in COVID hospitalizations among elderly adults in the past two weeks. You should be aware of new information.

Get your flu shot

Buckle up: Flu season fast approaching

This winter, we may have a "twin-demic” of both COVID and flu filling hospital beds and clinics. It is important that people receive their influenza vaccination to keep this from happening.

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Certain flu shots can better protect older adults

Flu is ripping through our community. Now is the time to get vaccinated! If you are an older adult, you should know that some flu vaccines offer you better protection than others.

get those vaccinations

Third dose booster offers many benefits for children

Like many common vaccines, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines should have been a three-dose series. The first two injections prime the immune system, and the third boosts it to provide a higher antibody response. In 5 to 11 year olds, the booster more than doubles the antibody levels found following the second dose. Additionally, boosting has been shown in other age groups to further improve the antibodies so that they better bind the virus and provide more protection against variants.

Health and wellness with UTMB Health and Houston Moms

Covid Vaccine and Kids 5+

Dr. Elizabeth Rodriguez Lien shares what parents need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine and the 5+ population.

We get it to help #fightflu/ National Influenza Vaccination Week: December 5-11

5 Myths About the Flu Vaccine

This week (Dec. 5-11) is National Influenza Vaccination Week, which is an annual observance to remind everyone six months of age and older to get their annual flu vaccine. We hear many myths about the flu vaccine, and we’re here to bust them.

man with a band aide on arm and giving a thumbs up

Get the Flu Shot and Fight Flu

It’s that time of year again—flu season. Getting the annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu.

Pediatric Primary Care

Back to School Wellness

Dr. Manuela Murray joined Meagan Clanahan of the Houston Moms Blog to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine, back-to-school well-checks and more.

Four teens taking a selfie

The best memories are made in person.

Approved for individuals 12 years of age and older, the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is now available at all UTMB Health primary care clinics—just in time for back to school check-ups and physicals.

close up of a COVID-19 spike

COVID-19 vaccine odds on favorite

We Americans are not good at calculating risk. Some feel that if something bad is going to happen, it will happen to them.