Rx4Prevention

11/22/2025

Today's Science Friday explores titer tests

Suppose a titer test is recommended to you; what does it mean?

In short, a titer test uses a small blood sample to check for antibodies linked to a specific disease. Antibodies are proteins your immune system creates to fight off viruses and bacteria.

The antibody level shows whether you’ve been successfully vaccinated or had the illness in the past, and thus, have acquired immunity. This test can also give your healthcare provider an overview of how well your immune system is working.

A positive titer test result signals immunity, whereas a negative result indicates your immunity is below the threshold and likely signals the need for a vaccination or booster shot.

Knowing your immunity status is particularly helpful when childhood vaccine records are unavailable or sketchy, a new job involves exposure risk, or during a disease outbreak.

11/21/2025

Protect the lungs of our seniors with RSV vaccines.

RSV can be serious for adults. In fact, each year an estimated 110,000–180,000 adults ages 50 and older in the US are hospitalized due to RSV.

The CDC recommends RSV vaccination for all adults 75+ and adults 50–74 who are at increased risk for severe illness.

Talk to your healthcare provider to see if the RSV vaccination is right for you. Learn more at lung.org/rsv.

11/19/2025

The Rx4Prevention squad (with Kate shown here) vaccinated residents for Covid at last week's Green Hills Independent Living on-site clinic.

Terrific folks!

11/19/2025

We will be vaccinating adults and kiddos too!

Free vaccine clinic for adults and children THIS WEDNESDAY! Go to Johnson County Social Services between 10am-2pm! No insurance required.

11/15/2025

Today's Science Friday: What’s the Forecast for Flu?

This year’s flu season could be one turbulent ride.

Scientists who continuously track viral mutations say the "shift and drift" viral patterns creates challenging adjustments in developing seasonal influenza vaccines.

Last June, scientists observed an abrupt mutation, resulting in seven changes to a strain of H3N2 seasonal flu. This led to a tougher form of the virus that: might bypass some immune defenses, has already started the flu season over a month early, and is historically known to be more severe.

Experts worry this perfect storm may lead to the worst flu season in a decade and have broadcast a "flu jab SOS” alarm.

Is Iowa ready? As of November 7, Iowa Health & Human Services reported that more than 600,000 people—about 20% of the state's population—have received a flu shot. Some counties are better protected than others: while roughly 25% of Johnson County residents are vaccinated, Davis County has a vaccination rate below 10%.

11/08/2025

Today's Science Friday: Immunity patterns under the microscope

Imagine this scenario: you and your partner get vaccinations on the same day. While both of you show strong immune responses at first, six months later one of you stays healthy while the other contracts COVID.

Why the difference?

To solve immunity puzzles like this one, scientists in Japan studied more than 2,500 individuals who received the COVID vaccine, measuring their antibodies along the way. With the aid of computer analysis, they discovered four distinct patterns in response to vaccines.

Interestingly, they learned about 20 percent are "rapid-decliners." These individuals started with high antibody levels that quickly dropped, while others' kept high immunity. Investigators believe the difference is linked to unique biological mechanisms, which they plan to investigate next.

"Identifying the rapid-decliner pattern is especially important -- it helps explain why some people may need boosters sooner than others that could potentially contribute to better, more personalized vaccination strategies,” said the lead author.

11/06/2025

Did an on-site flu / COVID vaccination day fall off the radar for your organization?

Rx4Prevention has great news: it's not too late to schedule on-site delivery of the 2025-26 flu and COVID vaccines.

Connect with us: https://rx4prevention.com/

11/01/2025

Call it a public health head-scratcher. Even though individuals in healthcare play a vital role in stopping the spread of illness among patients, some remain hesitant about vaccines for themselves.

A new survey of healthcare workers, with its findings published in "Nature," explored the roots of vaccine hesitancy within this workforce:

• While most support routine childhood vaccines, about half say they question the `safety of COVID vaccines.
• Vaccine hesitancy is greater among nurses, administrative staff, and those with lower educational levels than among doctors, scientists, and individuals with advanced degrees.
• Confidence in vaccine safety, convenient access, and support from colleagues largely motivate health workers to become immunized.

Keep reading and keep learning with the team at Rx4Prevention. We will publish our newest version of Science Friday next week.

10/29/2025

Say boo to the flu (and other preventable illnesses)!

Don’t let flu, COVID-19, or measles haunt your Halloween! 👻The best protection? Vaccination.

Say BOO to the flu and this season ➡️ www.nfid.org/flu

10/25/2025

It's Science Friday!

Today's topic: the COVID vaccine-cancer treatment link

Previously, we explored a promising scientific path toward developing an mRNA vaccine to combat cancer. At a conference in Europe this week, researchers presented new findings that bring science closer to achieving that goal.

The group announced their finding of a link between mRNA COVID vaccines and improved survival rates in cancer patients. People who received an mRNA COVID vaccine less than 100 days before beginning cancer therapy had better survival rates.

Finding a way to harness a person’s immune system to fight cancer cells has been the holy grail for researchers for years, with little success. Prior immune-stimulating strategies did either too little to activate the immune system or too much, triggering an overactive response that damages the body.

Can it be that the mRNA COVID vaccine hits that immune sweet spot?

Stay tuned! And…keep cheering for potential life-saving advances that prevent and fight disease like cancer.

10/18/2025

It's Science Friday at Rx4Prevention.

Today, let’s continue pondering why bad arguments about vaccines can sound so convincing. Take, for example, the bandwagon effect.

The claim: Lots of people question vaccines; thus, there must be something wrong with them.

The bandwagon effect assumes that a common belief is automatically true. Social media, unfortunately, can be like pouring gasoline on a misinformation fire. When people hear their opinions repeated, the effect is magnified, even when the claim is obviously incorrect.

Humans are wired to jump on bandwagons, driven by a desire to be part of the majority, fit in, and avoid being wrong.

The fact is that numerous and unbiased scientific experiments have repeatedly shown that vaccines are safe and effective in preventing disease.

Keep reading our Rx4Prevention posts! Future blogs will pose other potential pitfalls in making informed decisions about vaccines.

10/17/2025

The Rx4Prevention team is immunizing residents for flu and COVID all over Iowa, including our colleagues in Osage!