health tips

Dengvaxia: Know this Before getting the Shot Dengvaxia: Know this Before getting the Shot By: Arlene Gentallan         Public expressed concern as the French drug maker Sanofi Pasteur announced last November 30, 2017 that the vaccine Dengvaxia isn't as safe as they first claimed it to be.         Dengvaxia, a 20 year undertaking to prevent the mosquito-transmitted disease dengue, can lead an individual to develop a severe form of dengue if they have not yet been previously infected by dengue.         Sanofi clarified that Dengvaxia does not cause dengue infection. Receiving dengvaxia shot will however, increase the chance that an individual will have a severe form of infection should they be infected with dengue for the first time.         Dengue has 4 strains of virus. It is known that a person develops a life-long immunity against a specific strai...

How long is tetanus toxoid vaccine effective? By: Arlene Gentallan How long is tetanus toxoid vaccine effective?         Tetanus toxoid contains inactivated tetanus toxin. It is administered to an individual to trigger the production of antibody against tetanus.         Tetanus toxoid vaccine is a booster given every 10 years for individuals ages 7 years old and up.         However, if 5 years has passed since you've received your last tetanus toxoid vaccine and you sustained a physical injury (like a deep cut) which puts you at risk of tetanus, it is recommended that you get both tetanux toxoid vaccine and tetanus toxoid immune globulin shot.         As opposed to tetanus toxoid which triggers your body to produce antibody, tetanus immune globulin already contains antibodies which provides you with short-term but immediate protection against the di...