Dr Clodagh Ryan

Guest Post by Medical Student: Cassandra Ziesemer Photo Credit: Heather Hazzan, SELF Magazine Introduction Vaccines were introduced after the second world war (late 1940's), to combat the infectious diseases that caused immense suffering and loss of life. These illnesses are called vaccine-preventable diseases because there was a time—before vaccines—when they caused an enormous burden, not just on families but on health systems. On January 5th, 2026, the CDC changed its guidelines to reduce...

Brendan sat in his daughter’s kitchen, a cup of tea warming his calloused hands. Far from home, he had come to visit his daughter and grandchildren, and the conversation drifted back to his own childhood. The old man began to tell the story of his little sister, Sheila, who died in infancy in their Irish farmhouse in 1947.  “What was that like for you, Dad? Do you remember it at all?” his daughter asked softly. “I do indeed, like it was yesterday,” Brendan said, gazing into the distance. “She...

UPDATED: 2025 USA Measles Outbreak As of May 15, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,024 confirmed...