Links:Measles. Cyclospora. Vaccines. Infectious disease headlines have been everywhere this summer — but what do they really mean for you and your family?
On this special live episode For the Love of Health, ChristianaCare's Associate Chief Infection Prevention Officer Dr. Pam Bailey and Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Stephen Eppes go behind the headlines, separate fact from fear and explain what’s driving recent outbreaks.
We discuss why measles spreads so efficiently when community MMR vaccination rates slip below the protection threshold. We also tackle the other big stressor of the summer: foodborne illness. From Cyclospora tied to produce to the familiar names like E. coli, salmonella, and listeria, we break down what you can do at home that actually helps. No doomscrolling required: think washing produce, smarter choices about raw foods, and practical ways to lower risk without giving up salads forever.
Then we zoom out to fall and winter prevention with clear guidance on vaccines, including flu shot timing, what’s new with the mRNA flu vaccine, why COVID vaccination is still important and how RSV protection works for both babies and older adults. We also cover vaccines people often forget about after childhood, including shingles and pneumococcal, plus a fascinating early research signal on vaccines and dementia risk.
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Pamela Bailey, DO, MPH, FIDSA, is the Associate Infection Prevention Officer at ChristianaCare and a board-certified infectious diseases and internal medicine physician. Her work focuses on preventing healthcare-associated infections, improving antimicrobial use and strengthening infection-prevention practices across complex healthcare environments.
Stephen Eppes, M.D is a pediatric infectious disease specialist at ChristianaCare. He previously held the role of Associate Infection Prevention Officer for 11 years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
