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Common Chemicals Could Make Kids' Vaccines Less Effective

Even in the remote Faroe Islands, some children have high levels of perfluorinated compounds in their blood. The chemicals may interfere with the immune system. Stig Nygaard/Flickr hide caption

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Stig Nygaard/Flickr

Shots - Health News

Common Chemicals Could Make Kids' Vaccines Less Effective

Researchers found that children whose blood contained high levels of chemicals used in nonstick coatings and stain-resistant fabrics were less responsive to vaccination. The finding suggests, but doesn't prove, that these chemicals may make some children more vulnerable to infectious diseases.

Common Chemicals Could Make Kids' Vaccines Less Effective

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Nobel Winner Dies 3 Days Before Prize Announced

Dr. Ralph Steinman of Rockefeller University died Friday, three days before he was named a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for "his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity."

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Mike Groll/AP

Shots - Health News

Nobel Winner Dies 3 Days Before Prize Announced

The three scientists who won this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine opened important windows on how the immune system works to defend against microbial invaders and refrain from attacking animals' cells.