How are you feeling? What to know about sickness and health in Miami
The following articles examine health and wellness trends in Miami.
Measles vaccination has become crucial in preventing spread in South Florida. Meanwhile, a Miami studio combines anesthesia with tattooing, allowing clients to undergo lengthy sessions painlessly. Additionally, Miami features serene wellness destinations like The Standard Spa Miami Beach, offering retreats for those seeking relaxation and health improvement.
Take a look at what's happening.
Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa is a stunning escape for wellness lovers.
NO. 1: THIS YEAR, RESET YOUR MIND AND BODY AT THESE SERENE FLORIDA WELLNESS DESTINATIONS
Dreaming of pure relaxation? Discover Florida's top retreats for spa days, Turkish baths and serene escapes that will leave you glowing inside and out. | Published January 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Angela Caraway-Carlton
Sedation Ink artists work on a back tattoo for client Dom Groenveld as he is anesthetized at a surgical office on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Miami, Fla. Sedation Ink offers tattooing under anesthesia, allowing clients to complete extensive body art in a single session. By Photo by Matias J. Ocner
NO. 2: DO YOU NEED ANESTHESIA TO GET A TATTOO? SEE HOW A MIAMI STUDIO MIXES MEDICINE AND INK
What to know about the studio sedation. | Published February 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante
A 3D graphical representation of a measles virus particle.
NO. 3: ARE YOU AT RISK FOR MEASLES? MIAMI SEES CASE AMID U.S. OUTBREAK. WHAT TO KNOW IN FLORIDA
'The reason that we don't get hundreds of cases like we did way in the past, before vaccination, is because of vaccination.' | Published March 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
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CNN
12 minutes ago
- CNN
Sliding vaccine rates hang over vote on CDC director nominee as US measles cases hit dangerous milestone
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday tallied the highest number of US measles cases since the disease was declared eliminated a quarter-century ago, just as a key Senate committee split the vote to advance President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the public health agency. There have been more measles cases in the US this year than any other since the disease was declared eliminated a quarter-century ago, according to CDC data, with at least 1,288 confirmed cases. Just halfway through the year, the case tally has already surpassed the previous record from 2019, when there were a total of 1,274 cases. And it's well above the average of about 180 measles cases that have been reported each year since the disease was declared eliminated in the US in 2000. CNN reported this new milestone on Saturday using data from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation, which updates its numbers more frequently than the CDC. HHS has not responded to CNN's request for comment about the measles milestone. Childhood vaccine coverage has been declining in the US, and the vast majority of measles cases this year – more than 90% – have been in people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown, according to the CDC. When the measles case count reached its previous record in 2019 – during the first Trump administration – both the CDC director and the secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services at the time released statements emphasizing the safety and effectiveness of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and encouraging Americans to get vaccinated. However, almost six months into Trump's second term, the CDC still does not have a director and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long and complicated history with measles vaccines. HHS said in a statement Wednesday that the agency 'continues to support community efforts in dealing with the measles outbreaks' and 'CDC continues to provide technical assistance, laboratory support, and vaccines as requested.' The statement did not specifically address the new measles milestone, instead noting population-level case rates and echoing language that Kennedy has used about vaccines. 'CDC continues to recommend MMR vaccines as the best way to protect against measles. The decision to vaccinate is a personal one,' the statement said. 'People should consult with their healthcare provider to understand their options to get inoculated and should be informed about the potential risks and benefits associated with vaccines.' Concerns about vaccine skepticism were front and center Wednesday as members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted to advance President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the CDC, Dr. Susan Monarez, for a vote by the full Senate. Committee members voted 12-11 to move Monarez's nomination. All of the committee's Republicans backed the longtime immunologist and government scientist, who spoke in her confirmation hearing about restoring trust in the CDC and defended Kennedy's decision to replace the members of a federal panel of vaccine advisers. The vote puts Monarez one step closer to taking the helm at the public health agency, and she will now progress to a full Senate vote. HELP Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and a doctor, voted to advance Monarez's nomination but nodded to falling vaccine coverage and the ongoing measles outbreak. 'Dr. Monarez will work to modernize our data health systems, to improve public health coordination and response while protecting American sensitive health information,' Cassidy said. 'This is especially crucial as the nation combats reemerging public health threats like measles, which has taken three lives in the United States this year.' He continued: 'One that's not included but is tragic: A Canadian woman who was pregnant got exposed to measles and lost her child. [The ongoing outbreak has] hospitalized many more due to misinformation regarding the measles vaccine.' Cassidy publicly pressed Kennedy last month to delay a meeting of the health agency's new vaccine advisers — several of whom have expressed skepticism and safety concerns about long-approved immunizations — amid concerns about their biases. During Wednesday's meeting, Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, called on the committee to hold a hearing about the ongoing measles outbreak and Kennedy's shakeup of vaccine oversight. 'I am concerned because this committee, it feels like, has all but abandoned its serious oversight of this crisis,' she said. 'We haven't had a hearing on the record-breaking number of measles outbreaks or a hearing on how the CDC vaccine panel is now stacked with people who are actually not vetted, and all the previous board members, every single one of them, was removed with no credible explanation.' There needs to be congressional oversight of these actions, Murray said after casting a vote against Monarez. 'I really do hope that Dr. Monarez will defy my expectations. I hope she will stand up for science and put public health first. But again, I hope I have hoped that for others, and here we are today,' she said. Some health experts have emphasized the importance of vaccination rates and their trepidation about precedents being set under Kennedy's leadership of HHS. 'It is no surprise that the most widespread measles outbreak affecting the United States in a generation has occurred under Secretary Kennedy's watch,' Dr. Richard Besser, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the CDC, said in a statement Wednesday. 'His decades-long campaign to discredit vaccines at every turn, which has continued unabated during his time as health secretary, directly contributes to the alarming decline in routine childhood vaccination rates in our country that is resulting in more frequent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases,' he said. 'In addition, the dramatic funding cuts to public health will mean that small outbreaks will grow and spread.' Three people have died of measles in the US this year – two children in Texas and one adult in New Mexico, all of whom were unvaccinated – matching the total number of US measles deaths from the previous two and a half decades. 'I worry that even more children will be forced to pay with their lives or health because of Secretary Kennedy's malfeasance,' Besser said. 'As a pediatrician, I strongly encourage all parents to talk to their healthcare providers, listen to their local public health officials, and learn the facts about measles vaccines, which are incredibly effective and safe.' The MMR vaccine is highly effective. One dose offers 93% protection against measles, and two doses are 97% effective, according to the CDC. 'Vaccines work—full stop. They are one of the most powerful tools we have to protect patients, families and entire communities. We can prevent diseases through vaccines, but too many diseases that we once had under control are starting to reappear because people are choosing to delay or skip immunization,' Dr. Jennifer Brull, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said in a statement. 'There's a lot of confusion around vaccinations, but patients don't have to navigate this alone. Family physicians, pediatricians, pharmacists and other public health workers can help patients wade through all the information and cut through the noise,' she said. 'The bottom line is vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. It's critical that we continue to protect not just individual families, but the health of our entire nation.'
CNN
12 minutes ago
- CNN
The diseases that could return as vaccination rates decline — and why you should care
Vaccines Children's health Maternal health Women's healthFacebookTweetLink Follow Measles have surged to a record high, with more cases reported this year than any year since the disease was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. This disappointing record comes amid falling childhood vaccination rates: Coverage against measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, polio and pertussis is declining in more than 30 states, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some people may believe that if they're personally vaccinated, they have nothing to worry about. But is individual protection enough when contagious illnesses start multiplying? How will falling vaccination rates result in the return of previously eliminated diseases? Will only children be affected, or could adults see an impact as well? Who would be at highest risk if there is lower population-wide immunity? And what can be done to prevent this possibility? To get some answers, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously was Baltimore's health commissioner. CNN: Can falling vaccination rates result in the return of diseases that have been eliminated? Dr. Leana Wen: Yes. There are numerous examples around the world. Countries that were once polio-free have had polio outbreaks due to interruptions in childhood immunization programs caused by war and conflict. Measles outbreaks have occurred in countries where measles had been eliminated, due to falling vaccine coverage. This, in fact, is what we are seeing now in the US. In Texas, 753 measles cases have been confirmed since January. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 98 of these patients have been hospitalized, and two people, both children, have died. This outbreak is believed to have originated in communities with low vaccination rates. What could happen if childhood vaccination rates declined further? A recent study published in JAMA predicted that a 10% decline in measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage could result in more than 11 million measles infections over 25 years. A 50% decline in routine childhood vaccinations could result in 51 million measles cases, 9.9 million rubella cases and 4.3 million polio cases. The projections also included the number of people affected by severe consequences of these diseases: As many as 10.3 million people in the US could be hospitalized, 159,200 could die, 5,400 could experience paralysis from polio, and 51,200 could have neurological consequences from measles. CNN: Is that only unvaccinated people? If someone is vaccinated, do they need to worry if others are unvaccinated? Wen: They should still worry for three main reasons. First, while many vaccinations provide excellent protection against disease, there is still a chance of breakthrough infections — meaning that the vaccine doesn't provide 100% protection. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% protective against measles infection, which is an outstanding level of protection. But it's not 100%, so if someone is exposed to measles, there is still a chance they could become infected. However, vaccination substantially reduces the likelihood of infection and also of having severe disease if they were to become infected. The more disease there is in the community, the higher the likelihood of exposure and infection. Second, there may be some waning of vaccine effectiveness over time. For instance, according to the CDC, immunity to pertussis — also known as whooping cough — starts to wane after a few years following vaccination. Older adults who received childhood vaccinations many years ago may become susceptible if previously controlled childhood diseases make a comeback. Third, there are people who are unable to receive the benefit of vaccination directly themselves. Some people are unable to receive certain vaccines because of specific medical conditions. For instance, someone who has a weakened immune system may not be able to get the MMR vaccine because it contains a live, weakened form of the virus. Also, some people may have medical conditions that render vaccines less effective at protecting them. These individuals depend on the rest of society — those who can receive the vaccine — to do so and try to prevent these diseases from spreading. CNN: What about pregnant people? Are there also some vaccines they cannot get? Wen: This is another good point. Take rubella, or German measles. Pregnant individuals cannot receive the MMR vaccine because it contains live virus. But rubella can be especially dangerous during pregnancy. In addition to increasing the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, rubella can lead to a condition called congenital rubella syndrome that can cause numerous birth defects including heart problems, brain damage, deafness, and lung, liver, eye and thyroid ailments. According to the World Health Organization, before the introduction of the vaccine, as many as 4 babies in every 1,000 live births were born with this condition. Rubella remains the leading cause of vaccine-preventable birth defects. Pregnant patients should not receive other live-attenuated vaccines either. Varicella, the vaccine against chickenpox, is another one of these vaccines. People should receive the vaccines before they are pregnant, ideally as part of their routine childhood immunizations. And other people can help to reduce disease in the community by getting vaccinated themselves. CNN: Who would be at highest risk if there is lower population-wide immunity? Wen: There are three groups I would be the most worried about. First are newborns who are too young to be vaccinated. They are also among the most medically fragile; something that is a mild cold for an older child or healthy adult could send them to the hospital. Second are immunocompromised people. This is a large group and includes patients receiving cancer treatments, transplant patients and individuals taking immunosuppressant medications. These individuals are more likely to become severely ill if exposed to disease. Vaccines may also not protect them as well, or they may be ineligible to receive certain vaccines as we discussed earlier. Third are the elderly. As we discussed many times in reference to Covid-19, these are individuals whose age and underlying medical conditions make them more susceptible to severe illness. That, in combination with possible waning immunity from certain vaccines, could put them at higher risk if there is more disease in the community because of lower vaccine coverage. CNN: What can be done to prevent this possibility? Wen: Everyone should speak with their primary care provider to verify that they are up to date on recommended vaccines. Parents with young children should do this with their family's pediatrician, and adults should also be sure to speak with their family physician or internist as well. The reason to do this is primarily to ensure that you are well-protected. If you are eligible for additional booster doses, you may consider getting them, or, if you are more susceptible to certain illnesses because you are not eligible for some vaccines, you should also know this and take precautions accordingly. There's another reason: The entire concept of population immunity depends on all of us doing our part to keep diseases at bay. That protects us — and others around us, including those who are especially vulnerable to severe illness and death.
Wall Street Journal
14 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Measles, RFK Jr. and Dr. Fauci
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday reported that measles cases hit a 33-year record amid declining children's vaccination rates. This is a warning about how quickly public-health progress can backslide, especially when people in authority fan public fear about the risks of vaccination. Most measles cases this year have occurred in a Texas Mennonite community with low vaccination rates, though there have also been notable outbreaks in New Mexico, Kansas and Kentucky, among other states. The measles virus ranks among the most contagious. The fact that there haven't been more cases this year owes to herd immunity acquired over decades from high vaccination rates among children and adults. Inoculation rates need to stay above 95% or so to limit the virus's spread and protect those who can't get vaccinated, such as infants or the immuno-compromised. In other words, refusing to be inoculated for measles can cause harm to others. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nonetheless insists that the decision to get vaccinated is personal while he makes spurious claims that discourage people from vaccination. 'There are adverse events from the vaccine. It does cause deaths every year. It causes all the illnesses that measles itself cause, encephalitis and blindness, etc., and so people ought to be able to make that choice for themselves,' he said on Fox News this spring.
