Health Rewind: Only 23 Percent of Flu Shots Are Effective

Plus, the flu has killed 26 kids so far.

Influenza Vaccines Not as Preventative as Hoped - A recent report just found that this season’s flu vaccine is only 23 percent successful. The CDC still claims that there are benefits of getting vaccinated, despite higher numbers of vaccinated people getting the flu. Since early January, the flu was widespread in 46 states and 26 children had died from complications of the infection, writes Health Day. (Photo: Kristian Sekulic/Getty Images)

1 / 10

Influenza Vaccines Not as Preventative as Hoped - A recent report just found that this season’s flu vaccine is only 23 percent successful. The CDC still claims that there are benefits of getting vaccinated, despite higher numbers of vaccinated people getting the flu. Since early January, the flu was widespread in 46 states and 26 children had died from complications of the infection, writes Health Day. (Photo: Kristian Sekulic/Getty Images)

Menstruation Among Homeless Women Poses Challenges - A recent Al Jazeera report highlighted the challenges that many homeless women face in maintaining their personal hygiene and how doing something as simple as changing a maxi pad in a shelter bathroom can be dangerous. The article also highlights the difficulty in getting access to soap, sanitary napkins, tampons and toothpaste. (Photo: allanswart/Getty Images)

2 / 10

Menstruation Among Homeless Women Poses Challenges - A recent Al Jazeera report highlighted the challenges that many homeless women face in maintaining their personal hygiene and how doing something as simple as changing a maxi pad in a shelter bathroom can be dangerous. The article also highlights the difficulty in getting access to soap, sanitary napkins, tampons and toothpaste. (Photo: allanswart/Getty Images)

Thanks, Obama! Fewer Americans Struggling to Cover Medical Bills - Thanks to Obamacare, not only do more Americans have health care, but they also can better afford their medical bills, the Associated Press reported. A recent health insurance survey found people who got treatment but had problems paying their bills dropped from 41 percent in 2012 to 35 percent last year. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

3 / 10

Thanks, Obama! Fewer Americans Struggling to Cover Medical Bills - Thanks to Obamacare, not only do more Americans have health care, but they also can better afford their medical bills, the Associated Press reported. A recent health insurance survey found people who got treatment but had problems paying their bills dropped from 41 percent in 2012 to 35 percent last year. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

How Nurses Can Help Low-Income Mothers - A recent article in Atlantic magazine reported on the Nurse Family Partnership, a South Carolina-based organization that partners with low-income mothers when they are pregnant and continues the relationship until their child turns 2. The groups help teen and older mothers apply for food stamps, teach parenting classes, educate about nutrition and navigate healthy relationships and better health. (Photo: Blend Images/Terry Vine/Getty Images)

4 / 10

How Nurses Can Help Low-Income Mothers - A recent article in Atlantic magazine reported on the Nurse Family Partnership, a South Carolina-based organization that partners with low-income mothers when they are pregnant and continues the relationship until their child turns 2. The groups help teen and older mothers apply for food stamps, teach parenting classes, educate about nutrition and navigate healthy relationships and better health. (Photo: Blend Images/Terry Vine/Getty Images)

Is Red Meat Really Awful for Us? - Three out of five health experts from Time magazine claim that eating red meat can be OK. But here’s the deal: Not all red meat is created equal. Eating processed meats like bacon and cold cuts can increase your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Eating lean red meat one to two times a week is ideal. So no, you can’t OD on filet mignon. (Photo: Valentyn Volkov/Getty Images) 

5 / 10

Is Red Meat Really Awful for Us? - Three out of five health experts from Time magazine claim that eating red meat can be OK. But here’s the deal: Not all red meat is created equal. Eating processed meats like bacon and cold cuts can increase your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Eating lean red meat one to two times a week is ideal. So no, you can’t OD on filet mignon. (Photo: Valentyn Volkov/Getty Images) 

ADVERTISEMENT
Sierra Leone Gets First Ebola Clinic for Expecting Mothers - Doctors Without Borders has opened up its first Ebola clinic for pregnant women, the Huffington Post reported. Expecting mothers are at a higher risk for the deadly virus and this facility will meet the special needs for them and their unborn babies. More than 20,000 people have been infected with Ebola, according to the World Health Organization. (Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Nurdldin)

6 / 10

Sierra Leone Gets First Ebola Clinic for Expecting Mothers - Doctors Without Borders has opened up its first Ebola clinic for pregnant women, the Huffington Post reported. Expecting mothers are at a higher risk for the deadly virus and this facility will meet the special needs for them and their unborn babies. More than 20,000 people have been infected with Ebola, according to the World Health Organization. (Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Nurdldin)

New Year, New Attitude - It looks as though many Americans are taking their pledge for a healthier lifestyle in 2013 to heart, and for some, it starts with kicking bad habits. In a study published Jan. 8 by Legacy, a national tobacco education foundation, 34 percent of U.S. adults said they planned to quit smoking as a New Year’s resolution in 2013. Just 18 percent in the study said it was a resolution for 2012. (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

7 / 10

Teens Believe Occasional Smoking Isn’t All That Harmful - Whether you smoke a pack a day or five cigarettes, smoking is dangerous, yet teens are unaware, a recent CDC study found. Sixty-four percent of teens thought that smoking five or less cigarettes a day had very little health risk, with 10 percent saying there was no risk at all. Researchers emphasize the need for better anti-smoking education. (Photo: GettyImages)

The Flu Has Killed 26 Kids This Season - The flu has spread to 46 states, killing 26 children thus far, USA Today reported. This season has been particularly dangerous given that H3N2, a tough flu strain that sends people to the hospital, is the most common strain and the current vaccines don’t really protect you from it. Also, childrens' immune systems are very vulnerable.(Photo: Getty Images/Blend Images RM)

8 / 10

The Flu Has Killed 26 Kids This Season - The flu has spread to 46 states, killing 26 children thus far, USA Today reported. This season has been particularly dangerous given that H3N2, a tough flu strain that sends people to the hospital, is the most common strain and the current vaccines don’t really protect you from it. Also, childrens' immune systems are very vulnerable.(Photo: Getty Images/Blend Images RM)

Does Working Night Shifts Increase Black Women’s Diabetes Risk? - Researchers found that younger Black women who work the night shift increase their risk for diabetes by 39 percent compared to women who work during the day. Why? Working in the wee hours does something to our sleep cycle, which can disrupt metabolism and blood sugar stabilization, HelpMeOutDoc.com reported. (Photo: Mark Hatfield/Getty Images)

9 / 10

Does Working Night Shifts Increase Black Women’s Diabetes Risk? - Researchers found that younger Black women who work the night shift increase their risk for diabetes by 39 percent compared to women who work during the day. Why? Working in the wee hours does something to our sleep cycle, which can disrupt metabolism and blood sugar stabilization, HelpMeOutDoc.com reported. (Photo: Mark Hatfield/Getty Images)

What Will the Top Exercise Trends for 2015 Be? - It’s a new year, and, according to Reuters, that brings about a new crop of fitness trends for us to be obsessed with. Looking at fitness apps, it looks like pushing your body to the limit, whether it’s with spin classes, boot camps or personal trainers, seems to be the rage. Meanwhile, Zumba is still popular, but has gone down 9 percent in popularity.(Photo: Getty Images/Vetta)

10 / 10

What Will the Top Exercise Trends for 2015 Be? - It’s a new year, and, according to Reuters, that brings about a new crop of fitness trends for us to be obsessed with. Looking at fitness apps, it looks like pushing your body to the limit, whether it’s with spin classes, boot camps or personal trainers, seems to be the rage. Meanwhile, Zumba is still popular, but has gone down 9 percent in popularity.(Photo: Getty Images/Vetta)