Janet A. Jokela –

Measles alert signs in English and Spanish are posted on the front doors of an urgent care facility in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in August 2026. (Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: The measles outbreak is evidence of a broken system

September 18, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Given that measles is so transmissible, the presence of measles is symptomatic of an ailing public health immunization structure.

A customer walks by a display of fresh eggs at a grocery store on Sept. 25, 2024, in San Anselmo, California. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, egg prices have surged more than 28% in August largely due to avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu. Nearly 101 million birds have been affected by bird flu since 2022 which has significantly lowered the number of eggs being produced. (Justin Sullivan/Getty)

Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: Is bird flu a risk yet to people?

November 26, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

The recent transmission pattern of H5N1 avian flu concerns epidemiologists and public health officials.

A worker displays a vial of mpox vaccine at the Cell Block Chicago club in Chicago Aug. 6, 2022. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: Should you be concerned about mpox?

October 7, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

The best way to suppress the spread of mpox both in Africa and around the world is via vaccination.

While there is nothing wrong with taking ownership of one’s health and using the internet to explore possible conditions that match the symptoms that you may be experiencing, such internet searches should not be the endpoint for your self-diagnosis. (SDI Productions/Getty)

Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: Is the (Google) doctor in?

August 2, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

There is nothing wrong with taking ownership of one’s health. However, online searches should not be the endpoint for your self-diagnosis.

A family physician in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, uses artificial intelligence to produce a summary of a patient visit on June 13, 2012. (Maddie McGarvey/The New York Times)

Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: What should we fear with AI in medicine?

May 23, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

AI medical systems can process information more quickly than any human clinician. Yet using this technology in health care also has risks.

Migrants exit a shelter on the Lower West Side on March 8, 2024, in Chicago. A child staying at the shelter developed a confirmed case of measles, Chicago public health officials announced. It was the second case of measles reported in the city that week. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: Measles is making a comeback. Should we be concerned?

March 12, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

The risks to children in contracting measles are greater than the perception many people have.

Sheldon Jacobson and Janet Jokela: Will we have a severe flu season? It doesn’t need to be that way.

July 17, 2024 at 10:33 a.m.

Flu season is fast approaching. Flu shots are now available, containing strains recommended by the Food and Drug Administration's vaccine advisory committee in March. Given the long lead time required...

Pharmacist Patricia Pernal administers the newest COVID-19 vaccine during a clinic for seniors at the Southwest Senior Center on Sept. 9, 2022, in Chicago.

Sheldon Jacobson and Janet Jokela: Will vaccine fatigue affect how many people get the bivalent booster?

July 17, 2024 at 10:32 a.m.

Pfizer's and Moderna's bivalent boosters, which are now available to many age groups, offer protection against the original COVID-19 virus plus the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants. Is the nation...

Masked and unmasked pedestrians on State Street in the Loop on April 14, 2022.

Sheldon Jacobson and Janet A. Jokela: We need clear and sensible information about when to wear a face mask

April 26, 2022 at 8:57 a.m.

The CDC guidelines on community risk (which effectively provides guidance on when to wear a face mask in public venues) focuses on new infection rates, hospitalization admissions, and hospital bed...

People walk along a lakefront wall near Northwestern University's Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center, Nov. 13, 2020. Northwestern University announced this week that students will be required to have the COVID-19 vaccine next academic year.

Op-ed: Require COVID vaccine for all Illinois public college students

July 17, 2024 at 10:32 a.m.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has toyed with the idea of mandating that all college students at state schools be vaccinated prior to their return to campus in the fall. Although elected...

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