A better vaccine against one of the deadliest diseases out there - finally!
Monthly roundup from Science Journal for Kids and Teens
Welcome to SJK’s December Newsletter.
As we near the end of the year, you may be looking for some positive news from the scientific world to end 2024 with. We have some for you!
Researchers at University of Oxford conducted clinical trials for a new anti-malaria vaccine and confirmed it to be safe and effective. It prevented 78% of malaria infections in young children. How helpful is the R21 malaria vaccine?
This article is the latest in our Vaccines Collection. Check out these other vaccine-related scientific articles as well:
Why do measles survivors get sicker? - researchers compared antibodies in children who had survived measles with those who had been vaccinated against it. This article comes with a succinct student-friendly video summary:
How many lives do vaccines save? - researchers measured vaccination campaigns’ impact in 98 countries around the world. They found that vaccines saved 37 million lives between 2000 and 2019!
Why get vaccinated when the flu vaccine doesn’t work well? - illustrative research related to herd immunity. This scientific article comes with an interactive lesson-game perfect for teaching the concept of herd immunity.
How can we prevent cervical cancer in Mongolia? - a case study on the relationship between the HPV vaccine and reducing cervical cancer rates.
Can you get vaccinated without a needle? - this is a usually a student-favorite! Who actually loves getting the shot??
Our scientific articles have been featured by GAVI - the Vaccine Alliance and Harvard’s LabXchange. Share these free resources with educators in your network!
In other news this month:
Conservation scientists in South Africa re-discovered a mole species they thought was extinct by detecting its DNA in soil samples! How can we detect rare animals?
Taste scientists (yes, that’s a thing!) in Cambodia tested if local families liked the taste of salt fortified with iodine and thiamine (aka vitamin B1). This study features a simple experimental design that your students can replicate themselves! How can fortified salt help Cambodian families?
That’s all for now. If you ever want to reach out or give us feedback, respond to this email and I will receive it personally. I wish you a good end of the year!
Tanya Dimitrova
Editor-in-Chief