Why Are Vaccines Important?

Updated on Aug 13, 2025 | Featured, Your Health

Vaccines strengthen your body’s natural defenses. They are the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and your family from many preventable diseases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Vaccines are one of the few ways we have to eliminate—or mostly eliminate—certain diseases. But often, for this approach to be effective, almost everyone needs to get vaccinated, according to Jennifer Duchon, MD, MPH, DrPH, a pediatrician and an expert in infectious diseases. In this Q&A, Dr. Duchon, who is Hospital Epidemiologist and Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discusses why vaccines are important, especially for young children, and why you should talk with your doctor or health care provider if you have any questions about them.

Jennifer Duchon, MD, MPH, DrPH

Why are vaccines important? Vaccines help keep us healthy on several levels. On a personal level, getting vaccinated prevents you from getting sick or from developing the worst complications of a vaccine preventable disease, such as hospitalization or death. On a community level, getting vaccinated keeps your family and friends safe. Some people cannot get vaccines; they may be too young or may have a compromised immune system or some other health issue that makes them unable to receive a vaccine. But if you’re vaccinated, your risk of transmitting the disease is usually much lower. Which means you help others near you avoid getting the disease.

How does that work? In a particular population, we need a percentage of people vaccinated to prevent the spread of certain diseases. For example, for measles, which we consider to be eliminated in the United States due to an effective vaccine, we need about 95 percent of the local population to be vaccinated to prevent spread. Even a small outbreak can spread farther and faster than you’d think, and as fewer people are vaccinated, epidemic spread of a disease is possible. Remember, we’re all citizens of the world, and we have a responsibility to protect people who can’t protect themselves from vaccine-preventable diseases.

What vaccines do children need? We recommend several vaccines for children. Some start at birth; others we administer later. Some are single vaccines, while others require multiple doses to build up immunity, or yearly vaccination  to combat emerging disease mutations. For the exact vaccination schedule, check out the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) vaccine schedule and the CDC website. These vaccines include:

  • During a child’s first year, we administer vaccines to protect against hepatitis, Streptococcus pneumoniae; Haemophilus influenzae (which are bacteria that cause meningitis, blood stream infections and ear infections); tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
  • At one year of age of older, children receive one vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella, known as the MMR vaccine, as well as for varicella (chickenpox) . When they reach 4 to 6 years of age (typically school age), they need a booster shot for some of these diseases, including the MMR and varicella vaccines.
  • Booster shots for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are also needed after the primary series.
  • We also recommend certain vaccines for older school age kids, to protect against diseases such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal disease.

There are also some vaccines available for people with certain medical conditions as well as boosters for pregnant and elderly people. In addition, there are vaccines adults and children need annually, such as flu and COVID-19.

If I have any questions or concerns about vaccines, what should I do?

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or your child’s doctor. It’s important to know that all the vaccines listed on the AAP and CDC schedules have been studied extensively for safety and efficacy. Even the newest vaccines have been researched very carefully. The CDC continues to collect information about the safety of all vaccines; there are mechanisms in place for anyone—the public, a health care provider, or a health department—to report adverse reactions. The CDC studies these results, looking for trends. I recommend speaking to your primary care pediatrician, your family doctor, your obstetrician, or whomever you see regularly, have a long-term relationship with, and trust. You know these doctors—and you know they have your and your child’s best interests at heart. I always recommend asking as many questions as you want.

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Stories Behind the Science: A New Way Forward With Food Allergies

Updated on Aug 15, 2025 | Allergy, Featured, Research

Stories Behind the Science: A New Way Forward With Food Allergies

The Esteves family on vacation, from left to right: Craig, Violet, Holly, Jackson, and Sailor Esteves.

Eating out for Jackson Esteves, 10, from Bayville, Long Island, had always been a gamble for him and his parents. With severe food allergies of various kinds—peanuts, dairy, sesame seeds, to name a few—having a meal in a restaurant, or even at a friend’s house, came with challenges and stress.

When Jackson’s parents were told that it could be possible to address at least his peanut allergy and make it less severe, they were ecstatic. “When the opportunity to participate in this trial was presented to us, we jumped,” said Holly Esteves, Jackson’s mother.

Jackson was enrolled into a study, named CAFETERIA, which explored whether it is possible for people who are allergic to peanuts—but are able to take small amounts—to be desensitized to the allergen through a form of immunotherapy that gradually exposes the individuals to peanut butter.

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, found that participants who received allergist-supervised treatment with peanut butter were able to tolerate more peanut butter than before, without any allergic reactions.

“Our study results suggest a safe, inexpensive, and effective pathway for allergists to treat children with peanut allergy who can already tolerate the equivalent of at least half a peanut, considered a high-threshold peanut allergy,” said Scott Sicherer, MD, Director of the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital.

The findings, published in NEJM Evidence, suggest multiple ways forward for the research team.

“There are still many things we need to know to really broaden the impact of this research,” said Dr. Sicherer, who is also Chief of the Serena and John Liew Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology in Mount Sinai’s Department of Pediatrics.

Scott Sicherer, MD, Director of the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, and Chief of the Serena and John Liew Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology in Mount Sinai’s Department of Pediatrics.

“Can we apply this to other allergens? How do we know what the right threshold of tolerance should be? How do we identify whether patients are right for this kind of treatment? The road ahead is an exciting one,” said Dr. Sicherer.

Read below to learn more about how the CAFETERIA study helped Jackson live a fuller life, the next steps for researchers, and what it takes to get there.

A constant state
of hypervigilance

Jackson and Holly Esteves.

Jackson had lived with an allergy diagnosis pretty much since birth.

“It is a constant in our lives. I live with a seriousness that I used to be able to escape, but eventually, being in a perpetual state of high alert takes its toll,” said Ms. Esteves. Every day, several times a day, she worries that her son will encounter an allergic reaction. “I often feel worn down and tired from the worry, but I remember to slow down, breathe, and find gratitude in the little things.”

Over time, the Esteves family learned to adjust to a “never normal.”  “It’s not necessarily easier, it is just what we’re accustomed to,” said Ms. Esteves.

That means that when Jackson goes to school and camp, he carries his own lunch and safe snacks. Going to a friend’s birthday party? He has to bring his own meal and cupcake.

“When we travel, we also need a kitchen accommodation to prepare food,” said Ms. Esteves. “I’ve learned how to order in restaurants, how to engage in constructive conversations with school and camp staff, and really how to advocate for my son always.”

The CAFETERIA study kicked off in August 2019, and Jackson was one of 73 participants in the trial. Participants were randomly and equally assigned to either the ingestion group—starting with one-eighth of a teaspoon of peanut butter, and eventually increasing to one tablespoon—or avoiding peanut products entirely.

After 18 months, both groups were tested on how much peanut they could eat without an allergic reaction. Among those who completed the study, all 32 children in the ingestion group could tolerate two and a half tablespoons of peanut butter. Only 3 of 30 children in the avoidance group could tolerate that amount.

Jackson, who was in the ingestion group, had no issues with the escalation doses. He is currently working with Dr. Sicherer to address his other allergies.

“Today, Jackson is safely eating peanut butter. Not only were we able to open up his diet, but we forged a bond with the Mount Sinai community who deeply understand the need for innovation, treatment, and prevention of food allergy disease,” said Ms. Esteves.

Figure A of this diagram shows the percentage of each respective group that achieved desensitization to peanut product at the end of the trial. Figure B shows the percentage of each respective group that retained that desensitization after being subject to peanut product avoidance. Figure C shows the total dose of peanut product individuals in each respective group was able to tolerate from baseline to the end of the trial. Figure D shows the size of wheals of participants in each group when subject to a skin prick test, from baseline to the end of the trial.

“I am incredibly grateful for our trial experience, for the wonderful professionals who took care of us, and for the research that I hope will help thousands, if not millions, of people,” she said.

And the CAFETERIA study didn’t offer just Jackson a new lease on life—it took a weight off Ms. Esteves too. “I used to lead conversations with an apology for being a bother about Jackson’s allergies, but not anymore. Now I lead with compassionate command,” she said.

“I used to lead conversations with an apology for being a bother about Jackson’s allergies, but not anymore. Now I lead with compassionate command.” —Holly Esteves, Jackson’s mother.

What it takes
to get to the next stage

Dr. Sicherer at the the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute.

With the CAFETERIA study concluded, Dr. Sicherer and his team are already contemplating next steps. The biggest question: can this method of immunotherapy be replicated in other food allergies?

A clear, direct way to test that would be a formal multicenter study in different types of food, said Dr. Sicherer. “That would be a huge undertaking—a clinical trial like that would require, perhaps, in the ballpark of $15 million, and years to run.”

But should the team’s hypothesis prove right, it could change how allergists can treat and advise children with high-threshold food allergies.

“A decade ago, allergists used to tell patients to completely avoid a food they were allergic to, even if they had a threshold before getting a reaction,” said Dr. Sicherer. “With the findings from the CAFETERIA study, it could be a future where patients could work with their doctors to start small, and eventually overcome their allergy.”

Specialists in the field have indicated interest in this new possibility, noted Dr. Sicherer. In a survey his team did, many allergists said they were open to recommending that patients with high-threshold allergies attempt a food escalation challenge.

Basic science
matters too

Supinda Bunyavanich, MD, MPH, MPhil, Mount Sinai Professor in Allergy and Systems Biology, has a lab focused on studying systems biology in allergy and asthma.

Even as the team is applying for grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund that trial, researchers at Mount Sinai are working on parallel questions that the CAFETERIA study couldn’t address.

“Pharmaceutical companies have long focused on developing options for people who have low-threshold food allergies—meaning they react even to the slightest amount,” said Dr. Sicherer. “But not all patients with allergies are the same. What if they have higher thresholds, then how do we know which strategy—be it our protocol from the CAFETERIA study, or the commercial drugs—is best suited for them?”

There are two Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for food allergies: Palforzia, peanut allergen powder, used as ingested immunotherapy for children with confirmed peanut allergies, and Xolair® (omalizumab), an injected antibody therapy used to reduce the risk of allergic reactions in case of an accidental exposure.

“Furthermore, we need a better way of identifying allergy thresholds in patients other than by feeding patients increasing amounts of a food to see when symptoms start,” said Dr. Sicherer.

A key to answering those questions: biomarkers. Researchers at the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute and elsewhere in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai are tackling biomarkers at all levels, from basic science to human models. Some ongoing allergy research at labs at Mount Sinai include:

  • Hugh Sampson, MD, Kurt Hirschhorn, M.D./The Children’s Center Foundation Chair in Pediatrics, focusing on the humoral immune system and the proteins it makes that cause allergic reactions.
  • Maria Curotto de Lafaille, PhD, working on B cells and food allergies.
  • Erik Wambre, PhD, Director of Technology and Business Development at the Human Immune Monitoring Center at Mount Sinai, working on T cell responses in food allergies.
  • Supinda Bunyavanich, MD, MPH, MPhil, Mount Sinai Professor in Allergy and Systems Biology, studying systems biology in allergy and asthma, including the microbiome.

Dr. Sicherer (left) with Hugh Sampson, MD (right), Kurt Hirschhorn, M.D./The Children’s Center Foundation Chair in Pediatrics, whose lab focuses on the humoral immune system and the proteins it makes that cause allergic reactions.

These teams are firing on all cylinders to gather support. “Even philanthropic support can lead to something greater,” said Dr. Sicherer. “After all, that’s how the CAFETERIA study got started.”

To get NIH funding, one needs preliminary data as part of the application. In 2015, the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute launched the Food Allergy Treatment and Research Center, which is supported by philanthropy. The research center had a high success rate with a pilot study that was the precursor of the CAFETERIA study. With those findings, Dr. Sicherer applied for NIH funding in 2017, and was awarded the grant in 2018.

In a way, the journey of this research has similarities with the treatment protocol, where patients escalate from one dose to the next, eventually getting their desired outcome, noted Dr. Sicherer.

“In this case, it began with small philanthropic support, leading to a small study and idea, which then led to the CAFETERIA study,” he said. “I can’t wait to see where it goes next.”

What You Need to Know Right Now About Legionnaires’ Disease in New York City

Aug 5, 2025 | Featured, Infectious Diseases, Your Health

You have probably heard about an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City.  Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by Legionella bacteria. The outbreak is mostly affecting people in an area of Harlem. The disease is suspected to have been caused by a building’s cooling system.

Vani George, DO

A key takeaway for New Yorkers is that Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious, cannot be spread by person-to-person contact, and can be treated with antibiotics, according to Vani George, DO, Assistant Professor, Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

In this Q&A, Dr. George discusses Legionnaires’ and how to protect yourself.

Can I catch Legionnaires’ from another person?

No, you cannot. Legionella bacteria thrive in warm water and people get infected and sick by breathing aerosolized water droplets in the air that are contaminated with Legionella.

What are early symptoms I should watch for, and how serious can it get?

Some of the early symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are very similar to flu and can include fever, cough, headaches, shortness of breath, and muscle aches. As opposed to other types of pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease can cause gastrointestinal disturbances, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as kidney injury.

How is Legionnaires’ disease treated?

Legionnaires’ disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Complications from the disease are less common if treatment is started early on. It’s important to contact your health care provider as soon as possible if you have flu-like symptoms.

How did the recent outbreak in New York City happen?

Currently, there is a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease in Harlem from the following zip codes: 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039. The suspected source of the bacteria causing pneumonia in this community is a cooling tower in the affected area. Cooling towers are water systems on top of the buildings that control the temperature of cooling systems, such as central air conditioning or refrigeration. There is an ongoing investigation and all the cooling towers in this area are being tested by local health authorities. The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene has reported that the current outbreak is unrelated to any building’s plumbing system. It is safe for you to drink water, bathe, shower, cook, and use your air conditioner.

Is this contamination likely to happen at other locations in the city, and how?

The contamination can happen at other locations in the summer months because the bacteria thrive in warm water between 77-113o F and in stagnant water. New York City’s cooling tower regulations have specific requirements of maintenance to prevent such outbreaks in the community.

Beside cooling towers, how else is the disease spread?

In addition to cooling towers, other sources of legionella have been decorative fountains, hot tubs, humidifiers, hot water tanks, and whirlpool spas.

Am I at higher risk because of my age or any health issues I have?

Most healthy people exposed to Legionella generally don’t get sick. Individuals at higher risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease after exposure are:

  • Adults 50 years or older
  • Current or former smokers
  • People with weakened immune systems
  • People with a chronic disease

How can I avoid Legionnaires’ disease?

If you own any of the following devices, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding cleaning, disinfecting, and maintenance:

  • Cooling towers
  • Decorative fountains
  • Hot tubs
  • Centrally installed mister, atomizers, air washers or humidifiers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a useful toolkit in controlling Legionella in common sources of exposure.

For more information, read Cooling Towers: Learning from Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Investigations from NYC Health.

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A Top Mount Sinai Neuroscience PhD Student Writes a Winning Essay as She Proposes Mentorship Initiatives Encouraging a Love for Science and Medicine in Rural America

Jul 31, 2025 | Featured, Research

“The question is, how many potential scientists are lost because they have never seen a path forward?” says Anna Bright, a Neuroscience PhD student. “What if, instead of stumbling upon a passion by chance, students had direct access to mentors who could illuminate the possibilities before them?”

When Anna Bright, a Neuroscience PhD student at Mount Sinai’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, was growing up in rural Tennessee, it was not easy to imagine a career in science. Who would be her role model?

“My story is not unique,” says Ms. Bright. “Countless rural students face similar struggles, navigating their education with limited exposure to careers beyond their immediate surroundings. The question is, how many potential scientists are lost because they have never seen a path forward? What if, instead of stumbling upon a passion by chance, students had direct access to mentors who could illuminate the possibilities before them?”

Today, Ms. Bright is leading an outreach effort to implement mentorship initiatives in rural school systems that connect students with alumni who have pursued advanced degrees in science and medicine.

Ms. Bright passionately wrote about her outreach effort in an essay, “Sending Science Down Yonder,” that she submitted recently for the international 2025 Essay Contest sponsored by the Lasker Foundation. In July, she was named one of the four co-winners. Participants were asked to write about a specific innovation in education or training that would help ensure a sustainable, inclusive, and successful future biomedical research workforce. Click here to read her essay and to watch short videos about her interests and experiences as a young scientist. 

“Beyond the initial excitement of being named a winner, I mostly felt grateful to have my story shared with a wider audience,” Ms. Bright says. “This is tangible evidence that my personal experience struggling to find how someone of my socioeconomic background could fit into the academic world is something worth telling—and ideally, correcting, for the next generation of scientists.

“Today, well over halfway into my PhD, I still have moments where I doubt I belong in this space. This is a reminder that educational resources need to be extended to students who still encounter barriers to higher education—whether that be financial, cultural, or systemic. I would like to thank my lab members and my mentor, Joel Blanchard, for cultivating such a supportive and creative space for conducting science.”

Ms. Bright is a fourth-year student in the lab of Joel Blanchard, PhD, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, and Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, whose research group engineers 3D models of human brain tissue from stem cells and applies them to understanding and therapeutically targeting risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease, and other forms of cognitive impairment.

 “We are particularly interested in how glial cells and brain vasculature play a role in neurodegeneration,” she says. “We explore how genetic and environmental factors affect astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and the blood-brain barrier in ways that trigger pathology.”

Her thesis project centers around how APOE4, a gene variant and the largest genetic risk factor for AD, affects oligodendrocyte development and myelination. “The primary role of oligodendrocytes in the brain is to produce myelin, the fatty blanket wrapped around axons to promote health and signaling. Myelin degeneration is one of the earliest pathologies in AD, so understanding why it breaks down in this disease could open the door for novel preventative methods.”

In July, she was the first author on a review paper in Nature Cell Biology that included Dr. Blanchard and two researchers affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.

“We reviewed literature connecting oligodendrocyte and myelin deficits to AD,” she says. “A wide range of evidence implicates this cell type in AD onset and progression, and we discuss seminal studies establishing oligodendrocyte biology as a key player in AD, proposed underlying mechanisms, emerging techniques in myelin research, and next directions for this field of study.”

Says Dr. Blanchard: “Anna brings a rare combination of creativity, persistence, and a deep sense of purpose to her work. Her research on how APOE4 affects oligodendrocyte development is breaking new ground in our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, while her passion for mentorship and outreach shows her commitment to shaping the future of science. We’re incredibly proud to see her recognized with this award. It reflects both her scientific contributions and the positive impact she is already having on the next generation.”

Learn more about the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Mount Sinai

A New Twice-Yearly PrEP: What Is Yeztugo?

Jul 25, 2025 | Featured, HIV AIDS, LGBT Health

There are many different ways people can protect themselves against HIV. First, there was a daily pill. Then, an injectable that is taken every two months became available. Now, a new option with a longer time between dosing is out: In June, Gilead Sciences announced it had received approval for Yeztugo® (lenacapavir) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Yeztugo is an injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV, taken twice a year in a clinic setting. PrEP medications prevent HIV infections in various ways.

Yeztugo falls into the class of capsid inhibitors, which work by targeting the protein shell that protects the virus’s genetic material and enzymes.

“I’m excited that we’re getting more options,” said Antonio Urbina, MD, Medical Director for the Institute for Advanced Medicine at Mount Sinai. “There are many different people out there with different circumstances, and the more options we have out there to protect people from HIV, the better.”

What is Yeztugo, and who might it be suitable for? In a Q&A, Dr. Urbina explains the drug in detail and how it stacks up against other PrEP options.

Antonio Urbina, MD, Medical Director, Institute for Advanced Medicine at Mount Sinai

How effective is Yeztugo at protecting against HIV?

Two large phase 3 clinical trials were used as evidence for Yeztugo to be approved: PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2. The two trials examined more than 8,000 participants collectively.

What stood out to me was that these studies not only examined the drug in cisgender men who have sex with men, but also transgender men and women, nonbinary people, and adolescent girls. They were very inclusive studies.

The data were extraordinary: in PURPOSE 1, there were zero HIV infections in the Yeztugo group, whereas the daily oral PrEP group had 16 cases. In PURPOSE 2, there were two HIV infections in the Yeztugo group, while the daily oral PrEP group had 16 acquisitions.

Statistical analysis not only showed Yeztugo was significantly superior at preventing HIV compared to the background rate, but also to the daily PrEP group.

How is Yeztugo given?

On the first visit, the patient is given two injections, and two pill versions of the same drug to take in the clinic. Then, the patient is given two of the same pills to take home to take on the second day.

It is very important for patients to take the second-day pills, because doing so will ensure peak plasma concentration that same day. That means patients will have achieved optimal protection against HIV in as quickly as two days, which is impressive. If the patient fails to take the pills, that protection can be delayed by as much as 10 days.

After that, the patient only needs to come in every six months for injections, with a flexibility window of two weeks before and after the date.

What are its side effects?

The most common side effects occurred at the injection site. There were the usual pain, swelling, and itchiness reactions, and most were mild to moderate. However, there is an injection site reaction that occurred in a large proportion of patients—roughly 65 percent—which was described as the formation of a “nodule.”

To understand these nodules, we have to go into how this drug works. Yeztugo is injected into the subcutaneous layer, under the skin but above the muscle. A deposit of the drug sits there and dissipates over time. For many patients, the nodules might not be visible, although if you touch the site, you might feel a slight lump there.

For some patients, the nodules might be slightly visible and appear raised. Thus, patients are offered a choice on injection sites, and Yeztugo can be given in the abdomen area or the thigh. It is important to educate patients on what to expect.

And for some, the nodules never develop at all. It does not mean, however, that the drug is not working. It varies by patient.

What might be the advantage of Yeztugo over other PrEP options?

One of the biggest challenges of daily oral PrEP is adherence. People are forgetful. When enough daily doses are missed, the protection wanes. Having an option every six months ensures there are no gaps.

The fact that you have to go into clinic for this option—while a hassle—is actually helpful for fighting stigma. Some people don’t like having these medications visible in their cabinets, or having to interact with pharmacists about them.

Lastly—this is less talked about—is the potential to bring more accessible HIV prevention into vulnerable communities and populations. It is harder to bring pills to a community and ask them to take them every day, and refill them every month, compared to giving injections just twice a year. Also, Yeztugo is approved for adolescents, which makes this accessible to younger people as well.

How does one access Yeztugo?

It starts with a conversation with your care provider. There are many different PrEP options out there, and if it is determined a patient would like to go with Yeztugo, an HIV test is done to ensure the patient is negative before starting the regimen.

And then, at subsequent visits, all the label for Yeztugo requires is to document that the patient is HIV negative. Gilead Sciences has not set any sort of protocol for maintenance testing.

However, just because this option is taken twice a year doesn’t mean that the patient should only go for screening that number of times. If a person is very sexually active, it’s a good idea to go for screening not just for HIV, but also other sexually transmitted infections, every three months.

Will Yeztugo be covered by insurance?

The news media has reported that Yeztugo has a list price of roughly $28,000 per year, or about $14,000 per shot. That is a large price tag to swallow, but with commercial insurance, out-of-pocket costs are likely to be lower. Depending on an individual’s insurance, that copay might still be too high, though.

With Yeztugo’s approval being recent, insurance companies are waiting for guidance from state and federal regulatory bodies, including Medicaid. The New York State Department of Health’s AIDS Institute has already given an interim recommendation to clinicians for Yeztugo as a “preferred PrEP regimen,” as long the individual doesn’t mind injections every six months. I’m hopeful that insurance will soon cover Yeztugo on their list of covered drugs.

What has Gilead Sciences said about copay assistance for Yeztugo?

In various statements, the company has said that for people with commercial insurance, through its Copay Saving Program, out-of-pocket costs may be reduced to as low as zero. Some uninsured eligible individuals might also be able to access Yeztugo free of charge through its Advancing Access Patient Assistance Program.

What are the current options for PrEP?

  Truvada Descovy Apretude Yeztugo
Generic drug name Emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide Cabotegravir Lenacapivir
Administration Pill, oral Pill, oral Intramuscular injection, gluteal (buttock) Subcutaneous injection, abdomen or thigh
Dosing Daily Daily Every two months Every six months
Class of drug Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor Integrase strand transfer inhibitor Capsid inhibitor
Generic available Yes No No No
Learn more about accessing PrEP at Mount Sinai

Expert Advice on Protecting Your Kids From Ticks

Updated on Jul 24, 2025 | Featured, Your Health

Being outside is wonderful for children’s development and health. However, if your plans include being in grassy or wooded areas, remember to try to protect your family from ticks and the risk of illnesses like Lyme disease.

The best protection is prevention. You can have children help in a way that also allows them to practice their developmental skills and understand the health benefits of avoiding ticks. Blair Hammond, MD, a pediatrician and Co-Founding Director for the Mount Sinai Parenting Center, explains how and offers four things to keep in mind and to discuss with your family.

Blair Hammond, MD

Choice and Independence

Encourage your child to pick out pants and long-sleeve shirts they’d like to wear to decrease the chance that a tick will get on the skin. You can treat outdoor clothing with permethrin, an insecticide, or buy already made tick-repellent clothing. Giving choices is great for fostering independence.

 Apply and Explain

You can apply insect repellent with DEET to your child’s exposed areas. You can make a game of it: “Where are your ankles? Let’s protect them with the insect repellent.”  Follow recommended safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on choosing the right product for your child’s needs. Remember that back and forth conversations and explaining things helps your child learn language and connect with you.

Routines

You can have a consistent routine of bathing after being outside (this removes non-attached ticks).  Also, try to incorporate tick checks into your nightly routines (a tick needs to be on a person for at least 24 to 48 hours to transmit Lyme disease). Pay special attention to hiding places like under the arms, in and around ears, behind legs, in the groin area, and along the scalp and in the hair. Having consistent routines helps with children’s self-regulation and behavior. Keeping pets free from ticks will also help. The AAP suggests checking your pets every day and using appropriate pet products.

No Need for Panic

If you do find a tick on you or your child, don’t panic. You can carefully remove the tick with tweezers by squeezing at the head and gently pulling back. If the tick has likely been on your child for more than 24 hours, or if you have any questions, call your health care provider. You can get additional guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about what you should do about tick bites.

Get more information from the CDC

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