Meningitis; Flu Vaccine; Carseats; 18 Kids

Friday, May 9

In tonight's Medical Watch -- making a pointed effort to reduce meningitis in Chicago. The city health department is in the process of vaccinating 7,000 children against meningococcal disease. Eleven 18-year-olds are the target for the shots as the disease has been targeting them in recent weeks. Two teenagers have died from meningitis in the last two months in Chicago.

Flu Vaccine
And it may not be flu season but the makers of the flu vaccine are hard at work pumping extra doses into their pipeline for fall. This year's batch was mostly unsuccessful in preventing flu. But manufacturers say they are adding 20 million more doses and hoping to target the right strains for better protection.

Carseats
Kids are better protected from injury if their carseats are centered in the back. Crash stats from 16 states reveal children three and younger are 43% less likely to suffer injury when their carseat is fastened in the center rather than one of the side seats. The study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found less than 30% of parents choose the center position ... even though it is the safest.

18 Kids
The Duggar family doesn't have a choice, they need every seat in more than one car. Just in time for Mothers Day Michelle found out she is expecting her 8th child. That means the 41-year old has been pregnant for 11 years of her life ... certainly a medical feat and an exercise in perseverance and patience I am sure. The children range in age from 20 down to 9 months with two sets of twins in there. There are 7 girls, 10 boys and they are all home schooled.