With the holiday shopping season in full swing, many of us are busily working through wish lists, hoping to find the perfect present for the children in our lives. Safety should come first when choosing toys for kids – at holiday time and throughout the year.

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about cancers of the female reproductive system, and emphasize the importance of routine screening and early detection.

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, a good time to shine a light on the disease and the importance of regular screening in its prevention. While once the most common cause of cancer death for women, cervical cancer death rates have decreased significantly with greater use of the Pap test, which can find changes in the cervix before cancer develops or detect it early when it is easier to treat.

Respiratory virus season is on the way and illnesses like influenza, COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and pneumonia will be widely circulating again. Todd Ellerin, MD, South Shore Health's Director of Infectious Disease provides updated vaccine guidance and shares other preventative steps you can take to stay well this season.