Health Headlines: Large study finds mRNA vaccines safe and effective; new research links vitamin A to better asthma outcomes

A JAMA study also warns that 1 in 5 Americans use social media to make health decisions A sweeping new study of billions of administered mRNA vaccine doses concludes the vaccines are safe and effective at preventing numerous diseases — and the technology may one day help fight cancer. The study, published in The Lancet, found that mRNA vaccines reduce rates of hospitalization and death in both adults and children. The study's authors say the vaccines' technology has the potential to one day prevent cases of cancer and autoimmune conditions. Vitamin A linked to better lung function in asthma patients A Canadian study found that asthma patients with higher levels of vitamin A have better lung function than those who don't. Previous research has shown that vitamin D offers similar benefits for adult asthma patients. 1 in 5 Americans turn to social media for health advice A study published in JAMA is raising concerns about health misinformation on social media. One in five Americans say they use information they find on social media to make health decisions — even as researchers warn that misinformation is widespread on those platforms. The study's authors say many influencers prioritize social media engagement over accuracy. AI-generated content was also identified as a major source of online health misinformation.