(NECN) - There is so much in the news about flu vaccines nowadays, but how exactly do they work?

Why do people need to be immunized? What is the history of immunization in the United States?

Click here to visit the museum's Web site.

Joining NECN for a discussion from the Museum of Science in Boston is Anita Loughlin, PhD.

(NECN) - With Thanksgiving just around the corner, one may want to partake in a few pre-holiday steps aimed at making this holiday a healthy one.

Natural health care practitioner Mark Mincolla shares his tips in the video player above.

Healthy Pre-holiday tips:

1. Pedometer - 6,000 steps daily
2. 80-20 rule - 80% healthy food
3. Don't drink your calories!
4. Fill up on lean poultry and produce
5. Focus on the people not the food!

(NECN) - The H1N1 virus outbreak has caused many problems across the nation and around the world.

Among them is scam artists.

The FDA has now issued warning letter to more than 140 bogus swine flu-related products. How do you avoid them.

Steve Weisman, author of The Truth About Avoiding Scams and professor at Bentley University, shares his knowledge on the subject.

(NECN/ABC) - The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new H1N1 swine flu vaccine to ease the nationwide shortage. Seven-and-a-half million doses have been ordered and are expected to be delivered next month.

"The good news is the vaccine is an excellent match with the virus that's still circulating," Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control said.

This announcement comes ahead of a hearing on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are expected to grill members of the Obama Administration, and vaccine manufacturers, for the way they've handled vaccine distribution.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Santa Claus is coming to town, and he wants the swine flu vaccine.

The president of a national volunteer Santa group wants Santas to be given priority for the vaccine, and not just because they're exposed to kids. Research has suggested obesity could be a risk factor for severe swine flu, and Ernest Berger of Santa America says about a third of the nation's Santas are at least 100 pounds overweight.

Berger has asked Alabama Rep. Jo Bonner to look into the idea. Meanwhile, Santas across the country are taking off their gloves,

(NECN) - A panel of government experts is going against mammogram advice from the American Cancer Society.

The doctors and scientists on the panel say most women should start getting mammograms at age 50, not 40. The task force also says breast self-exams do no good and women should not be taught to do them.

The American Cancer Society is not pleaded with the recommendations.

Click here to read more from the Globe.

(NECN: Katie Davis, Boston, Mass.) - Conflicting advice on breast cancer screenings is creating confusion and even outrage. The controversy stems from new guidelines on mammograms, and just when and how often women should get them.

A government task force now says most women in their 40s should not be getting mammograms, and women over 50 should only get them every other year.

The panel also says self-exams do no good, and women should not be taught to do them.

(NECN: Katie Davis - Boston, MA) - Women are getting some conflicting advice on breast cancer screenings.

A new government study on mammograms, contradicts long-standing guidelines from the American Cancer Society.

For years, women have been told to start getting mammograms at age 40.

But this new study says, most women should wait until age 50.

That's highly controversial, especially among women who've been diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age.

(NECN) - A new study offers mammogram advice that differs sharply from the recommendations of the American Cancer Society. A government panel says women should wait until age 50 to get mammograms, and then have one every two years.

The Cancer Society has long suggested annual mammograms starting at age 40. The study also says breast self exams do no good, and women should not be taught to do them. The guidelines are for the general population, and not women at high risk of developing breast cancer.

The study will be published in tomorrow's issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

(NECN) - In today's Community Health, stuffy noses, and sore throats. This time of year, lots of people around the office are getting sick.

Dr. Myechia Jordan, Chief Medical Officer for the Dimock Center in Boston joins NECN to explain how to differentiate the symptoms between the flu, the common cold and bronchitis.