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Vaccination News
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Letters in support of Vaccination News
**Letters from David Kirby, Dr. Darrel Crain, Dr. Meryl Nass, Professor Philip Rudnick, Barbara Lewis of Red Flags, Dr. F. Edward Yazbak, Dr. Harold Buttram, more letters concerning Vaccination News**
Posted May 17, 2008
* ►June 2, 2008 - Influenza
vaccination in paediatric nurses: Cross-sectional study of coverage, refusal,
and factors in acceptance - journal article (Vaccine)
* ►June 2, 2008 - Generation
and evaluation of the trivalent inactivated reassortant vaccine using human,
avian, and swine influenza A viruses - journal article (Vaccine)
* ►June 2, 2008 - Participation
in two phase II prophylactic HIV vaccine trials in the UK - journal
article (Vaccine)
* ►June 2, 2008 - Plant-expressed
HA as a seasonal influenza vaccine candidate - journal article (Vaccine)
* ►June 2, 2008 - A
meta-analysis of human papillomavirus type-distribution in women from South
Asia: Implications for vaccination - journal article (Vaccine)
* ►June 2, 2008 - The
epidemiology of mumps in Italy - journal article (Vaccine)
* ►June 2, 2008 - A
double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety and immunogenicity of live,
oral type 4 and type 7 adenovirus vaccines in adults - journal
article (Vaccine)
* ►June 2008 - Detecting
genetic responses to environmental change - journal article (Nature
Reviews
Genetics)
* ►June 2008 - Chronic
arsenic toxicity from Ayurvedic medicines - journal article (International
Journal of Dermatology)
* ►May 19, 2008 -
'Vaccine Bar' May Be a Shot in the Arm for Small Firm - The firm of 'A Civil
Action' fame takes on vaccination injury cases - The National Law Journal via
Law.com - "Name partner Kevin Conway, and other lawyers specializing in vaccine
cases filed as part of the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, say the program's fee rules
make it hard for vaccine lawyers to stay solvent."
* ►May 18, 2008 -
Ramadoss admits some syringes in TN had rusted - Times of India - "Speaking
to TOI, Ramadoss said, 'AD syringes are vital to run a safe immunisation
programme in India. Before it’s initiation three years ago in the RI programme,
64% of injections used in India were unsafe mainly due to reused needles. We
have not received a single complaint with AD syringes earlier. In fact, we are
on our way to introduce its sole use in all government hospitals.'"
* ►May 18, 2008 -
Vaccine
production in three units could resume: Anbumani - Health Minister makes it
contingent on restructuring of the centres - The Hindu
* ►May 18, 2008 -
India to part with flu data only if it gets cheap vaccines - Times of India
- "Supari recounted her country’s bad experience with the small pox virus, which
made them cautious. 'In 1926, small pox virus was found in Indonesia. In 1962,
we developed a vaccine and in 1974, we managed to wipe out the virus. In 1984,
WHO asked all nations to destroy the last known samples of the virus. We
destroyed even our labs.'"
* ►May 17, 2008 -
Smallpox Vaccine
& AIDS Virus - Free Market News Network
* ►May 17, 2008 -
Boys should also get HPV protection - Vancouver Sun via Canada.com - "B.C. I
Boys as well as girls should be offered the free HPV vaccine to stop the spread
of the cervical cancer-causing disease, former deputy health minister Dr. Penny
Ballem says."
* ►May 17, 2008 -
Centre to set up Vaccine, Medical park in TN: Minister - Chennai Online
* ►May 17, 2008 -
Ramadoss defends decision to close vaccine production units - IANS via
Thaindian.com - "Central Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss Saturday defended the
government’s decision to close India’s three prime vaccine production facilities
and denied charges that the move would create shortage of vaccines in the
country. “India supplies 80 percent of the vaccinations to developing
countries."
* ►May 17, 2008 -
Vaccines ‘An amazing gift to our society’ - Jewish Standard
* ►May 17, 2008 -
Little Leo’s jab: So how infallible is his mother's memory? - Mail on Sunday
- "Then there's the MMR issue. The book opens with an unusual disclaimer that
'My memory is not infallible', presumably in case any of it is challenged. So I
think we are entitled to ask if her memory is 'infallible' about her statement
insisting that her son Leo was given the MMR jab – an assurance that could not
be dragged from her by any means when it mattered. I'll accept this claim only
when it's independently confirmed. Remember that her husband's government was
engaged in a scheme to bully worried parents into giving their children this
injection."
* ►May 17, 2008 -
Man jailed in 5-month-old's death released - Courier-Post - "Calling it an
"appropriate disposition considering all the circumstances," Drummond said
medical experts for both the prosecution and defense concluded five-month-old
Jasmine Fink did not die of shaken baby syndrome as originally determined at the
autopsy."
* ►May 17, 2008 -
Report
Assesses Blame in Hepatitis Cases (requires registration) - The New York
Times - "Health care workers at a Las Vegas endoscopy clinic linked to more than
80 cases of hepatitis C routinely mishandled injection equipment and medication
vials and often failed to perform basic hand hygiene, according to a report from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Friday."
* ►May 17, 2008 - Essential
tools outlined for the prevention of avian flu - Investment in knowledge,
strengthening responsibilities and contingency planning are seen as essential
tools in the prevention of the spread of avian flu. - Farmers Weekly
Interactive, UK
* ►May 17, 2008 - Preventing
child deaths - New report emphasises the need to review the circumstances of
death - journal article (BMJ)
* ►May 17, 2008 - Hospitals
should use scoring system to spot serious illness in children, report says -
journal article (BMJ)
* ►May 17, 2008 - Drug
industry is partly to blame for overdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, researchers
claim - journal article (BMJ)
- "Marketing tactics by the drug industry are contributing to a huge
overdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, researchers have said. A team from Brown
University in Rhode Island says it has evidence that fewer than half of patients
who were given a diagnosis of the disorder actually had it (Journal of Clinical
Psychiatry
www.psychiatrist.com/abstracts/oap/ej07m03888.htm). Their finding
contradicts previous claims that the illness was underdiagnosed."
* ►May 17, 2008 - Immune
Cells Kill Foes By Disrupting Mitochondria Two Ways - When killer T cells of
the immune system encounter virus-infected or cancer cells, they unload a lethal
mix of toxic proteins that trigger the target cells to self-destruct. A new
study shows T cells can initiate cellular suicide, also known as programmed cell
death or apoptosis, by a previously unrecognized pathway that starts with the
destruction of a key enzyme in mitochondria, the power plant of the cell. -
Harvard Medical School via ScienceDaily
* ►May 17, 2008 - Please,
don’t forget ethical responsibilities - journal article (BMJ)
* ►May 17, 2008 - Drug
companies must be open about using doctors as consultants, new code of practice
demands - journal article (BMJ)
* ►May 16, 2008 - Human
Effector and Memory CD8+ T Cell Responses to Smallpox and Yellow Fever Vaccines
- journal article (Immunity)
* ►May 16, 2008 - Vaccine
Adjuvants Alter TCR-Based Selection Thresholds - journal article (Immunity)
* ►May 16, 2008 - Biovail
Pays $25M To Settle Federal Probe - Pharmalot - "The drugmaker was accused
of paying docs as much as $1,000 and their office managers $150 each to get
patients to use its Cardizem heart drug as part of a study that was to have been
published. To extricate itself, Biovail agreed to pay $24.6 million to settle a
Justice Department investigation into the 2003 launch of a long-acting version."
* ►May 16, 2008 - Zyprexa
Document Leaker Fights Injunction - Pharmalot - "Now, Gottstein has filed a
notice
reactivating his appeal of Weinstein’s injunction, which charged him with
violating a court order and prevented him from disseminating the Zyprexa
documents. Gottstein sent us this explanation: “In order to facilitate
settlement discussions we agreed to put the appeal on hold and have repeatedly
extended the deadlines. However, because the negotiations have dragged on so
long, it is hard for me to believe Lilly intends to ever reach an agreement with
me. “On the other hand, in other ways, it seems like we are very close, but with
maybe a couple of sticking points remaining. I continue to be cautiously
optimistic we will reach a settlement. So, if Lilly wants to reach a settlement
we can always drop the appeal, but if not, we are moving forward with it.”
* ►May 16, 2008 - Nigeria
Ordered To Stop Harassing Pfizer - Pharmalot - "The High Court of Lagos
granted an order restraining the Kano and Lagos States police from harassing the
drugmaker’s Nigeria operation, and current and former employees - awarded Pfizer
about $4,200 in damages, according a press release from the drugmaker."
* ►May 16, 2008 - County
revises rabies vaccine policy - The Herald-Zeitung
* ►May 16, 2008 - Free
flu vaccines for kids has “sketchy” evidence - The West Australian - "A top
infectious diseases expert has accused the US of “putting the cart before the
horse” by offering free flu jabs to all children, and says Australia won't be
rushing to follow suit. Professor David Isaacs, a member of the federal
government's vaccine advisory panel, will tell world leaders in childhood
diseases today that the expert group was still considering universal influenza
vaccinations for young Australians, but said the data supporting such a move was
still “sketchy”."
* ►May 16, 2008 - Cough
& Cold Maker Barred From Manufacturing - Pharmalot - "Scientific
Laboratories and its two top execs - ceo Amit Roy and president Rajeshwari Patel
- have signed a
consent decree and are barred from manufacturing and distributing
prescription meds until they bring their operations into compliance and obtain
FDA approval for their products."
* ►May 16, 2008 - Family's
suit claims mother died from contaminated Heparin - The Southeast Texas
Record
* ►May 16, 2008 - FDA
Obtains Permanent Injunction Against Scientific Laboratories, Inc. - FDA
* ►May 16, 2008 - East
Africa: "Coverage of The Needle Exchange Programme will Have to Quadruple within
The Next Year" - L'Express (Port Louis) via
www.allafrica.com
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Despite studies, parents
believe in vaccination/autism link (includes video) - KSL.com
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Launch of WHO H5N1 vaccine stockpile still awaited - CIDRAP News
* ►May 16, 2008 -
GM
tobacco expressing cervical cancer vaccine - Cervical cancer is one of the
most common cancers in developing countries and the second most prevalent cancer
in women. Almost all cervical cancers result from human papillomavirus (HPV)
infection. Although vaccines against the virus, based on virus-like particles
rather on attenuated HPV, have recently been made available, their high cost
prohibits their widespread use especially in developing countries. -
Checkbiotech.org
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Anti CODEX War Raging Over C-51 In Canada -
www.healthtruthrevealed.com
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Consolidated to help DoH with cervical cancer drug - The Department of
Health (DoH) has appointed Consolidated Communications to manage a PR campaign
to raise awareness of a cervical cancer vaccine. - PR Week UK - "The Central
Office of Information (COI) managed the three-way pitch, which also included
Forster and Band & Brown. PR is part of an integrated campaign which includes
activity across TV, radio, press, and digital."
* ►May 15, 2008 - CDC
biolab not ready after 2 1/2 years - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - "The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new maximum-security laboratories
in Atlanta were supposed to open in the fall of 2005. But the suite of Biosafety
Level 4 labs — designed to contain the world's most dangerous germs — still
haven't been certified as ready to operate. The $214 million building they're in
was completed 2 1/2 years ago. CDC officials say nothing is amiss. But the
delays have raised concerns about potential construction or design flaws in labs
destined to handle smallpox and Ebola viruses."
* ►May 15, 2008 - Drug
ad effects on people need more study: FDA - Reuters - "Drug companies spent
nearly $29.9 billion in 2005 on advertising, free samples, and sales staff to
promote brand name products, according to a study funded by the National
Institutes of Health published last year. More than $4 billion of that was spent
on consumer ads compared to $429 million for ads directed at doctors."
* ►May 15, 2008 - What
You Need to Know About the New Flu Shots (blog) - DVD
* ►May 15, 2008 - Dr.
Jay Gordon Speaks Out at the Whole Children, Whole Planet Expo - Market Wire
via COMTEX via MarketWatch - "Dr. Jay Gordon, nationally recognized pediatrician
and an outspoken advocate for the reexamination of the safety and efficacy of
childhood vaccinations, will appear as a guest speaker at the Whole Children,
Whole Planet Expo (WCWP) at Highland Hall Waldorf School in Northridge. Dr.
Gordon will speak Sunday, May 18 on the vaccination panel at 11:50 AM, and be
available for signings of his informative DVD, "Vaccinations?: Assessing the
Risks and Benefits," at the Childcare Media/Choices, Inc. booth from 1:00-2:00
PM. Thereafter, he will be available for media interviews from 2:00-4:00 PM."
* ►May 15, 2008 - Restaurateur
charts autism bus to D.C. - Post-Tribune - "Gerodemos and his wife, Violet,
believe their son's illness is the result of immunizations. "He was a fine,
normal kid when he was 18 months old, and the day after he got his
immunizations, he changed," Gerodemos said. "He's never been the same."
Gerodemos has chartered a bus to Washington, D.C., and is inviting Northwest
Indiana parents of autistic children to ride with him to participate in the June
4 "Green Our Vaccines" Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey DC Rally for Autism. The
ride is free for the first 55 parents to fill the bus, Gerodemos said. His
Paragon Restaurant is footing the bus bill."
* ►May 15, 2008 - Your
Drug Did You Wrong? Call 1-800-Side-Effect - Pharmalot - "A
recent Consumers Union poll found that 81 percent of Americans reported
seeing or hearing an ad within 30 days of being questioned. The same poll found
that one in six Americans who have ever taken a prescription drug experienced a
side effect serious enough to send them to a doc or hospital, but only 35
percent were aware side effects can be reported to the FDA."
* ►May 15, 2008 - Study
Looks At Late Talking Toddlers - Journal
of Speech, Language and Hearing Research via redOrbit
* ►May 15, 2008 - Novel
Microparticle Offers Immunological Breakthrough Against a Range of Infectious
Diseases and Potentially Some Cancers - Virionyx via Business Wire - "When
Virionyx, a New Zealand biotechnology company, tested a new anthrax vaccine,
company scientists were elated when it worked, but then dumbfounded when one of
the negative control agents compared to the vaccine also provided an unexpected
level of protection against the bacterial toxin. That finding has led rapidly to
a breakthrough that could help protect against a wide range of infectious
diseases and possibly fight certain cancers."
* ►May 14, 2008 - Plastic
Additives in Consumer Products (testimony) - U.S. Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, & Transportation
* ►May 13, 2008 - Maximizing
the effectiveness of a pediatric vaccine formulary while prohibiting
extraimmunization - journal article (Health
Care Management Science) - "To reduce this number, vaccine manufacturers
have developed combination vaccines that immunize against several diseases in a
single injection. At the same time, a growing number of parents are challenging
the safety and effectiveness of vaccinating children. They are also particularly
concerned about the use of combination vaccines, since they believe that
injecting a child with multiple antigens simultaneously may overwhelm a child’s
immune system. Moreover, combination vaccines make it more likely that
extraimmunization (i.e., administering more than the required amount of vaccine
antigens) occurs, resulting in greater concerns by parents and vaccine wastage
costs borne by an already strained healthcare system. This paper formulates an
integer programming model that solves for the maximum number of vaccines that
can be administered without any extraimmunization."
* ►May 13, 2008 - Drug
Safety Oversight Board Meeting April 17, 2008 Public Summary - FDA/CDER
* ►May 5, 2008 - 30
Million Children targeted for FluMist Vaccine (blog) - When getting a shot
of the FluMist vaccine do you know what is being sprayed up your child's nose?
How about adverse reactions? - Squidoo
* ►May 2008 - Potential
therapeutic role of statins in neurological disorders. - journal article (Expert
Review of Neurotherapeutics)
*
Posted May 16, 2008
* ►May 17, 2008 -
Why the Government shouldn't make the MMR jab compulsory - The Times, UK
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Sick Monkeys:
Research Links Vaccine Load, Autism Signs by Dan Olmsted - Age of Autism -
"The first research project to examine effects of the total vaccine load
received by children in the 1990s has found autism-like signs and symptoms in
infant monkeys vaccinated the same way. The study's principal investigator,
Laura Hewitson from the University of Pittsburgh, reports developmental delays,
behavior problems and brain changes in macaque monkeys that mimic 'certain
neurological abnormalities of autism.' The findings are being reported Friday
and Saturday at a major international autism conference in London."
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Pediatric
Vaccines Influence Primate Behavior: Abstracts - Age of Autism
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Heckenlively
On The Omnibus Autism Proceeding: 5/14 - Turning the Tide – The Omnibus
Autism Proceeding – Second Set of Hearings (Thimerosal & Autism) – Day Three –
May 14, 2008 by Kent Heckenlively, Esq. - Age of Autism
* ►May 16, 2008 -
"Mercury
Militia?" NO. RN. by Kim Stagliano - Age of Autism
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Dodging the
Causal Question on ADHD-TV by Nancy Hokkanen - Age of Autism
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Special report: Vaccines and autism (includes video) - AP via Turnto10.com -
"Parents claiming that childhood vaccines cause autism should not be rewarded by
the courts when the scientific community has already rejected any link,
government lawyers argued Monday on the first day of a hearing in federal
court."
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Walking Across America For Autism: Two Men Begin Journey From California to DC
This Tuesday - press release - National Autism Association via
PRNewswire-USNewswire via The Earth Times - "To learn more about Elias and how
to support The Elias Tembenis walk, visit
www.nationalautism.org/eliaswalk."
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Infant
dies after vaccination - The Hindu - "A 45-day-old infant is reported to
have died 12 hours after being given a Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus (DPT)
vaccination shot at Poosaripatti near Manaparrai here on Wednesday. According to
sources, the baby developed fever after being administered the vaccine at the
Primary Health Centre at Aniyapur. His parents, Pazhanisamy and Vijaya,
reportedly gave the baby paracetamol tablets as prescribed by the doctor. The
temperature came down initially, but shot up later again and the baby died at 9
p.m."
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Brendan DeMelle: Unearthed: News of the Week the
Mainstream Media Forgot to Report - The Huffington Post - "Vaccine Court To
Hear New Round Of Thimerosal/Autism Test Cases"
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Maker of HPV Vaccine
Under Fire - Regulators found problems at US plant where Gardasil is made
for BC. - The Tyee - "While British Columbia Health Minister George Abbott was
announcing the province will provide a controversial new vaccine starting in
September with assurances that it is 'safe,' the American Food and Drug
Administration was threatening to close the factory where it is made."
* ►May 16, 2008 -
HPV shots at school? Don't get readers started - letters - Surrey Now via
Canada.com - "I agree 100 per cent that HPV vaccine should not be given in the
schools. In fact, since the B.C. Health Act gives medical health officers
control over vaccine information provided to students and parents (thus negating
fully informed consent), I disagree with any vaccine being given at school. Not
only are there risks involved with HPV vaccine, it's also questionable that it
could prevent cervical cancer. It's never been proven that HPV is the main
cause, or even a cause at all, of cervical cancer."
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Vaccine safe, but norms flouted - Times of India - "Human Biologicals
Institute's measles vaccine is 'safe and effective' but its production unit in
Hyderabad has been found to be flouting good manufacturing practice (GMP) norms
put in place by the World Health Organisation....The vaccines were found to have
abnormally high rejection rates. Over 3,000 vials of the vaccine, from a batch
of 60,000, were rejected during inspection. While some weren't properly sealed,
others were found to have dents on it. The PSU's animal house was not up to the
mark. Their licencing and validation procedure was also found to be faulty."
* ►May 16, 2008 -
UQ backs down over Gardasil criticism - The University of Queensland (UQ)
has admitted it may have over-reacted when it asked one of its senior lecturers
to apologise to pharmaceutical company CSL over public criticism of the
marketing of cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil. -
www.abc.net.au
* ►May 16, 2008 -
It’s time the University of Queensland came clean. Properly. - Crikey -
"After receiving a complaint from the pharmaceutical company CSL Ltd about Dr
Gunn’s comments on radio, the University’s Secretary and Registrar, Douglas
Porter, asked Gunn to provide a written apology to CSL stating that the
“comments were made by you in your personal capacity and were not endorsed or
authorised by the University”. Porter also asked to be sent a copy of Gunn’s
letter."
* ►May 16, 2008 -
China child virus death toll up to 43 - AP via Google - "A 22-month-old girl
from eastern Jiangxi province died Thursday in a local hospital, health
officials told the state-run Xinhua News Agency. As of Wednesday, the hand, foot
and mouth disease virus had sickened more than 24,934 children in seven Chinese
provinces plus Beijing, Xinhua reported."
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Statement of
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, on HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, May 18, 2008 - press release -
National Institutes of Health
* ►May 16, 2008 -
MP
speaks out on treatment of dementia patients - Loughborough News
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Sex Hormones and
City Life - Is it safe to douse cities with synthetic pheromones? -
Institute of Science in Society
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Is the proliferation of vaccinations really in your child's best interest? -
guest column - News-Sentinel.com - "It is time to take a new look at the need
for specific vaccinations. Vaccination is designed to benefit the public health.
It is a one-size-fits-all approach. Thus, the rural Midwestern baby receives the
same treatment as the crowded inner-city baby. Surely, the needs of these babies
are not the same. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for men who have sex with
men, IV drug users and babies prior to hospital discharge after birth. This is
because the government wishes to avoid future cases of Hepatitis B. Thus, all
babies, regardless of the likelihood of exposure, are given this injection. Does
that seem appropriate to you? This same theory is the reason for the recent push
to vaccinate all 11- to 12-year-old females against HPV (human papilloma virus),
which is spread by sexual contact. Another example: Hepatitis A is a contagious
liver disease spread through contaminated food and water. Children are not among
the high-risk group. Does your infant really need this shot?"
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Govt. lab
gives clean chit to Tamil Nadu measles vaccine - PTI via The Hindu - "The
measles vaccine administered to children in Tamil Nadu has been given a clean
chit by a government laboratory and human error at the local level could
possibly have resulted in the death of four infants last month."
* ►May 15, 2008 -
CDC Recommends ZOSTAVAX®, Merck's Shingles Vaccine, for All Appropriate Adults
Aged 60 and Older - press release - Merck & Co. Inc. via Business Wire
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Acknowledging Vaccination Concerns - Brain Blogger
* ►May 15, 2008 -
What Every Parent Should Consider About Traditional Vaccinations - By Robert
W. “Bob” Sears, M.D. via HealthNewsDigest.com
* ►May 15, 2008 -
HPV myths
spread; misleading information about vaccine has been circulating - Chatham
Daily News - "In a presentation, Johnston reviewed some of the statistics and
study results regarding Gardasil. He said the vaccine has passed testing with
flying colours. The major side effect, he said, is a sore arm. Because his
daughter wasn't in Grade 8 when he decided to have her vaccinated, Johnston said
he had to pay for the shots, which cost about $500 for all three doses needed
for immunization."
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Community-Based
Influenza-Vaccination Program Still Effective at 1 Year (requires
registration) - Medscape - "'We need to develop sustainable methods to implement
universal influenza-vaccination programs,' Dr. Piedra concluded. 'School-based
influenza-vaccination programs sponsored by community coalitions may be a good
way to vaccinate school-aged children. We need outcomes data from a variety of
different community settings that can report on the impact of the universal
influenza vaccination of children.' Dr. Piedra has disclosed no relevant
financial relationships. Dr. Orenstein disclosed various financial arrangements
with Novartis, sanofi pasteur, and GSK."
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Bird flu vaccine that cost Spain EUR 120m may be useless - The EUR 120
million stockpiling of drugs to fight bird flu infections could soon be
ineffective, says scientists. - Expatica Spain
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Researchers: Pandemic readiness demands mix of antivirals - CIDRAP News
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Nearly $1 mil worth
of antibiotics wasted - Press Release: New Zealand National Party via
www.scoop.co.nz
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Congressional hearing held on psychiatric drugging of USA foster care kids -
The US Congress held a public hearing about the way youth in foster care are
often given large amounts of powerful psychiatric drugs, without adequate
oversight, accountability, information, alternatives and advocacy. Vera Sharav
of Alliance for Human Research Protection issued this report. - MindFreedom.org
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Kids Growing Up on Grown Up Drugs: New Research Shows Treatments for Adult
Ailments Rapidly Rising in Children - Lifestyle Factors Pushing Children's
Use of Prescription Drugs for Health Conditions Once Seen Primarily in Adults -
press release - Medco Health Solutions, Inc. via PRNewswire
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Goodbye, girls - Researcher ponders why U.S. kids reach puberty at an
ever-younger age - If historical statistics are any guide, the average girl in
northern Europe in the 1830s entered puberty — defined by menarche, or the onset
of menstruation — at approximately 17 years of age. Today, chances are that her
American counterpart will have her first period at about 12 and a half. -
Pamplin Media Group via Portland Tribune
* ►May 15, 2008 -
HIV drug linked to serious liver side-effects, Health Canada warns -
Canadian Press via Google
* ►May 1, 2008 -
Autism better
understood now - The Signal Item - "Other parents, such as Rebecca
Williams-Thomas, of Glenshaw, see a connection. She also said the condition of
her autistic son, Lee, 3, declined after his vaccinations. He was 27 months old
when diagnosed in January 2007. 'This was worded so perfectly by a doctor,' she
said. '(He said) Lee possibly had a genetic predisposition to autism, and the
combination of our harmful environment and the vaccinations just pushed him over
the edge.'"
Posted May 15, 2008
* ►May 16, 2008 -
Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infections Attributed to Unsafe Injection Practices at
an Endoscopy Clinic --- Nevada, 2007 - MMWR/CDC
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Prevention of Herpes Zoster - Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) (early release) - MMWR/CDC
* ►May 15, 2008 -
CDC
Urges Shingles Vaccine for Most Patients 60 and Older (includes audio) -
MedPage Today - "Dr. Schaffner said clinicians may have been reluctant to
prescribe the vaccine until the CDC's full recommendations were available.
'Clinicians now have a secure source of information about the vaccine and
recommendations for its use,' he said."
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Holland On The
Omnibus Autism Proceeding: 5/14 by Mary Holland, Esq - Age of Autism
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Olmsted, The
Amish and Autism: Part Two by Mark Blaxill (Part 2 of 2) - Age of Autism
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Offit Targets
The Polings: Touts Vaccinations For Mito Disorder - Age of Autism
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Insecticides in pet shampoo may trigger autism - New Scientist
* ►May 15, 2008 - Pyrethrin
chemicals in pet shampoo may increase autism risk - The London Times
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Detecting autism in
babies may aid progress - Mac researchers track eye movement - Hamilton
Spectator
* ►May 15, 2008 - Meningitis
B vaccine could be only three years away - Daily Mail, UK
* ►May 15, 2008 -
HIV / AIDS -
Results from vaccine trial 'promising' - Bangkok Post - "Half of them have
been getting injections of two combination vaccines _ the canary pox vaccine
Alvac and a synthesised combination of the B and E sub-types of the Aids virus
AidsVax, with the rest getting placebo injections over a one-year period."
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Cancer
vaccine gets Netherlands approval - Frederick company Vaccinogen wins
approval for production in Europe; expects U.S. launch in three years -
Gazette.net - "Vaccinogen Inc. of Frederick hopes to launch OncoVax in the
United States in roughly three years, after the company secured a pivotal
license to produce the vaccine at its manufacturing facility in Europe and
distribute it there."
* ►May 15, 2008 - Aussie
vaccine fights cervical cancer - The West Australian - "Cervarix, like the
cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, is developed using technology pioneered by
former Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer. But unlike its rival,
Cervarix has not yet been given the final sign-off to join the National
Immunisation Program where it will be made available at no cost to girls and
women between the ages of 12 and 26. The vaccine is also yet to get approval for
use in the US."
* ►May 15, 2008 - Government's
bird flu drugs strategy is 'flawed' - The Government's strategy to defend
the nation against a bird flu pandemic has been called into question. -
Telegraph, UK
* ►May 15, 2008 - TV
Drug Ads May Have To Zoom In On Side Effects - TV Drug Ads Could Urge
Patients To Report Drug Side Effects, Under FDA Proposal - AP via CBS News
* ►May 15, 2008 - Product
Placements Require New FDA Regs - Pharmalot - "After all, there may
well be more restrictions on DTC after the presidential elections, and consumers
are increasingly using TiVo and remote controls to ignore commericals. In
general, the UCLA researchers note that the overall market for product placement
rose 30.5 percent to $3.5 billion in 2004, according to their paper in The
Journal of Public Policy & Marketing. And in 2006, there were 462 mentions of
prescription meds on TV shows."
* ►May 15, 2008 - New
Drug Approvals Are On The Rise, So Far - Pharmalot
* ►May 15, 2008 - Crystal
structures of oseltamivir-resistant influenza virus neuraminidase mutants
- journal article (Nature)
* ►May 15, 2008 - Single
anti-flu drug 'not enough' - No single drug alone will be enough to
treat all the victims of a global flu pandemic, research has shown. - BBC
* ►May 15, 2008 - Sanofi
Deceived US Patent Office Over Lovenox - Pharmalot
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Five-year-old boy dies of chickenpox just days after doctors sent him home -
Daily Mail, UK - "Little Fabio Nunes was rushed to East Surrey Hospital in
Redhill on February 14 by dad Ricardo, but claims that medical staff told him
that his son was alright after examining him even though he was 'unable to walk
or talk' and was 'barely conscious'. But just four days later, with Fabio
getting progressively worse, his dad took him back to hospital only to be told
that Fabio was suffering from a severe reaction to chickenpox and only had six
hours to live."
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Quarantine was right call - The Ottawa Citizen - "Managing risk is a tricky
business. Public safety must be balanced against civil liberties such as freedom
of movement and association, and a perfect balance can be hard to achieve. In
the post-9/11 era, governments perform risk assessments all the time and,
admittedly, sometimes they get it wrong."
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Actor backs right to sue companies - Quaid tells Congress of twins' overdose
(requires registration or subscription) - Baltimore Sun
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Migraine Medicines May Cause Potentially Deadly Brain Syndrome - Bloomberg
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Cops, firefighters
advised to get shots for measles (requires registration) - Arizona Daily
Star - "This week, nearly 2,000 members of the Tucson Police and Fire
departments are being targeted for measles shots, if they cannot show proof of
immunity....That includes some 600 uniformed firefighters also ordered to get
the MMR shots — for measles, mumps and rubella — if they're not currently
immune, said Capt. Norm Carlton, a Tucson Fire Department spokesman....'We are
investigating those reports now and stepping up efforts to get day-care staff
immunized as well,' she said."
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Bird flu drugs 'poured down the
drain' - Nearly $1 million worth of antibiotics was being poured down the
drain after drugs, bought in case of a bird flu pandemic, had expired, National
MP Tony Ryall said. - NZPA via www.stuff.co.nz
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Bird flu
'resistant to Australian drug arsenal' - The Federal Government's bird-flu
medication stockpiles are being questioned after research showed the virus is
resistant to the majority of Australia's supplies. -
www.abc.net.au
* ►May 15, 2008 -
PETA warns of
link between factory farm filth and bird flu - PTI via Hindu Business Line
* ►May 15, 2008 -
Indonesia to provide bird flu data online - AP via Google - "Several
boycotted WHO's long-standing virus sharing system, instead depositing important
bird flu information into existing but often inadequate public databanks. On the
Net: GISAID: http://platform.gisaid.org/"
* ►May 15, 2008 - New
Handbook of Clinical Psychology Focuses on Children and Adolescents -
Research and Markets via Business Wire via MarketWatch
* ►May 14, 2008 - First
Do No Harm — Avoiding Medication Errors in Children - Medication errors are
especially problematic in children because many drugs are formulated for adults.
- journal article (Journal Watch Pediatrics
and Adolescent Medicine)
* ►May 14, 2008 - Don't
be fever phobic (blog) - Ms. W brings in her 4-year-old, who has had a fever
of 102.8 for two days. "I'm worried sick. I can't get the fever down. I've given
ibuprofen and acetaminophen, luke warm baths. but as soon as the fever goes
down, it's soon back up again. I'm afraid the fever will cause some kind of
damage." - WebMD - "Then why treat a fever? The body's thermostat is rarely
satisfied; it usually wants the temperature in the body to be a few degrees
warmer than it is. That's why we feel cold or chilled when really we are already
too warm. Hence, the main reason to treat a fever: to make your child feel more
comfortable. Period."
* ►May 14, 2008 - Pfizer
To Disclose Grants And Charitable Donations - Pharmalot
* ►May 14, 2008 - Scientists
use music to explore autistic brain's emotion processing - The Cheers
* ►May 14, 2008 - GAO
Issues Report Citing FDA Slowdown on DTC Enforcement - Eye on FDA
* ►May 14, 2008 - Better
Screening, Treatment, And Affordable Vaccines Can Prevent Doubling Of Cervical
Cancer Deaths In Latin America, Caribbean - The Pan American Health
Organization, The Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute via Medical News Today
* ►May 14, 2008 -
The International Meeting for Autism Research May 15-17, 2008 - Scientists
to report the latest findings on the causes and treatments of autism - Autism
Speaks via FirstScience
* ►May 14, 2008 -
South Elgin family joins fight against autism - The Courier News - "Like
many parents with autistic children, Beth questions the role vaccines play in
the disease. She is joining a national rally, Green Our Vaccines by Talk About
Curing Autism, featuring spokeswoman Jenny McCarthy, whose son has autism, and
comedian Jim Carrey on June 4 in Washington, D.C."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Dennis
Quaid backs drugmaker liability suits (includes video) - Reuters - "'I
believe if preemption of lawsuits is allowed to prevail, it will basically make
all of us, the public, uninformed and uncompensated lab rats,' Quaid said at a
House of Representatives committee hearing. He urged Congress to pass
legislation to protect patients' ability to sue drugmakers if the Supreme Court
further restricts the suits."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Former FDA Official Says FDA Approval Shouldn't Bar Lawsuits - Dow Jones via
CNNMoney
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Allergy seen profitable in 2009 on hay fever vaccine - Reuters
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Phase II Clinical Trial of Sinobiomed's Malaria Candidate Vaccine to Start in Q3
- Company Collaborating With Mahidol University of Bangkok on Trial to Be
Conducted in Thailand - Sinobiomed Inc. via Marketwire via CNNMoney
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Cervarix™ provides
longest duration of sustained neutralising antibodies reported for any vaccine
against HPV 16 and 18 to date - Neutralising antibodies are believed by
experts to be important for cervical cancer prevention - press release -
GlaxoSmithKline
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Judge Stephen
Kouri said he would not reconsider McCarron's sentence - WHOI HOI-19 -
"Early last month McCarron was sentenced to 36 years in prison for killing her
3-year-old daughter Katie who had autism. McCarron's attorney filed a motion to
appeal."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Raking
through sludge exposes a stink - Environmental Protection Agency scientists
accused of fabricating data about health effects of fertilizer. - Nature News -
"The False Claims Act lawsuit brought by microbiologist David Lewis, who says he
was forced out of the agency, alleges that EPA officials and University of
Georgia researchers fraudulently orchestrated a grant and then fabricated data
to ensure that the EPA's 'biosolids' programme would come out smelling pretty.
If the charges stick, the scientists and EPA officials could be held personally
liable and may be forced to pay back the original grant as well as some US$4.6
million in subsequent grants, plus penalties."
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Intercell AG announces Q1 2008 results and update on development programs -
Vaccine against Japanese Encephalitis moving towards global market approvals: US
FDA inspection currently ongoing, Australia grants priority review – All
development programs on track - Intercell's investigational Japanese
Encephalitis vaccine expected to obtain market approval in global traveler
markets in 2008 – commercial production started - PharmaLive
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Expert: Fetal Viability
Threshold Continues to Change - 93.1 WIBC Indianapolis - "Indiana recognizes
viability at 7 months; however, Dr. Lemons says the American Academy of
Pediatrics has lowered their recognition to 23-25 weeks. Lemons says the
developmental weight of the fetus matters more than the gestational age because
each baby develops differently. Lemons adds in early development, girls develop
faster than boys."
* ►May 13, 2008 - Maternal
Infections During Pregnancy May Increase Risk for Childhood Epilepsy CME/CE
(requires registration) - Pediatrics
via Medscape Medical News
* ►May 13, 2008 - Allergy
fight involves slew of method, varying results - Gannett News Service via
Norwich Bulletin - "Joel Munch was told he was allergic to too many things, so
he couldn’t get allergy shots. Instead, the Connestee Falls, N.C., resident
would take over-the-counter medications to treat his allergy symptoms, but he
often was unable to sleep and felt tired. But for the past three years, Munch
has been putting a drop of liquid underneath his tongue three times a day to
treat his allergies, and he says the difference is noticeable."
* ►May 13, 2008 - Are
Anxiety Disorders All in the Mind? - Researchers Find Link Between Altered
Dopamine Activity and Social Anxiety Disorder According to an Article in The
Journal of Nuclear Medicine - Society of Nuclear Medicine via Biocompare
* ►May 12, 2008 - Shire
Launches Nationwide Adult ADHD Mobile Awareness Tour - ADHD screening
initiative launches in Atlanta and continues for 90 days; Shire expects up to
20,000 adults to self-screen for ADHD in 13 cities across the country - Shire
* ►May 12, 2008 - Does
Early Nutritional Intervention Prevent Development of Atopic Disease in Infants?
(requires registration) - Pediatrics
via Medscape Pediatrics
* ►May 11, 2008 -
Lead's legacy - Banned three decades ago, lead paint continues to poison
Ohio's children - The Columbus Dispatch
* ►May 8, 2008 - Evaluation
of the levels of folate, vitamin B12, homocysteine and fluoride in the parents
and the affected neonates with neural tube defect and their matched controls
- journal article (Pediatric Surgery
International)
* ►May 5, 2008 - Expression
and Maintenance of Mitochondrial DNA. New Insights into Human Disease Pathology.
- journal article (The American Journal of
Pathology)
* ►May 5, 2008 - New
Clorox disinfectant is EPA registered to kill both known types of MRSA -
Ketchum DC via EurekAlert!
*
Posted May 14, 2008
* ►June 2008 - Developing
Antibacterial Vaccines in Genomics and Proteomics Era - journal article (Scandinavian
Journal of Immunology)
* ►June 2008 - Varicella
zoster virus glycoprotein E-specific CD4+ T cells show evidence of recent
activation and effector differentiation, consistent with frequent exposure to
replicative cycle antigens in healthy immune donors - journal article (Clinical
& Experimental Immunology)
* ►June 2008 - Clinical
Immunology Review Series: An approach to the patient with recurrent infections
in childhood - journal article (Clinical &
Experimental Immunology)
* ►June 2008 - Pediatric
traumatic brain injury: an update of research to understand and improve
outcomes. - journal article (Current
Opinion in Pediatrics)
* ►June 2008 - Live
probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis bacteria inhibit the toxic effects induced by
wheat gliadin in epithelial cell culture - journal article (Clinical
& Experimental Immunology)
* ►May 15, 2008 - Vaccines
and Autism Revisited — The Hannah Poling Case (free full text) - journal
article (NEJM)
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Hearing adjourns for doctor who linked shots, autism - British medical panel
reviewing complaints against Austin-based doctor not expected to rule till end
of year. - Austin American Statesman - "The disciplinary hearing into
allegations of professional misconduct against Andrew Wakefield, a British-born
gastroenterologist who lives in Austin, adjourned this week. The hearing will
resume July 14 when the five-member panel begins hearing the case against one of
Wakefield's colleagues, John Walker-Smith."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Prevention of Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria Among Pregnant and Postpartum
Women and Their Infants - Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) (early release) - MMWR/CDC - "No evidence exists
demonstrating whether Tdap in pregnant women harms the fetus or increases risk
for adverse pregnancy outcomes, transplacental antibody induced by Tdap
administered during pregnancy will protect infants against pertussis, or Tdap-induced
transplacental maternal antibody will have a negative impact on an infant's
protective immune response to later-administered routine pediatric DTaP or to
conjugate vaccines containing tetanus toxoid or diphtheria toxoid. This report
discusses certain situations in which health-care providers might choose to
administer Tdap to a pregnant woman. Health-care providers should weigh the
theoretical risks and benefits before choosing to administer Tdap vaccine to a
pregnant woman."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Appendix A - Summary of ACIP Recommendations for Prevention of Pertussis,
Tetanus and Diphtheria Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Their Infants
(early release) - MMWR/CDC
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Panel to probe
vaccine deaths - Three children died last week after being given the shots -
Daily News & Analysis, India
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Heckenlively
On The Omnibus Autism Proceeding: 5/13 - Beating up the Burglar – The
Omnibus Autism Proceeding – Second Set of Hearings (Thimerosal & Autism) – Day
Two – May 13, 2008 by Kent Heckenlively, Esq. - Age of Autism
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Holland On The
Omnibus Autism Proceeding: 5/13 by Mary Holland, Esq. - Age of Autism
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Olmsted, The
Amish and Autism by Mark Blaxill (Part 1 of 2) - Age of Autism
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Unauthorized
Imus Transcript - The following is an unauthorized transcript of IMUS
interview with CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson. - Age of Autism
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Contact Info
For Dr. Healy by Anne Dachel, Media Editor - Age of Autism
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Philly First In The Nation To Require Mercury Disclosures - The Philadelphia
Bulletin - "Freya Koss said she developed multiple sclerosis, lupus and other
health problems from a silver dental filling containing mercury. She and several
other consumer advocates and health professionals were at City Hall yesterday to
tell their stories of cavity fillings gone wrong. The Pennsylvania Coalition for
Mercury-Free Dentistry and Consumers for Dental Choice (CDC) stood in front of
large signs warning of the dangers of silver amalgam fillings - most notable for
their high levels of the neurotoxin mercury. In December, Philadelphia City
Council unanimously passed legislation backed by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds
Brown that requires dentists to distribute patient brochures disclosing the
dangers of silver amalgam fillings."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Concerns over mercury use in dental amalgam - letter - EurActiv.com
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Report Detailed Thimerosal
Cover-up - Newsinferno.com
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Terminator Mosquitoes to Control Dengue? - Why take a dangerous, costly, and
untested high tech option when safe, effective, and affordable alternatives are
available. - Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho - This article has been
submitted to the FDA and EPA in the United States. Please send it to regulators
in your country. - Institute of Science in Society
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Merck revelations make state's drug immunity a bitter pill to swallow - Sen.
John J. Gleason - The Detroit News - "Two new reports were released in the
Journal of the American Medical Association that claim Merck & Co. frequently
paid academic scientists to take credit for research articles prepared by
company-hired medical writers, a practice called ghostwriting, to promote their
products. They also assert that Merck tried to minimize deaths in two studies
that showed that the now-withdrawn drug Vioxx didn't work at treating or
preventing Alzheimer's disease. This is the latest in a growing string of
incidents involving Merck and Vioxx, and it again underscores the urgent need to
pass my legislation, Senate Bill 43, which would outlaw drug industry immunity
in Michigan -- the only state in the nation that still allows such protection."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
FDA Probes Come Under Fire From Hill Republicans - Wall Street Journal Blog
* ►May 14, 2008 -
FDA Chief Relents, Asking Congress to Fund More Foreign Inspections - Wall
Street Journal Blog
* ►May 14, 2008 -
1 nation, under medication: Prescriptions at record high - AP via Seattle
Times - "For the first time, it appears that more than half of all insured
Americans are taking prescription medicines regularly for chronic health
problems, a study shows."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
In a Phase II Study, Novartis Meningitis B Vaccine Has Potential to Produce a
Protective Immune Response in Infants, the Age Group Most at Risk - Data
show Novartis Meningitis B (MenB) vaccine has potential to be first vaccine to
provide broad protection to infants against meningococcal B infections -- The
meningococcal B strain causes 72% of meningococcal disease in Europe and is a
major cause of the disease in other regions of the world -- Novartis MenB
vaccine and Novartis Menveo(R) (MenACWY-CRM) vaccine on track to establish
strong portfolio of meningitis vaccines - Market Wire via COMTEX News Network
via FOX Business
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Experts Appeal for
Integrated Programs to Prevent Cervical Cancer - Pan American Health
Organization
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Glaxo
says cervical cancer vaccine works for longer - Reuters - "GlaxoSmithKline
said on Wednesday new data showed its Cervarix vaccine generated sustained, high
levels of neutralizing antibodies against the two most common cervical
cancer-causing virus types for 6.4 years."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Discovery
of HPV in male oral cancers leads to vaccination call - CBC - "Janet Dollin,
the president of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, said public health
officials in Canada should consider vaccinating both girls and boys against HPV.
'Start thinking about immunizing everybody who is at risk — it makes no sense to
vaccinate only the girls,' Dollin said.:
* ►May 14, 2008 -
New Data Support Routine Childhood Vaccination With PREVENAR in Europe -
press release - Wyeth via PRNewswire via ITNews
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Life-threatening Pneumonia
Caused by Pneumonia Vaccine - NaturalNews.com - "There are dozens of types
of pneumonia bacteria. Prevnar prevents only seven of them, and far from the
worst forms of the disease. As a result, some of these more virulent strains of
pneumonia, which had been held in check by competition with the seven types that
Prevnar destroys, are running rampant in children who have received the Prevnar
vaccine. In other words, its success is creating a greater danger. Prevnar is a
perfect example of the law of unexpected consequences. Or were they unexpected?
According to an Associated Press report, Wyeth 'anticipated' the spread of new
strains of pneumonia and ear infection bacteria as a result of their vaccine!
They are in the process of testing another one, and plan for its use by the
general public in the next year or two. This one would address 18 strains of
pneumonia-causing bacteria."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Centre
decides to shut down three vaccine producing PSUs - Asia Pulse Data Source
via COMTEX via Trading Markets - "In a major revamp of the immunisation
programme, the Centre has decided to shut down the three vaccine producing
Public Sector Units and depend on the private sector for its vaccination needs."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Maternity Immunisation Allowance - eligibility change - Joint Media Release
with Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing - 7thSpace - "The
Australian Government will change the Maternity Immunisation Allowance (MIA) to
encourage all parents to fully immunise their children before they start
school. From 1 January 2009 the Maternity Immunisation Allowance (MIA) will be
paid in two instalments instead of one lump sum. Families Minister Jenny Macklin
and Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the $236.70 allowance was currently paid
for children aged between 18 months and 2 years who are fully immunised or have
received an approved exemption."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Provider issue vexes drive to boost flu-shot coverage - CIDRAP News - "Over
several hours Tuesday, participants at the annual National Influenza Vaccine
Summit struggled with the competing goals of getting shots and nasal sprays into
as many patients as possible, while protecting the investments of the patients'
regular doctors and the entrepreneurship of alternative vaccination sites."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Health Minister Tony Clement responds to Bill C-51 criticism - Straight.com
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Defining drugs through Bill C-51 - Bancroft This Week - "Promoted as a means
to protect the safety of Canadians from so-called untested natural health
products, Bill C-51 is a wide reaching, little publicized & carefully crafted
set of amendments to the federal Food & Drug Act. Key changes include: replacing
the word ‘drug’ with ‘therapeutic product’ throughout the Act giving the
Canadian government broad-reaching powers to regulate the sale of all herbs,
spices, vitamins, supplements & more."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
FDA defends safety of baby bottle chemical - Reuters - "Norris Alderson, the
FDA's associate commissioner for science, said although the regulatory agency is
reviewing safety concerns about the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, 'a large body
of available evidence' shows that products such as liquid or food containers
made with it are safe. In testimony before a Senate subcommittee, Alderson also
defended the FDA's reliance on two industry-funded studies in determining that
products containing BPA are safe."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Child-killing virus
hits Beijing - CNN - "In mild cases, EV-71 causes cold-like symptoms,
diarrhea, and sores on the hands, feet and mouth. Severe cases can cause fluid
to accumulate on the brain, resulting in polio-like paralysis and death. There
is no treatment for severe EV-71 infections nor does a vaccine exist. Adults
with well-developed immune systems can usually fend off the virus, but children
are particularly vulnerable to it, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
Judge won't suppress confession of man accused of shaking baby - Palm Beach
Post - "Dr. Edward Willey testified by phone that he believes shaken baby
syndrome is not a proper diagnosis in general and is propagated, in error, in
the medical community. Dr. Willey likened it to doctors' regard for ulcers which
for years were treated as if caused by spicy food or stress. They since have
been found to be caused by bacteria, he said. The doctor said that in Cano's
case specifically he does not believe Cano shook Elijah vigorously or that the
shaking alone would have caused the boy's injuries. Defense attorney Gershman
asked him about Elijah's dramatic head growth which registered at birth in the
10th percentile on growth charts and in the 95th percentile upon his death."
* ►May 14, 2008 -
YEMEN: Neonatal tetanus
campaign targets nearly one million women - IRIN via YemenOnline
* ►May 14, 2008 - Implications
for Registry-Based Vaccine Effectiveness Studies from an Evaluation of an
Immunization Registry: A Cross-sectional Study (pdf) - journal article (BMC
Public Health)
* ►May 14, 2008 - F.D.A.
Chief Writes Congress for Money (requires registration) - The New York Times
- "After being pummeled for weeks on Capitol Hill over the president’s budget,
Food and Drug Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach has written Congress that
the agency needs an immediate infusion of $275 million to ensure that imported
foods, drugs and medical devices are safe."
* ►May 14, 2008 - Clinical
Trial Participation Can Be A Hard Sell - Pharmalot
* ►May 14, 2008 - Financial
Disclosures Are Inconsistent In Journals - Pharmalot
* ►May 14, 2008 - NPR,
Conflicts Of Interest And A Mea Culpa - Pharmalot
* ►May 14, 2008 - Protesters
ask Pallone to support Lyme bill - Independent - "Lyme patients have no more
patience for being told, 'you are not sick, you never had Lyme disease, you need
psychiatric help.' "Research and education hold the key to unraveling this
disease, yet Congress will not even allow our voices or the voices of our
treating physicians to be heard," she said."
* ►May 14, 2008 - Abuse
of Power in Texas - Human Events - "When I hear a government bureaucrat
claim to be the parents of children he never has met, it sets me off. It is an
explosive statement. It is the kind of offensive and officious statement that
only will serve to create more fear and distrust of government -- the very
conditions that lead to the creation of compounds such as the Fundamentalist
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Frankly, the state does not even
know whether the children have been immunized or not. In some cases, the mothers
say their children have had shots, but the records are in Utah, not in Texas.
But these parents are hardly alone in our society when it comes to rejecting
inoculations of questionable safety. Who's next? Will Texas decide it is also
the lawful parent of children who are home-schooled and whose parents made
conscious and well-informed decisions not to immunize their kids because of the
potential for dire health risks? Why does the public accept the need for the
state to intrude in this jackbooted manner when it comes to these parents and
children?"
* ►May 14, 2008 - A
$7.75 Million Vioxx Verdict Is Overturned - Pharmalot
* ►May 14, 2008 - Pfizer
To Disclose Grants And Charitable Donations - Pharmalot
* ►May 13, 2008 - NIH
Awards La Jolla Institute For Allergy & Immunology Major Grant To Test Safety Of
New Smallpox Treatment - La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology via
Medical News Today
* ►May 13, 2008 - Critical
care panel tackles disaster preparation, surge capacity, rationing - CIDRAP
News - "Clinicians should consider two factors when weighing if a patient should
receive critical care: daily Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores
and the patient's chronic illness severity. Patients' SOFA scores would be
evaluated if their risk of hospital mortality is 80% or greater. Life-limiting
illnesses that would exclude patients from receiving scarce critical care
resources include conditions such as: Severe trauma. Severe burns in certain
circumstances. Cardiac arrest (unwitnessed or witnessed events that don't
respond to electrical therapy). Severe baseline cognitive impairment. Metastatic
malignancy. Advanced, irreversible neurological events or neuromuscular disease.
End-stage organ failure. Age above 85 years."
* ►May 13, 2008 - The
"Mark of the Beast" is called "interoperability with electronic medical records"
S.2911 & S.1693 - RenewAmerica
* ►May 13, 2008 - Lilly
backs transparency on M.D. perks - The Indianapolis Star - "Eli Lilly and
Co. today became the first drug maker to support a federal proposal requiring
drug and medical device makers to disclose payments, gifts, honoraria and travel
reimbursements given to doctors."
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Major Study of Teflon Chemical in People
Suggests Harm To Immune System, Liver, Thyroid - Preliminary Data Released
as Calif. Senate Votes to Ban PFCs in Food Packaging - Environmental Working
Group
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Bush administration rules limit lawsuits - The Associated Press via Google -
"The real-world impact of preemption will be on display Wednesday when a
congressional committee hears from actor Dennis Quaid and his wife, who have
sued a maker of the blood-thinner heparin in Illinois state court. The Quaids
sued after their newborn twins were given massive doses of the blood thinner at
a hospital. The Quaids claim the manufacturer was negligent in packaging
different doses of the product in similar vials with blue backgrounds. The
company — Baxter Healthcare Corp. — is seeking to use the doctrine of preemption
to shield it from any civil liability, claiming that once FDA approved the
labeling and packaging at issue in the case, the company is immune from civil
suits for money damages."
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Federal regulations limit consumer lawsuits - AP via Google
* ►May 13, 2008 -
GAO Criticizes FDA Regulatory Letters on Violative DTC Ads - FDAnews - "The
GAO report can be viewed at
www.gao.gov/new.items/d08758t.pdf."
* ►May 13, 2008 -
NBACC director says they will not create threats at lab - FAS Strategic
Security Project Blog - "The controversy about the research goals of the NBACC
emerged after Lt. Colonel George Korch, Jr., PhD, gave a powerpoint presentation
about the facility in February 2004. According to this talk (the slides are
available here), part of the NBACC threat assessment mission would include
acquiring, growing, modifying, storing, stabilizing, packaging, and dispersing
biological threat agents to determine various properties and capabilities. The
presentation also states that the facility will 'characterize classical,
emerging, and genetically engineered pathogens for their biological threat agent
potential” through “computational modeling of feasibility, methods, and scale of
production.'"
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Senate revises drugmaker gift bill - Reuters
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Coast
Guard backtracks on forced vaccine - Catholic officer wins right to reject
shot made from aborted fetus - WorldNetDaily - "In May 2006, the Coast Guard
ordered all active-duty personnel to receive one of two vaccines against
Hepatitis A or show proof of immunity. Healy researched the vaccine and
discovered that an immunized person can still be a carrier of Hepatitis A if he
comes in contact with infected fecal matter. Proper hygiene and simple hand
washing is the best way to prevent the spread of the disease, he found. Healy
further noted, 'Eighty-five percent of those exposed to the virus display slight
to no symptoms and all develop a permanent immunity to the virus once exposed.
Less than 3 percent of all exposures lead to severe symptoms or death.'"
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Autism and Vaccines: Are We Being Objective? - Dr. Hugo Rodier
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Heckenlively
On The Omnibus Autism Proceeding: 5/12 - Once More into the Breach! – The
Omnibus Autism Proceeding – Second Set of Hearings (Thimerosal & Autism) – Day
One – May 12, 2008 by Kent Heckenlively, Esq. - Age of Autism
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Are
childhood vaccines are causing autism? (includes video) - WHEC.com News 10
Rochester - "Dr. Michael Pichichero with Legacy Pediatrics blames a growing
trend among some parents to not have their kids vaccinated. He says, 'More
parents are refusing the MMR vaccine because of incorrect information that it
might cause autism. The result is measles outbreak across the country. We are
expected to see measles this winter in Rochester for the first time in 20
years.'"
* ►May 13, 2008 -
200 babies could hold key to early diagnostic test for autism in children -
The Times, UK
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Doctors Neglect to Offer Flu Vaccines - RedOrbit - "Flu shot manufacturer
Sanofi-Pasteur claimed on Monday that doctors are neglecting to give their
patients flu vaccines. By using information collected by an electronic physician
insurance claims database, the company cited evidence of 25 million high-risk
people who visited their physician during recent flu seasons and were not given
a flu shot. 'They are actually already in the office -- they just aren't being
offered vaccines,' said Sanofi's Donna Cary."
* ►May 13, 2008 -
MMR:
Medical manipulation reality - The one sure sign of a government in
desperate death throes is its fondness for vicious bullying. - opinion - News &
Star, UK
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Labour MP's MMR proposal 'a breach of human rights' - Some parents still
refuse to give their children an MMR jab - Opposition parties and pressure
groups have lambasted suggestions from Labour MP Mary Creagh that parents should
be forced to inoculate their children. - Politics.co.uk
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Needled by Cherie's jab at the truth - Daily Mail, UK - "Now Dr Rod
Griffiths, former president of the Faculty of Public Health, tells me: 'She
could have said 'yes' or she could have said 'no'. She said nothing. 'Now she is
saying 'yes'. So when did Leo lose his right to privacy? Has she asked him if it
is all right to say he's had it?...Dr Richard Halvorsen, author of
The Truth About Vaccines, admits he was
surprised at Mrs Blair's timing. 'I remember when people were screaming out to
know if her son had had his MMR. It is not helpful to anyone to say he did now.
People were troubled by this and she didn't help.'"
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Judge restores custody to parents of boy, 11, who fought chemotherapy - The
Canadian Press via Google
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Stealth Marketers - The ties that bind - Alliance for Human Research
Protection - "The New York Times reports that an examination by CSPI. Integrity
in Science, found that the panels that crafted the new DSM-psychiatry's
diagnostic 'Bible'-is as riddled with financial conflicts of interest as the
previous panels had been: 'More than half the 28 new members of writers of the
next edition of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) have ties to the drug industry.'"
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Tooth Fairy delivers Eli Lilly's Early Christmas Presents - Alliance for
Human Research Protection
* ►May 13, 2008 -
India plans to re-work immunisation programme - Thaindian.com - "The
suggestion to introduce a pentavalent vaccine came from the sub-committee of the
National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, headed by Biotechnology
Secretary M.K. Bhan, Dayal said."
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Is Your Mattress Toxic? - A major mattress manufacturer says he's worried
chemicals designed to protect people from fires may be poisonous, making the
mattress as dangerous as the flames. (includes video) - WXYZ.com
* ►May 12, 2008 -
Dix Hills Doctor Settles
First Hepatitis C Medical Malpractice Case - Newsinferno.com
* ►May 12, 2008 -
1,110 families refuse polio drops - Times of India
* ►May 11, 2008 -
Baby given BCG vaccine dies - Times of India - "While such deaths are known
in the medical world as 'adverse effect following immunisation', three deaths in
the span of a week is uncommon, said health officials. The yet-to-be-named
infant, the son of Chembur Naka resident Geeta Mane, was administered the BCG
vaccine at a health post in Abhudaya nagar on Tuesday."
* ►May 11, 2008 -
Local families await vaccine verdict - The Milford Daily News - "When Joe
and Kelly Hurley's two boys were babies, the Franklin couple brought them to the
pediatrician for standard shots. Like good parents, they were trying to protect
their kids from whooping cough and tetanus. Both boys suffered bad reactions to
the vaccines, coming down with 104-degree fevers and rashes with ballooned
cheeks, Kelly Hurley says. Now 9 and 10, one has moderate autism; the other has
a non-verbal learning disorder."
* ►May 11, 2008 -
More
Help Needed for Autism, Some Say - New insurance law welcome, but watered
down from original. - The Ledger
* ►May 11, 2008 -
85 Now Identified With Hepatitis C in Las Vegas Investigation -
InjuryBoard.com
* ►May 9, 2008 -
Early C8 results
suggest liver, immune impacts - Charleston Gazette - "The C8 Health Project
is a multi-year effort to examine the chemical's possible effects on mid-Ohio
Valley residents. It is funded by major portions of a $107.6 million settlement
paid by DuPont to settle a lawsuit alleging the company poisoned residents'
drinking water with C8. The settlement is also funding a related examination by
a three-person science team of possible C8 links to adverse health effects."
* ►May 7, 2008 -
The Facts Behind The
Medical Mystery Of Morgellons (includes video) - KTNV ABC 13
* ►May 7, 2008 -
USDA Renews Approval of 46
Non-Organic Ingredients in "Organic" Foods - NaturalNews.com
* ►May 6, 2008 -
Psychiatry Handbook Linked to Drug Industry - New York Times Blog - "The
Integrity in Science group described the financial conflicts of interest by the
task force members as ranging from 'small to extensive,' including one member
who over the past five years worked as a consultant for 13 drug companies,
including Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Wyeth, Merck, AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers
Squibb."
* ►May 5, 2008 -
University Health
Services near 1,000th course of HPV vaccine - The Daily Princetonian - "Adel
Mahmoud, a senior policy analyst at the Wilson School and a molecular biology
professor, is eagerly watching the controversy and anticipating the day when
Gardasil will be routinely administered to all Americans as children. But
Mahmoud is not just a casual observer. Before coming to the University, he
oversaw the development of the Gardasil vaccine during his tenure as president
of Merck Vaccines from 1998 to 2006."
* ►May 5, 2008 -
10-month-old boy is
second polio victim in Delhi - New Delhi: Despite being vaccinated, a
10-month-old boy in Delhi was on Sunday found to have contracted polio, nearly
two months after the capital reported India's first case of the wild polio virus
known as P1. - Sify News
* ►May 5, 2008 -
Country’s largest
public health initiative from tomorrow - The News - International - Pakistan
- "The health authorities of Pakistan are gearing up for the country's largest
public health initiative in which 34 million children under the age of five
years will be vaccinated against polio."
* ►May 2, 2008 -
Bush Signs Bill To
Take All Newborns' DNA - Health Council, Congressman Ron Paul warn new law
could pave the way for a national DNA database - Infowars.net - "Described as a
'national contingency plan' the justification for the new law S. 1858, known as
The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007, is that it represents preparation
for any sort of 'public health emergency.' The bill states that the federal
government should 'continue to carry out, coordinate, and expand research in
newborn screening' and 'maintain a central clearinghouse of current information
on newborn screening... ensuring that the clearinghouse is available on the
Internet and is updated at least quarterly'. Sections of the bill also make it
clear that DNA may be used in genetic experiments and tests. Read the full bill
here."
* ►May 1, 2008 - Study
Assesses Clinical Trial Disparities - Applied Clinical Trials
* ►May 1, 2008 - Top
Three Misconceptions of Adaptive Trials - A clear grasp of the
methodology behind the design is as important as the software that runs it. -
Applied Clinical Trials
* ►April 26, 2008 - Dendritic
cell-based vaccines suppress metastatic liver tumor via activation of local
innate and acquired immunity - journal article (Cancer
Immunology, Immunotherapy)
* ►March 5, 2008 - Gabrb3
gene deficient mice exhibit impaired social and exploratory behaviors, deficits
in non-selective attention and hypoplasia of cerebellar vermal lobules: a
potential model of autism spectrum disorder. - journal article (Behavioral
Brain Research)
Posted May 13, 2008
* ►May 14, 2008 - The
Wisdom and Justice of Not Paying for "Preventable Complications" -
journal article (JAMA) - "Far too many
patients experience preventable harm from medical care in US hospitals."
* ►May 14, 2008 - Barcoded
Medication Administration - journal article (JAMA)
- "Preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) generate an estimated $2 billion in
direct hospital costs each year and are a substantial source of morbidity and
mortality."
* ►May 14, 2008 - A
Family's Request for Complementary Medicine After Patient Brain Death
- journal article (JAMA)
* ►May 14, 2008 - Brain
Death - journal article (JAMA)
* ►May 14, 2008 - Baby
Bottle Safety - journal article (JAMA)
- "Leaders of the Committee on Energy and Commerce threatened to subpoena the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for records the agency used in determining
that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) was safe for use in making infant formula
liners and other products intended for infants and children."
* ►May 14, 2008 - Effects
of West Nile Virus May Persist - journal article (JAMA)
* ►May 13, 2008 -
David Kirby: Dr. Bernadine Healy: Don't Dismiss Vaccine Link - The
Huffington Post - "Dr. Healy is a member of the IOM: 'I love Institute of
Medicine,' she said, 'but a report from 2004 basically said, 'Do not pursue
susceptibility groups. Don't look for those children who may be vulnerable.' I
really take issue with that conclusion.' The reason why officials didn't want to
look for those groups? 'Because they were afraid that, if they found them,
however big or small they were, that would scare the public away,' Dr. Healy
explained. 'They don't want to pursue this hypothesis because it could be
damaging to the public health community at large by scaring people. I don't
believe the truth ever scares people.'"
* ►May 13, 2008 -
Vacc