* ►March 20, 2010 - H1N1 Vaccine Acceptability and Correlates of Vaccine Refusal Among Physicians in the Emory Residency Training Programs - Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections (abstract) - "The results suggest H1N1 vaccination coverage may be increased by making vaccination mandatory or by focusing on vaccine safety messages that address the perceived risk of active influenza infection."

 

* ►March 20, 2010 - Taking the Final Step: Implementation of a Mandatory Flu Shot Program Within a Healthcare System - Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections (abstract) - "Exemption from vaccination was allowed for egg allergy, history of either Guillian-Barré or a post-flu shot anaphylaxis. A formal exemption process began as a written appeal to an internal review board which determined exemption. For the non-exempt, the choice to not be vaccinated resulted in termination. Rehire is conditional, based on the intent to comply with influenza vaccination in the future. ...Over 99.99% of approximately 3800 employees received a seasonal flu shot. No serious side effects occurred among those receiving vaccine. Of those employees who applied for exemption but were denied, 4 chose to terminate employement; however, one of these, a physician, chose retirement rather than immunization. Consequences for unvaccinated, non-employees were not explored this initial year."

 

* ►March 19, 2010 - Autism, Vaccines, Thimerosal: Further Study Needed - Age of Autism - "No study has looked at the possible effect of the synergistic toxicity of aluminum and thimerosal, which are never supposed to be used in combination (according to the Manufacturer Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for thimerosal ) and are indeed combined in many shots (according to the Vaccine Excipient Summary  from the CDC).  And no controlled study, not one, exists on the effect of low dose ethyl mercury toxicity in humans (a statement made by study author Anders Hviid himself below on p.1765)."

 

* ►March 18, 2010 - FDA to Ease Way for Multidrug Regimens (MRK,AZN) - SmarTrend News Watch via COMTEX via Trading Markets - "At least two pharmaceutical consortia are poised to take advantage of the forthcoming policy: a group of 10 drug companies and several nonprofit organizations convened by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop medicines to fight tuberculosis; and pharmaceutical giants Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) and AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating), which are jointly testing two anticancer agents."