November  9, 2003                    

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Vaccines breed controversies - The Star-Ledger via www.nj.com - "How do you know when your pussycat or pooch needs vaccinations? The decision used to be easy. It still is for puppies and kittens. They must have vaccines...But when pets mature that's when conflicting opinions emerge...Host of 'The Pet Stop' on News12NJ, Voynick says excessive vaccinations in adult dogs and cats 'may tip the immune system over the edge and thus make pets more prone to skin conditions, allergies, tumors in cats and some immune mediated diseases.'"

Boy’s medical bills get help from Jaycees - Tyler Gauvin-Shortell is a little boy with some big medical bills. - www.newbritainherald.com - "Tyler, 8, has suffered from a seizure disorder since he was 4 months old...Earlier this year, Shortell said that one possible cause of the seizures is a component of the diphtheria-petussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine Tyler and his twin brother, Alex, received when they were 4 months old...The boys experienced their first seizures within 10 hours of receiving the vaccine, Shortell said. Alex died from the disorder before his second birthday."  But, surely, it must be a coincidence!

Experts now suggest flu shots for kids - Hartford Courant via www.sun-sentinel.com

What to do against flu: Nasal mist new product in fight against the misery - The Anniston Star - For another perspective on the new FluMist™ vaccine, go to Risks of FluMist Vaccine - An Investigation By Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, a featured article at the Online Vaccines Conference at Redflagsdaily.com

Islamic Countries Mobilise for Polio Eradication - This Day via www.allafrica.com

Progress Reported in SARS Vaccine Effort - The New York Times - But are they sure that they even know what SARS really is?

Results of rabies vaccine test due back next spring - Portland Press Herald (fee required)

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed USP (For Pediatric Use) - package insert - Note that there are trace amounts of thimerosal even in the single dose vials and 25µ in the multi-dose ones.

District sues to keep autistic girl out of classroom - Contra Costa Times - "What happens in the case is significant given the increasing number of children being diagnosed with autism...."

Broadmoor knew risk in holding Asperger's patients - Telegraph, UK - "Britain's special hospitals for the criminally insane were warned seven years ago that they might be acting illegally by holding patients suffering from Asperger's syndrome...The report gave warning that the patients might suffer "unfortunate consequences" and suggested that a change in the law was needed to protect the patients' interests."

School for Autistic Children Sought - Fairfax Officials Question Charter's Accountability, Standards - The Washington Post

Hepatitis victim received new liver  - More than 7,500 people have received injections - www.post-gazette.com  - "'People don't normally die from [hepatitis A],'"

Disease spread as blood test was delayed - The Kansas City Star via www.ledgerenquirer.com - "Guardians of the nation's blood supply gathered in 1981 at American Red Cross headquarters to consider a way to prevent hepatitis C from spreading through transfusions...The group concluded: 'Blood collection agencies in the U.S. should prepare to test ALT levels of all blood units'...But that didn't happen.  In fact, the blood industry would delay testing for another six years."

FDA's Authority Tested Over Drug Imports - At Issue Is Whether Agency Will Lose Role in Assessing Safety of Medications - The Washington Post

Waiting for a cure - Toronto Sun - "In the cancer research community, scientists often say that cancer has been cured countless times. The trouble is that the patients are mice, not humans and as close as we may be to a cure for cancer it has not yet happened in animals of the two-legged kind. This is not meant to rain on the parade of the McGill University scientists who, this past week, have actually reversed breast cancer in lab mice."

Chipping away at your privacy - RFID chips could make your daily life easier, but they also could let anyone with a scanning device know what kind of underwear you have on and how much money is in your wallet - The Chicago Sun-Times

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