NOTICE TO READERS: DEFERRAL OF ROUTINE BOOSTER DOSES OF TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS To assure vaccine availability for priority indications, all routine Td boosters in adolescents and adults should be delayed until 2002. Td use should follow existing recommendations for all other indications.

MMWR 50(20):418,427, 2001. Centers for Disease Control

http://id.medscape.com/38374.rhtml?srcmp=id-060101

GATES BANKROLLS CRUSADE FOR NEW MENINGITIS VACCINE

A foundation created by computer software mogul Bill Gates is donating $70 million to back the rapid development of a vaccine to prevent bacterial meningitis epidemics that regularly occur in sub-Saharan Africa, officials said on Wednesday.

http://id.medscape.com/38426.rhtml?srcmp=id-060101

LOW CORD BLOOD ANTIBODY LEVELS PREDICT OTITIS MEDIA IN INFANTS

Infants with low cord blood antibody concentrations to serotype 19F have more episodes of otitis media during the first year of life than those with higher antibody concentrations, according to a report in the May issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.

http://id.medscape.com/38382.rhtml?srcmp=id-060101

PROBIOTIC MILK MAY REDUCE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN

Milk containing Lactobacillus GG, given to children in daycare facilities, appears to slightly reduce the rate and severity of respiratory infections, according to a report in the June 2^nd issue of the British Medical Journal.

http://id.medscape.com/38521.rhtml?srcmp=id-060101

NSAIDS DO NOT INCREASE RISK OF NECROTIZING GROUP A STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTIONS

Administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to children with primary varicella infection does not increase the risk of necrotizing group A streptococcal (GAS) infections, according to a report in the May issue of Pediatrics.

http://id.medscape.com/38389.rhtml?srcmp=id-060101 

EUROPE TAKES FURTHER STEPS TO IMPROVE VIRAL SAFETY OF PLASMA PRODUCTS

Further measures to reduce the risk of contamination of plasma products by hepatitis A and parvovirus B19 have been recommended by a European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) working party.

http://id.medscape.com/38437.rhtml?srcmp=id-060101

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.