* ►April 1, 2008 - Second Dose of Varicella Vaccine for Children: Are We Giving It Too Late? (full text) - journal article (Journal of Infectious Diseases) - "Potential conflicts of interest: E.D.S. has received honoraria for talks from Merck & Co., manufacturer of the varicella vaccine."

* ►April 1, 2008 - Primary Vaccine Failure after 1 Dose of Varicella Vaccine in Healthy Children (full text) - journal article (Journal of Infectious Diseases) - "Potential conflicts of interest: A.A.G. does consulting and lectures for and receives research support from Merck & Co. and GlaxoSmithKline. A.M.A. does occasional consulting for Merck & Co. All other authors report no potential conflicts."
 
* ►April 1, 2008 - Persistence of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Antibodies in an MMR-Vaccinated Cohort: A 20-Year Follow-up - journal article (Journal of Infectious Diseases) - "A high rate of seropositivity was found 20 years after the first MMR dose, particularly for rubella and measles. Our results show that MMR vaccine–induced antibodies wane significantly after the second dose. According to epidemiological data, the protection induced by MMR vaccination in Finland seems to persist at least until early adulthood. However, the situation requires constant vigilance."

* ►April 1, 2008 - Population Snapshot of Emergent Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 19A in the United States, 2005 - journal article (Journal of Infectious Diseases) - "PCV7 ineffectiveness against serotype 19A, antibiotic resistance, clonal expansion and emergence, and capsular switching have contributed to the genetic diversity of 19A and to its emergence as the predominant invasive pneumococcal serotype in the United States."

* ►April 1, 2008 - Complement-Dependent Synergistic Bactericidal Activity of Antibodies against Factor H–Binding Protein, a Sparsely Distributed Meningococcal Vaccine Antigen - journal article (Journal of Infectious Diseases) - "Potential conflicts of interest: D.M.G. is the principal investigator of laboratory research conducted on behalf of Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, which is funded by grants from Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics and from Sanofi Pasteur. He also holds a paid consultancy from Novartis and is an inventor on patents or patent applications in the area of meningococcal B vaccines. All other authors report no potential conflicts."

►April 1, 2008 - Acquisition of Anal Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection in Women: the Hawaii HPV Cohort Study - journal article (Journal of Infectious Diseases)

►April 1, 2008 - Antibody Titer Threshold Predicts Anti-Candidal Vaccine Efficacy Even though the Mechanism of Protection Is Induction of Cell-Mediated Immunity - journal article (Journal of Infectious Diseases)

►April 1, 2008 - Vaccines to Prevent Systemic Mycoses: Holy Grails Meet Translational Realities - journal article (Journal of Infectious Diseases)

►April 1, 2008 - Superantigen-Like Effects of a Candida albicans Polypeptide - journal article (Journal of Infectious Diseases)

* ►April 2008 - Invasive pneumococcal disease: epidemiology in children and adults prior to implementation of the conjugate vaccine in the Oxfordshire region, England - journal article (Journal of Medical Microbiology) - "From the matched case–control study of adults, the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine effectiveness was estimated to be 43 % (2–68 %), which did not change significantly after adjustment for pre-existing co-morbidities. The data provide a baseline against which the impact of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduced in the UK in 2006 could be measured."

►April 2008 - A sustained-release formulation of doxycycline hyclate (Atridox) prevents simultaneous infection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by tick bite - journal article (Journal of Medical Microbiology)

►April 2008 - Epileptic syndromes in infancy and childhood. - journal article (Current Opinion in Neurology)

►April 2008 - Control of mental activities by internal models in the cerebellum - journal article (Nature Reviews Neuroscience)

►April 2008 - The social brain in adolescence - journal article (Nature Reviews Neuroscience)

►April 2008 - Noise in the nervous system - journal article (Nature Reviews Neuroscience)

* ►March 21, 2008 - Vaccine innocent in post-vaccination deaths: Health Ministry - The Health Ministry on March 20 officially stated that vaccine hasn’t been the cause of the post-vaccination deaths of several babies since 2007. - VietNamNet Bridge - "Since 2007 many post-vaccination child deaths have been reported in Vietnam. After each case, the Health Ministry performed an investigation but it has only just announced results. Last year Vietnam recorded 29 cases of serious shock and death after vaccination. Fifteen cases were determined to be coincidences (caused by other reasons, not vaccination); ten cases were without specific reasons: one was self-protection shock; and only three were due to vaccination service mistakes."

* ►March 21, 2008 - Serious Concerns Over Hepatitis B Vaccine - The Medicine Men via Newsmax.com

* ►March 21, 2008 - Vaccine dearth hampers immunisation - NDTV.com - "The Health Ministry has shut down all three government facilities that produce bulk of six crucial vaccines including DPT, BCG and measles for infants."

* ►March 21, 2008 - From the Paper that Brought You the Iraq War ... by Dan Olmsted - Age of Autism

* ►March 21, 2008 - Controversial doc's office booming - Andrew Wakefield a lightning rod in autism debate - (subscription required for full article) - Austin Business Journal

* ►March 21, 2008 - Wall Street Journal Blog on Vaccines - Age of Autism

* ►March 21, 2008 - More Parents Refuse to Vaccinate Kids - Wall Street Journal Blog

* ►March 21, 2008 - To Vaccinate or Not: The Growing Debate - Wall Street Journal Blog

* ►March 21, 2008 - How You Can Help Journalists Investigate Vaccine Safety by Nancy Hokkanen - Age of Autism

►March 21, 2008 - Autism contributing factors discussed by courts recently - Newport News-Times - "'Do vaccines cause autism?' is still in question for debate in media and in the courts, but for the local non-profit group Grassroots Autism Foundation, there's the beginning of proof."

* ►March 21, 2008 - Parents concerned about kid vaccinations - Parents are starting to reject vaccines for their children. It's a growing problem and it has doctors concerned - KABC 7

* ►March 21, 2008 - Ethics of vaccine mandates is topic for expert panel - Philadelphia Inquirer - "Should the government make you vaccinate your children? A panel of vaccine experts will explore the ethics and science behind childhood mandates Wednesday evening in the theater of the Franklin Institute. New Jersey's recently revised law will be a case study for discussion. That state now requires children who attend licensed day care or preschools to have an annual flu shot. On the panel: Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania; Paul A. Offit, an infectious disease expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Eddy Bresnitz, a deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services; and Frederic Bertley, a vice president of the Franklin, as the Institute now prefers to be called. The March 26 public forum goes from 7 to 8:30 p.m., including time for questions and answers. Admission is free but tickets are required."

* ►March 21, 2008 - Tots need lots of shots - They're well-armed against illnesses - Asbury Park Press - Comment: "I'm sorry but you mothers out there need to stop worrying about taking time off of work and getting your kids these shots out of convience to you and start reading about all the harmful effects they have on our children and seperate them! Your kids are more important then getting to work on time or going to get your hair done while you throw them in daycare and guess what? Your kids are the ones who are constantly sick so all these shots for the rotavirus,flu etc are really working well."

* ►March 21, 2008 - Early warning system for drug dangers sought - San Francisco Chronicle

* ►March 21, 2008 - Toy Toxins - Why does the United States remain one of the few developed countries to allow children to play with toys that some scientists say may cause infertility in boys? The toys in question contain substances called phthalates (pronounced "thal-ates"). While the European Union has banned these substances in products meant for children, there is powerful resistance from the chemical and toy industries to doing the same here. - PBS

►March 21, 2008 - Hospital confirms first UK case of extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis - Glasgow officials tracing Somali man's contacts - Epidemic unlikely but case highlights disease's danger - The Guardian, UK

►March 21, 2008 - Kids exposed to lead at school, agency reports - The Daily Journal

►March 21, 2008 - Using Theater as a Tool for Autism - WHOtv.com

►March 21, 2008 - Novartis Shuffles Ranks At Drug-Development Unit (free content) - The Wall Street Journal

►March 21, 2008 - Police to return patient records seized in Vegas hepatitis case - AP via KTNV Las Vegas

►March 21, 2008 - Another Heparin Maker Recalls Tainted Blood Thinner - Bloomberg

* ►March 21, 2008 - FDA Favors Drug Co. Over Public Safety - Judicial Watch - "Catering to a powerful drug company, the government agency responsible for protecting public health and safety will expedite expanded approval of a controversial cervical cancer vaccine already linked to the deaths of nearly a dozen girls and serious adverse reactions in thousands of others. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will speed up its own process to expand the use of Gardasil, manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Merck, from its current approved use in females ages 9 to 26 up to the age of 45. The vaccine has been promoted as a sort of miracle shot that can prevent certain strains of cervical cancer caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The reality is that is has been linked to at least a dozen deaths nationwide and thousands of adverse reactions, many of them as critical as paralysis and other serious circulatory problems. Rather than fulfill its duty by warning the public of the vaccine’s potentially serious and deadly consequences, the FDA concealed it for more than a year."

* ►March 21, 2008 - After a promising AIDS vaccine backfires, the scientific community questions the approach. (requires registration or subscription) - Washington Post via Los Angeles Times

►March 21, 2008 - HIV experts debate impact of vaccine - In the spring of 2007, it was the next great hope for the fight against AIDS. But by the fall, studies of an experimental vaccine against HIV suggested not only that it did not work, but that it actually put those who received it at greater risk of infection. - KGO abc7news.com

►March 21, 2008 - Stressed Parents Equals Sick Kids - New Scientist via ABC News

* ►March 20, 2008 - Controversial Clinic for the 'Chemically Sensitive' - Texas Doctor Target of State Medical Board for 'Environmental Medicine' - ABC News

* ►March 20, 2008 - Breeding fear? Leave medicine to the pros (editorial) - The Oklahoman - "State health officials likewise worry such a law would cause parents to shy away from vaccines that have saved many children from serious illness and even death. "I'm sure there was very good intent,” said Dr. Kristy Bradley, epidemiologist with the state Health Department. "But if it restricts our ability to offer vaccines, then we would not be in favor of it.”

* ►March 20, 2008 - Autism Discussion Missing a Key Piece - The Ellsworth American - "An Act to Protect Children’s Health and the Environment from Toxic Chemicals — was being debated in the Legislature, a hearing was held before another committee on LD 1977, recommending statewide screening that would lead to intensive treatment of autism. How shortsighted it is that identification of the chemical triggers of autism is not part of that discussion. It’s only a matter of connecting the dots. Scores of chemicals of high concern in consumer products — and/or the synergistic reactions among them — could be implicated in autistic syndrome disorders, now affecting one of every 150 children. When legislators calculate what it may cost to implement LD 2048, they would do well to take into account the astronomical expense of medical care for children with autism and learning disabilities."

* ►March 20, 2008 - Lyme Disease Can Be Prevented With New Shot, Study Suggests - Lyme disease is the blight of countryside users but it may be prevented with a single injection, according to research published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology. - Society for General Microbiology, via EurekAlert! via ScienceDaily - "A single dose of doxycycline given orally is only 20-30% effective at preventing these diseases in mice. The researchers found that a new formulation of doxycycline hyclate that is programmed to release the drug over a 20 day period is 100% effective."

* ►March 20, 2008 - McCain Will Cost Pharma $40 Billion - Pharmalot

* ►March 20, 2008 - Controversial Clinic for the 'Chemically Sensitive' - Texas Doctor Target of State Medical Board for 'Environmental Medicine' - ABC News - "It is a fact that Rea and his methods are controversial, scorned by many mainstream medical researchers and institutions. But all that simply makes no sense to those who say the world made them sick, and Dr. William Rea made them better. "I don't want to get all choked up," Nagy said, "but he gave me my life." Click here for more information on Lisa Nagy's Story and environmental medicine."

►March 20, 2008 - Vietnamese launch human trial of bird flu vaccine - Fierce Vaccines

►March 20, 2008 - Dire bird flu warnings sounded - The Times-Herald

►March 20, 2008 - Some people may transmit weaker AIDS virus: study - Reuters

►March 20, 2008 - Parents look to gluten and casein-free diets to treat autism - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

►March 20, 2008 - Rights of mentally ill youth must be a national priority - The Chronicle herald, CA

►March 20, 2008 - Stable pharma dividends offer shelter from storm - The Guardian, UK

►March 20, 2008 - Neurodegenerative disease: In the PINK - Expression of PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) protects neurons from the neurotoxic effects of mitochondrial toxins, suggesting a potential mechanism by which mutations in PINK1 might lead to Parkinson's disease. - journal article (Signaling Update)

►March 20, 2008 - Moving Out? Pharma Lacks Confidence In The UK - Pharmalot

►March 20, 2008 - Specialty Pharmaceuticals Mean Special Budgets - Pharmalot

►March 20, 2008 - Payers Aim to Rein in Specialty-Drug Spending (free content) - The Wall Street Journal

►March 20, 2008 - Another Bad Break For Merck? - Pharmalot

►March 20, 2008 - American Health Packaging Announces a Recall of Approximately 1,400 Units of Heparin Sodium Vial Products as Part of Broader Baxter Recall - Units for Pharmacy Automated Equipment Part of Broader Recall - FDA

►March 20, 2008 - Scripps Florida Scientists Develop a Process to Disrupt Hepatitis C Virion Production; Findings Offer Hope for New Therapies - The Scripps Research Institute via AScribe Newswire

►March 20, 2008 - Raw milk dairies win latest battle over state bacteria standards - The Modesto Bee

►March 20, 2008 - How pollution can help to clean the air - Hydroxyl radicals, nature's atmospheric scrubbers, are produced by nitrogen pollution too. - news (Nature)

►March 20, 2008 - PharmAthene clinches vaccine deal worth up to $40M - Baltimore Business Journal

►March 20, 2008 - Jurors deadlock in baby death case - Press-Register via www.al.com

* ►March 19, 2008 - Swiss Gardasil price cut 40% for use in vaccination program - MarketWatch

* ►March 19, 2008 - NJ med. school reaccredited - The Scientist - "The UMDNJ has been fraught with allegations of corruption, cronyism, and financial abuses since early 2005. In April, 2005, the university admitted to awarding several thousands of dollars in no-bid contracts to politically connected awardees and in November, 2006, the school was charged with paying kickbacks to cardiologists and defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of tens of millions of dollars."

►March 19, 2008 - Failure to contain bird flu in Indonesia increasing risk of pandemic - AP via North County Times

►March 19, 2008 - Schering's Zetia Promotion to Physicians Draws Inquiry From Senator Kohl - FDA Legislative Watch

►March 19, 2008 - Community-Based Staph Pneumonia More Common Than Thought - Many cases are linked to drug-resistant bacteria, CDC study finds - HealthDay News via Medline Plus

►March 19, 2008 - Older drugs no match against drug-resistant infections - As antibiotics lose their punch, a team of researchers at McMaster University discovered "old" drugs that doctors are turning to also have built-in problems in thwarting infectious diseases. - McMaster University via Physorg

►March 19, 2008 - Superbug found in Canadian pork products - Canadian Press via The Toronto Star

►March 19, 2008 - Pfizer plans to develop India-specific drugs - Firm to also conduct trials for its new kidney cancer drug Sutent to explore treatment for other types of cancer - livemint The Wall Street Journal

►March 19, 2008 - Scientists See Norwalk Virus' Achilles Heel - Canadian Light Source, Inc. via Biocompare

►March 19, 2008 - PEG3350 in the Treatment of Childhood Constipation: A Multicenter, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial - journal article (The Journal of Pediatrics)

►March 19, 2008 - Fosamax Linked to Unusual Femur Fractures - Osteoporosis drug also linked to bone pain and irregular heartbeats in past research - HealthDay News

* ►March 18, 2008 - Indian Court to Rule on Novartis Plea Over Anti-rabies Vaccine (requires registration) - TherapeuticsDaily

►March 18, 2008 - Biogen CEO says expects more Tysabri PML cases - Reuters

►March 18, 2008 - Biotech co.'s ex-CEO charged with fraud - AP via The Oregonian

* ►March 18, 2008 - 'All for some and none for some' - A fix can't come soon enough for Ohio's wildly inequitable system of helping autistic kids - The Columbus Dispatch

►March 18, 2008 - Do Bacterial Combinations Result in Enhanced Cytokine Production? No! - World Journal of Gastroenterology via Biocompare

►March 18, 2008 - Stopping a Receptor Called 'Nogo' Boosts the Synapses - Findings could help explain brain benefits of exercise - University of Rochester Medical Center via Biocompare

►March 17, 2008 - On the Trail of Rogue Genetically Modified Pathogens - BioMed Central via Biocompare

►March 17, 2008 - Making HRT mongering More Difficult for Wyeth - Juries and Medical Journals Making HRT mongering More Difficult for Wyeth - www.scoop.co.nz

* ►March 12, 2008 - Dental work may contain lead - Gainesville Times - "An Ohio TV reporter then conducted an experiment, ordering eight dental crowns from various labs in China. One crown tested positive for lead. The issue was brought to the attention of the National Association of Dental Laboratories and the American Dental Association, both of which have sent out notices to their members. The ADA has also launched its own investigation to determine how widespread the problem is."

►March 10, 2008 - Encephalopathy with combined lithium-risperidone administration. - journal article (Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica)

* ►March 2008 - Do Different Vaccination Regimens for BCG and Hepatitis B Affect the Development of Allergic Disorders in Early Childhood? - journal article (Allergology & Clinical Immunology; Asthma) - "The study population was divided into two groups according to vaccination regimens: group 1, beginning hepatitis B vaccination at birth and receiving BCG vaccine at two months of age; group 2, receiving BCG vaccine at birth and beginning hepatitis B vaccination at two months of age. Atopic status was assessed by skin-prick tests (SPTs). Results. There was no statistically significant difference in atopy between two groups (p = 0.27). However, the prevalence of recurrent wheezing was higher in group 1 (36.4%) than group 2 (16.3%) (p = 0.04)."

Comment:  This study tells us nothing about whether or not vaccines are responsible for atopy.  It merely shows that two vaccine schedules produce the same results re: atopy.  Without comparison to never-vaccinated children, no conclusions can be drawn about vaccinations and atopy.  The only thing that can be said is that both schedules are equally (statistically) good or bad.

►March 2008 - Developmental emergence of fear learning corresponds with changes in amygdala synaptic plasticity - journal article (Brain Research)

►March 2008 - Cortical brain malformations: effect of clinical, neuroradiological, and modern genetic classification. - journal article (Archives of Neurology)

►March 2008 - Strongly Positive Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies are Associated With Marsh 3 Histopathology in Adult and Pediatric Celiac Disease. - journal article (Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology)

* ►March 2008 - Scientific barriers render an HIV vaccine unfeasible at present time (requires registration) - Further efficacy trials may shift funding and focus away from much needed basic science. - www.infectiousdiseasenews.com

* ►March 2008 - ACIP expands influenza vaccine recommendations (requires registration) - Previous recommendation was for children aged between 6 and 59 months. - www.infectiousdiseasenews.com

►March 2008 - A multifaceted approach may be needed to reduce HIV risk in MSM (requires registration) - MSM often face a syndemic of psychosocial conditions that may be driving and exacerbating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in this population. - www.infectiousdiseasenews.com

►March 2008 - Circumcision of men may decrease STD risk in women (requires registration) - Male circumcision may not be associated with a reduced risk for HIV acquisition in women. - www.infectiousdiseasenews.com

►March 2008 - ED visits for skin, tissue infections on the rise (requires registration) - Majority of epidemic cases have been mild and are not cause for alarm. -  www.infectiousdiseasenews.com

►March 2008 - Risk for VRE linked to previous environmental contamination (requires registration) - Experts urge increased attention to disinfection in health care settings. - www.infectiousdiseasenews.com

►March 2008 - Bats act as reservoirs for fulminant diseases (requires registration) - www.infectiousdiseasenews.com

►March 2008 - Chikungunya epidemic in India may have been underreported (requires registration) - Inaccuracies in reporting possibly underplayed the mortality rates associated with the chikungunya epidemic. - www.infectiousdiseasenews.com

►March 2008 - Postnatal antiretroviral prophylaxis may reduce risk for HIV transmission (requires registration) - Addition of zidovudine did not improve results over nevirapine alone. - www.infectiousdiseasenews.com

►March 2008 - AIDS Compendium (requires registration) - Infectious Diseases News gives newsbytes about the rapidly changing world of HIV treatment. - www.infectiousdiseasenews.com

►February 2008 - Is Alzheimer's disease a synaptic disorder? - journal article (Journal of Alzheimer's Disease)

►Volume 22 Issue 4, 2008 - Assessing the Efficacy of Treatments for ADHD: Overview of Methodological Issues. - journal article (CNS Drugs)

 * ►"Give us answers on vaccines" - David Kirby and the Atlanta Journal Constitution Ask the CDC to Give Us the Truth on Vaccine Safety - A-CHAMP.org

* ►March 21, 2008 - The Wakefield witch-hunt - Spectator.co.uk

* ►March 21, 2008 - Public Health Risk Seen as Parents Reject Vaccines (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►March 21, 2008 - Half of five-year-olds 'can't speak properly when they start primary school' - Daily Mail, UK

* ►March 21, 2008 - Stealth mutant HIV could hold key to vaccine - PLOS Pathogens via New Scientist

►March 21, 2008 - Some people may transmit weaker AIDS virus-study - Reuters South Africa

* ►March 21, 2008 - IVI scientists discover how vaccination via skin disseminates immunity into the body - press release - The International Vaccine Institute via Korea Newswire - "Scientists at the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) have discovered the mechanism by which a vaccine applied onto the skin can cause an immune response in the gut, as well as in the body. The Seoul-based IVI is an international organization devoted to new vaccines for developing countries."

►March 21, 2008 - World TB Day --- March 24, 2008 - MMWR/CDC

►March 21, 2008 - Trends in Tuberculosis --- United States, 2007 - MMWR/CDC

►March 21, 2008 - Provider-Initiated HIV Testing and Counseling of TB Patients --- Livingstone District, Zambia, September 2004--December 2006 - MMWR/CDC

* ►March 21, 2008 - Immunization Information Systems Progress --- United States, 2006 - MMWR/CDC

* ►March 21, 2008 - Notice to Readers: World Water Day --- March 22, 2008 - MMWR/CDC - "Basic sanitation includes access to facilities for the safe disposal of human waste and the ability to maintain hygienic conditions through services such as garbage collection, industrial or hazardous waste management, and wastewater disposal (2). Approximately 2.6 billion persons live without basic sanitation, including 1 billion children. Each year, an estimated 1.5 million children die as a result of poor sanitation, from preventable conditions such as diarrhea and malnutrition (3)."

►March 21, 2008 - QuickStats: Percentage of Women* Who Gained <15 Pounds During Pregnancy, by Age Group and Race/Ethnicity† of Mother --- United States, 2005§ - MMWR/CDC

►March 21, 2008 - Notice to Readers: Revised Technical Instructions for Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment for Panel Physicians - MMWR/CDC

►March 21, 2008 - Notifiable Diseases/Deaths in Selected Cities Weekly Information - MMWR/CDC

* ►March 21, 2008 - Summary of Notifiable Diseases --- United States, 2006 - MMWR/CDC

►March 21, 2008 - Surveillance for Acute Viral Hepatitis --- United States, 2006 - MMWR/CDC

►March 21, 2008 - FDA seeks presence in China - China Daily

►March 21, 2008 - Best form of defence is prioritised vaccination - Farmers Guardian, UK - "Virologists advising the European Commission have said that the only way to beat BTV8 into submission is to vaccinate at least 85 per cent of all susceptible animals in all EU member states for at least three years in succession."

* ►March 20, 2008 - Boyd Haley Lets 'em Have It - Age of Autism

* ►March 20, 2008 - AJC Blog on David Kirby's Op Ed Piece - Age of Autism

* ►March 20, 2008 - Autism and vaccines: What’s the link? - Opinion Talk Blog via Atlanta Journal-Constitution

* ►March 20, 2008 - Presidential Hopeful's Autism Comment Provokes AAFP Riposte - Scientific Data Show No Link to Vaccine Administration - AAFP News Now

►March 20, 2008 - Border jumpers left out under autism mandate Rhoades says - New Richmond News

* ►March 20, 2008 - Pneumococcal Disease Rates Down Significantly Post-vaccine -  American Society for Microbiology via ScienceDaily - " The incidence of IPD caused by strains not included in the vaccine rose by 40%. One of the non-vaccine strains, 19A showed an increase of 264%, but Moore cautions that because these strains were relatively uncommon before the introduction of the vaccine, the increase in actual numbers is still small."

Comment:  It’s not easy to fool Mother Nature. Moreover, the significance of the rise in non-vaccine strains is only speculative at this point.  For a discussion of a possibly similar situation re: Hib vaccine, go to Scandals: Changing Disease Epidemiology Via Vaccines - Are We "Robbing Peter To Pay Paul"?.

* ►March 20, 2008 - Our doctors ‘so close’ to a cure for meningitis - South Manchester Reporter - "Dr Borrow, 45, and his team at the North West Health Protection Agency, based at the MRI, have already produced a vaccine to combat strain C of the meningococcal meningitis infection. Now Dr Borrow has revealed that they have also enjoyed a breakthrough in the cultivation of a vaccine against the more common B strain of the meningococcal disease."

* ►March 20, 2008 - Deadly infection found at Cornell University - The Ithacan Online - "Moss said the type B strain has been identified as the cause of the two bacterial meningitis cases. 'The two students are receiving treatment and they’re doing well,' he said."

* ►March 20, 2008 - Families Fighting Flu Board Member Speaks at 42nd Annual National Immunization Conference - Joe Lastinger Stresses Importance of Why All Children Need to be Vaccinated Against the Flu - press release - Families Fighting Flu, Inc. via PRNewswire-USNewswire - "Families Fighting Flu, Inc. is made possible by unrestricted grants from MedImmune, Inc., sanofi pasteur, Novartis Vaccines, CSL Biotherapies, and The Clorox Company."

* ►March 20, 2008 - US has enough H5N1 vaccine for 13 million people - CIDRAP News - "The vaccine, based on a clade 1 virus isolated from a Vietnamese patient in 2004, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in April 2007. Although no one knows how well it would work against an emerging pandemic strain of H5N1, HHS officials hope it would provide some protection to those most at risk for exposure in the early months of a pandemic."

* ►March 20, 2008 - Study Finds Single Dose of Iomai Patch With Pandemic Flu Vaccine Achieves Protective Levels - HHS Now Reviewing Data to Determine Next Steps in $128 Million Contract - press release - Iomai Corporation via PRNewswire-FirstCall

* ►March 20, 2008 - Booster patch helps bird flu vaccine -study - Reuters

* ►March 20, 2008 - Flu Warning: Two Deaths in Duluth Tied to Influenza - MDH investigation two flu-related deaths - FOX 9 News - "45-year-old Dan Barney Adams, Jr. and his father Dan Barney Adams, Sr. appear to have died from the flu. In addition, they may have suffered a secondary bacterial infection. Adams, Jr. died Sunday at Bigfork Hospital of what health officials call a ‘flu-like’ virus. Three days later, Adams, Sr. died after exhibiting the same flu-like symptoms."

* ►March 20, 2008 - PharmAthene Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Biodefense Vaccines Business From Avecia - Strategic Acquisition Reinforces PharmAthene's Status as a Premier Biodefense Company; Creates Expanded Biodefense Pipeline - PharmAthene, Inc., via PRNewswire-FirstCall

* ►March 20, 2008 - Failure of vaccine tests a setback in AIDS fight (requires registration or subscription) - Washington Post via Chicago Tribune

* ►March 20, 2008 - Iraq War Veterans Face Allergy Risks - Study: Soldiers Deployed To Iraq Twice As Likely As Stateside Soldiers To Develop Allergies - WebMD via CBS News

* ►March 20, 2008 - Statement of Christine F. Sizemore, Ph.D., Barbara E. Laughon, Ph.D., and Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health on World TB Day, March 24, 2008 - press release - National Institutes of Health - "Ultimately, controlling TB depends on effective prevention strategies, especially vaccines, and TB vaccine development is a critical goal of the NIAID research agenda. An ideal vaccine would be safe and efficacious for everyone, including those infected with HIV."

►March 20, 2008 - Tuberculosis Decline Slows in U.S., Missing Elimination Targets - Bloomberg

►March 20, 2008 - Serious Weakness Found In Virus Responsible For Most Cervical Cancer - University of Leeds, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS via ScienceDaily

►March 20, 2008 - Hepatitis B Foundation Testifies Before Congressional Appropriation Committee and Urges More Federal Funding for Hepatitis B - press release - Hepatitis B Foundation via PRNewswire-USNewswire

►March 20, 2008 - XTL in $108 million licensing agreement for Hepatitis C program with Presidio - AFX via Forbes

►March 20, 2008 - Investigations Continue In Hepatitis Scare - Las Vegas Now

►March 20, 2008 - Single jab may protect against dangerous tick diseases - ANI via DailyIndia.com - "Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, have developed an injection that protects against two severe diseases transmitted by tick bites: Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis."

►March 20, 2008 - Washington State Wins Most Improved For Childhood Immunizations - www.kndo.com

►March 20, 2008 - Adult Vaccines - WSLS.com

►March 20, 2008 - Pascagoula Church Challenges Kids To Bless The Needy - WLOX TV 13 - "That staggering statistic encouraged College Park student Winston Roberts to donate his $50 to help African children get vaccinated against Measles."

►March 20, 2008 - Teens are offered free immunizations - Idaho Mountain Express

►March 20, 2008 - Vacillation over vaccination? Here’s what the kids need - CNN-IBN

►March 20, 2008 - Scientists See Norwalk Virus' Achilles Heel - Canadian Light Source/University of Saskatchewan via ScienceDaily

►March 20, 2008 - Survey: Allergies get no respect - United Press International

►March 20, 2008 - Largest organization for chefs calls for removal of FDA safety blessing on sometimes deadly artifical butter flavoring. - Seattle Post-Intelligencer Blog

* ►March 20, 2008 - Shining a light on hazards of fluorescent bulbs - Energy-efficient coils booming, but disposal of mercury poses problems - MSNBC

►March 20, 2008 - Mercury poisoning in Colbert (includes video) - KXII-TV

►March 20, 2008 - Fort Dodge's 'Mosquito Shot' Offers Convenient Protection Against Dangerous Mosquito-Borne Illnesses - press release - Fort Dodge Animal Health via PRNewswire via The Earth Times

* ►March 19, 2008 - Large Analysis Shows Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Is Safe (requires registration) - Medscape - "Quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Gardasil; Merck & Co, Inc; Cervarix; GlaxoSmithKline) seems to be safe in a review of data involving more than 30,000 prelicensure and 12.4 million postlicensure doses of the vaccine, although vasovagal syncope may be a newly identified adverse event."

* ►March 19, 2008 - Only Two Percent Of Child Drug Trials Have Independent Safety Checks - University of Nottingham via ScienceDaily

* ►March 19, 2008 - Possible Vasculitis Case Halts Heplisav Trials, Dynavax Falls - BioWorld Online - "Executives of Dynavax Technologies Corp. and partner Merck & Co. Inc. have starting analyzing data after reports of a possible case of vasculitis in a single Phase III trial subject that prompted the FDA to put a clinical hold on investigational hepatitis B vaccine Heplisav."

►March 19, 2008 - NII reclassifies autistic boy as 'learning disabled', cancels stipend - Ha'aretz

►March 19, 2008 - Overcoming Autism: Public Schools Deal with a Growing Problem - As the number of special-needs students soars, public schools grapple with ways to offer high-quality education without going broke. - Edutopia

►March 19, 2008 - Anti-Virus Firms Scrambling to Keep Up - Sophistication of Viruses and Other Threats Poses Big Challenges for Companies, Consumers (requires registration) - Washington Post - "The sheer volume and complexity of computer viruses being released on the Internet today has the anti-virus industry on the defensive, experts say, underscoring the need for consumers to avoid relying on anti-virus software alone to keep their home computers safe and secure."

* ►March 19, 2008 - NVIC Vaccine E-Newsletter

Hepatitis B: Discrimination and Vaccine Damage by Barbara Loe Fisher

A news report out of China, where about 125 million people are hepatitis B carriers, reveals that any child or adult found to be hepatitis B positive faces severe discrimination and societal sanctions while news reports out of Japan reveal that mandatory hepatitis B vaccination programs have transmitted hepatitis B infection. In France, families of hepatitis B vaccine victims are suing drug giants GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Pasteur for aggravated deceit and involuntary homicide for the crippling and killing of children and adults, who were required to take the vaccine. The families have been barred from suing two former French government health officials who initiated and promoted the mandatory hepatitis B vaccination program.

For more than 20 years, the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) has been receiving reports that adults, children and infants are suffering serious reactions to hepatitis B vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccine reaction reports began to come in to NVIC's Vaccine Reaction Registry in the late 1980's from adult health care workers, who reported extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, joint pain, loss of vision, memory loss, heart problems, and development of multiple sclerosis after hepatitis B vaccination.

When the CDC recommended in 1991 that all healthy newborns at 12 hours of age be given hepatitis B vaccine in the newborn nursery, reports of infants dying after hepatitis B vaccination started coming in and continued all through the 90's. When states started mandating the vaccine for all school children in the late 1990's, parents began reporting that their bright, healthy, honor roll students and star athletes were becoming brain damaged, bed ridden and unable to attend school.

In 1999, NVIC published a report that in the U.S. there were more reported cases of hepatitis B vaccine reactions than reported cases of hepatitis B disease in children under 14 years old, an infection that is primarily transmitted in the U.S. among adult high risk groups such as IV drug users and those with multiple sexual partners.

The U.S., Europe and Canada have had historically low rates of hepatitis B disease. In 1990, one year before the CDC told doctors to give every American child three doses of hepatitis B vaccine, there were 21,102 cases of hepatitis B reported in the U.S. out of more than 300 million Americans. In 2005, there were 5,119 hepatitis B cases reported (MMWR, March 30, 2007)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5453a1.htm

During the past century, medical doctors in positions of power inside and outside of governments around the world have developed an irrational fear of infectious microorganisms, such as hepatitis B virus, and have instilled that fear in the people they counsel. When irrational fear overtakes rational thought, the first casualty is usually the truth; the second is freedom.

The people in China, who are facing cruel discrimination for testing positive for hepatitis B infection, are being persecuted because of myths and misinformation perpetuated by doctors pushing mass use of hepatitis B vaccine and pharmaceutical drugs. The hype that surrounded CDC-inspired mandatory hepatitis B vaccination laws in the late 1990's had doctors declaring to the media that hepatitis B is highly contagious and could be transmitted in school settings, even though they knew transmission was impossible unless there was a direct exchange of blood. When questioned in a public hearing in 1997, CDC official Eric Mast, M.D. admitted "although [the hepatitis B] virus is present in moderate concentrations in saliva, it's not transmitted commonly by casual contact."

Infants who contract hepatitis B, either from their infected mother or infected blood transfusions, are at highest risk for chronic infection. But for the majority of healthy teenagers and adults, who come down with hepatitis B infection, symptoms include nausea, vomiting, low grade fever, pain and swelling in the joints, headache, and cough for two weeks before the onset of jaundice and enlargement/tenderness of the liver that lasts for three to four weeks. Fatigue can last up to a year but "most patients do not require hospital care" and "95 percent of patients have a favorable course and recover completely" with the case fatality ratio being "very low (approximately 0.1 percent)" according to Harrison's Principles of Medicine (11th Edition).

Those who recover completely from hepatitis B infection acquire life-long immunity. One medical textbook (Robbins Pathologic Textbook of Disease) points out that among those who do not recover completely from hepatitis B infection, fewer than 5 percent become chronic carrriers of the virus, with just one quarter of these in danger of developing life threatening disease later in life. For more information on hepatitis B disease and the vaccine, go to http://www.nvic.org/Diseases/hepbnlr.htm

The tragic consequences of doctors promoting mass hysteria about infectious diseases, like hepatitis B, and insisting on "no-exceptions" vaccine mandates, are becoming clearer every day. The only hope that citizens of every country have to protect their health and the health of their children is to stand up and pass laws which allow informed, voluntary use of vaccines and prohibit discrimination against those who have a disease or are vaccine injured.

No forced vaccination. Not in America.

Robert: injured by Hepatitis B Vaccine and reported to NVIC ( www.VaccineMemorial.org )

Report to NVIC's International Memorial for Vaccine Victims

www.VaccineMemorial.org

Report ID: 157
Name: Robert Topp
Birth Date: 8/2/1988
Death Date:
Birth State: CA
Birth Country: USA
Vaccination Age: 10
Suspected Vaccine: HBV (hepatitis B)
Primary Reaction: mononeuropathy
Secondary Reaction: paralysis
Other Reaction: transverse myelitis

Reaction Description: He had a thorough exam. The doctor said he was in great shape. The the nurse gave him his first "mandatory " Hepatitis B vaccine. The following morning he was different. Different looking, different acting. He was paralyzed on one side, but that for us is only the tip of the iceberg. Mentally, physically, and personality wise he is a different kid. No tolerance to pain or outside stimulation. If he was younger he would have diagnoosed with autism.

Current Health Problems: Robert is much better. No wheat or dairy in his diet. Intense physical and behavioral therapy for years. IG therapy. Excellent chiropractic care. Thank you Doctor Tom! There is still the uncertain future we live with each day of what may happen when Robert grows older and stops remyelinating. This didn't have to happen.  Robert is a fighter.

►March 18, 2008 - Vegan diet may help ease rheumatoid arthritis - Reuters UK

►March 18, 2008 - Calls for myxo vaccine to be allowed - www.abc.net.au

* ►March 18, 2008 - Cancer jab for all babies mooted - The West Australian - "Australian health authorities might need to consider giving the cervical cancer vaccine to all babies, according to the country’s leading cancer group. The Cancer Council of Australia also said research was needed to establish if boys should also be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus which caused cervical cancer and if the vaccine should be given during infancy."

* ►March 18, 2008 - Combination Vaccines Hold Potential in the South African Paediatric Vaccine Market - Frost & Sullivan via Business Wire via ad.hoc.news

* ►March 17, 2008 - Pandemic Update V - A Report from Secretary Michael O. Leavitt - www.pandemicflu.gov

* ►March 17, 2008 - Novavax gears up for flu vaccine race - CEO says Rockville biotech has ‘all the pieces in place’ - Business Gazette

►March 17, 2008 - IAC Express Issue number 718 - Immunization Action Coalition

►March 4, 2008 - Screening the herbal pharmacy - Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres via www.eurekalert.org

►March 1, 2008 - Family History of Alcoholism, Autism May Be Linked.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included) - Family Practice News via HighBeam Research

►February 29, 2008 - Greasy hair makes for clean air - New Scientist

* ►February 23, 2008 - Damages suits to target state over vaccine-induced hepatitis B+ - Kyodo News Agency via Progressive News Daily

►February 2008 - Corporate Watch: The Selling of Organic - Organic Consumers Association

►January 1, 2008 - Phytochemistry and pharmacogenomics of natural products derived from traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese materia medica with activity against tumor cells - journal article (Molecular Cancer Therapeutics)

►2008 - Flu Vaccines - What you need to know (pdf) - SafeMinds

►2007 - Interactions among infections, nutrients and xenobiotics. - journal article (Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition)

►October 2006 - Early nutrition and immunity - progress and perspectives. - journal article (British Journal of Nutrition)

►December 15, 2005 - Comparative nutrition and metabolism: explication of open questions with emphasis on protein and amino acids. - journal article (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

►August 2005 - Physiological functions should be considered as true end points of nutritional intervention studies. - journal article (British Journal of Nutrition)

►Volume 10 Number 4, 2005 - Neurodegeneration from Mitochondrial Insufficiency: Nutrients, Stem Cells, Growth Factors, and Prospects for Brain Rebuilding Using Integrative Management (pdf) - journal article (Alternative Medicine Review)

►2005 - Psychoimmunology of nutrition. - journal article (Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series. Clinical & Performance Programme)

►2005 - Interaction between nutrition, intestinal flora and the gastrointestinal immune system. - journal article (Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series. Clinical & Performance Programme)

►September 2003 - Interactions between the enteric nervous system and the immune system: role of neuropeptides and nutrition. - journal article (American Journal of Surgery)

►January 2003 - The History of Nutrition: Malnutrition, Infection and Immunity (full text) - journal article (The Journal of Nutrition)

►2003 - Nutrient regulation of immune functions. - journal article (Forum of Nutrition)

►2003 - The interaction of nutrition and the immune response: new approaches. - journal article (Forum of Nutrition)

►2003 - Changes in the immune system are conditioned by nutrition (full text) - journal article (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

►August 2002 - Nutrition and the immune system from birth to old age - journal article (European Journal of Nutrition)

►2002 - Nutrients and their role in host resistance to infection - journal article (Journal of Leukocyte Biology)

►August 2001 - Nutritional modulation of immune function. - journal article (Proceedings of the Nutrition Society)

►2001 - Nutritional factors and immune functions of gut epithelium (pdf) - journal article (Proceedings of the Nutrition Society)

►December 2000 & February 2001 - Adverse Effects of Adjuvants in Vaccine by Viera Scheibner - Nexus via www.whale.to

►2000 - Role of nutrients and bacterial colonization in the development of intestinal host defense. - journal article (Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology Nutrition)

►December 1999 - Nutrition and intestinal mucosal immunity. - journal article (Clinical Nutrition)

►November 1999 - Nutrient Tasting and Signaling Mechanisms in the Gut II. The intestine as a sensory organ: neural, endocrine, and immune responses - journal article (Nutrition)

►August 1999 - Nutrition and immunology: from the clinic to cellular biology and back again. - journal article (The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society)

►January 1999 - Nutritional and metabolic endpoints. - journal article (The Journal of Nutrition)

►July-Aug. 1998 - Nutrition and the immune system of the gut. - journal article (Nutrition)

►June 1998 - Nutritional modulation of immunity and the inflammatory response. - journal article (Nutrition)

* ►Lyme Induced Autism Foundation - East Coast 1-Day Conference - Saturday, April 12, 2008 Fort Lee, NJ  This 1-day conference will educate attendees with an Intermingling of Traditional and Alternative Therapies to provide treatment strategies to begin in our healing journey. This conference will cover topics that would be appropriate for parents of children with autism, Lyme disease and related infections, adults with Lyme disease and medical professionals. - www.lymeinducedautism.com - "Can't attend the conference?  Join us for the FREE online webcast LIVE from New Jersey! http://www.zenworksproductions.com/webcast3.html"

►Viera Scheibner, Ph.D. - www.whale.to

►April 2008 - Ancillary risk information and pharmacogenetic tests: social and policy implications - journal article (The Pharmacogenomics Journal)

►April 2008 - Pharmacogenetic studies in depression: a proposal for methodologic guidelines - journal article (The Pharmacogenomics Journal)

* ►March 20, 2008 - Preserving cell shape under environmental stress - journal article (Nature)

►March 20, 2008 - Translational control of the innate immune response through IRF-7 - journal article (Nature)

►March 20, 2008 - Identifying natural images from human brain activity - journal article (Nature)

►March 20, 2008 - Taking Your Child's Breath Away — The Extension of Asthma's Global Reach - journal article (NEJM)

►March 20, 2008 - Combating the Eosinophil with Anti–Interleukin-5 Therapy - journal article (NEJM)

►March 20, 2008 - When Doctors Become Patients (book review) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►March 20, 2008 - Give us answers on vaccines by David Kirby - opinion (requires registration or subscription) - Atlanta Journal-Constitution - "By now, many parents in America have heard of the Hannah Poling court case. They know the government has acknowledged that vaccines contributed to autism in at least one little girl from Georgia. Understandably, they are worried, and they want answers. But instead of frank talk from leading health officials, their concerns are being met with stonewalling, denial and misinformation. By refusing to address what really happened to Hannah — by commanding parents to settle down and adhere to the nation's rigid immunization regime — officials will only drive people away from vaccines in anxiety-ridden droves."

* ►March 20, 2008 - David Kirby in the Atlanta Journal Constitution - Age of Autism

* ►March 20, 2008 - Blood Storage Impacts Survival Rate (free content) - Wall Street Journal

* ►March 20, 2008 - Vaccination rules change - Tri-Town News - "Following an extensive review, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced new rules, effective Sept. 1, 2008, requiring vaccinations for younger children and infants if they are attending a licensed child-care facility."

* ►March 20, 2008 - Well, Well, Well - Nutrition, livers and kidneys - VUE Weekly - "And, sadly, some of our preventative measures yield questionable results. We administer hepatitis B vaccines to thousands of children every year, even though young children are far more likely to suffer serious adverse reactions (neurological and immune damage, and death) than they are to come into contact with the disease (which requires blood or sexual contact for transmission). The adverse reporting system in the US registered over 17 000 adverse effects directly linked to the vaccine over an eight year period in the ‘90s. My point is that while vaccination programs may prevent some cases of hepatitis, they all too often also create a new set of problems that for some are equally devastating."

* ►March 20, 2008 - Wrong shots given to center students - The Review - "Some 15 nursing students at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center accidentally received a polio injection instead of a tuberculosis (TB) test last Friday."

►March 20, 2008 - Mother's joy after double meningitis nightmare - Scotsman

* ►March 19, 2008 - Olmsted on Autism: Hannah Poling and Rachel Carson by Dan Olmsted - Age of Autism

* ►March 19, 2008 - Mark Blaxill and Boyd Haley Respond to Pichichero et. al. Thimerosal Mercury Excretion Study - Adventures in Autism

* ►March 19, 2008 - Jenny McCarthy - American model campaigning for autism awareness. - video - The Hour via CBC

* ►March 19, 2008 - Dentist. Autism. Panic? by Kim Stagliano - Age of Autism

►March 19, 2008 - 'All for some and none for some' - A fix can't come soon enough for Ohio's wildly inequitable system of helping autistic kids - Columbus Dispatch

►March 19, 2008 - Report blasts autism program - Cincinnati Enquirer

►March 19, 2008 - Campaign to raise autism awareness launches - Craegmoor News

* ►March 19, 2008 - Special diets and autism - NHS Choices - "Despite the newspaper headlines and coverage, the study did not look at the effects of the MMR jab and autism. Instead, it tested and compared the urine of autistic boys with the urine of boys without autism. The researchers conclude that there were no differences between the levels of peptides in the groups and say they have effectively disproved the ’leaky gut theory‘. However, further research is needed to establish whether a casein and gluten-free diet has other effects on autism."

* ►March 19, 2008 - Autism Connected To Gene Central To Neuron Formation, Study Shows - Stony Brook University Medical Center via ScienceDaily

►March 19, 2008 - Population Diagnostics, Inc. Mutation Discovery Technology Is Used to Find Autism Gene - press release - Population Diagnostics, Inc. via Earth Times

►March 19, 2008 - Researchers Identify Copy Number Variation Linked to Autism by Subtracting 'Normal' Variation (requires registration) - GenomeWeb News

►March 19, 2008 - Stock up on Autism Awareness Month Goodies! - Age of Autism

* ►March 19, 2008 - Royal Free's MMR doctors set to defend research at GMC hearing - Hampstead and Highgate Express - "The GMC said it is not investigating allegations of a link between MMR and autism, but solely focusing on the complaints against individual doctors. The hearing is scheduled to run from March 27 to May 15, and again from July 14 to August 29."

►March 19, 2008 - Mercury matters - letter - Bedford Times Register

* ►March 19, 2008 - Vitamins Reduce the Duration and Severity of Influenza - press release - Orthomolecular Medicine News Service - "Vitamins fight the flu by boosting the body’s own immune response and by accelerating healing. Individuals can be better prepared for an influenza epidemic by learning how to use vitamin supplements to fight off ordinary respiratory infections. The most important vitamins are vitamins C, D, niacin, and thiamine."

* ►March 19, 2008 - Volunteers for HIV vaccine testing need more support from researchers: study - Canadian Press via CBC - "Yet, even with pre-testing in laboratory animals, scientists cannot foretell how a person's immune system will react to an inoculation, Sekaly said. 'The primate model is not a predictor, the mouse model is absolutely by no means a predictor.' 'The only way to know if a vaccine is going to work or not is by going into humans.'"

* ►March 19, 2008 - Flu Vaccine Safe for Egg-Allergic Kids - Concerns About Serious Adverse Reactions Called Outdated After 2 New Studies - WebMD

* ►March 19, 2008 - Medicago's H5N1 VLP Vaccine Provides Protection Against Multiple Strains of Avian Flu - Cross-protection established against deadly Vietnam strain press release - Medicago Inc. via Marketwire

►March 19, 2008 - India culls chickens to stop bird flu spreading - Reuters India

►March 19, 2008 - TO hospital denies reports its treating avian flu - CTV

►March 19, 2008 - That bird flu scare? Never mind... - National Post - "Bird flu hysteria came to Toronto briefly today, after an erroneous report that an elderly couple had been quarantined due to fears they had returned from Bangladesh with avian flu."

►March 19, 2008 - Reports under influenza surveillance arrangement - A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said today (March 18) that a total of 19 reports have been received so far through the influenza surveillance arrangement set up by the CHP with private and public hospitals to monitor the trend of influenza-related complications in children. - Centre for Health Protection via Media-Newswire

* ►March 19, 2008 - FDA grants fast review of Gardasil for adult women - Reuters - "Gardasil had fourth-quarter global sales of $339 million, helping to drive Merck's total global revenue from vaccines to $1.1 billion."

* ►March 19, 2008 - Merck And Big Pharma: Both Getting A Stock "Booster" Shot? - Pharmas Market via CNBC - "Merck this morning announced that it has filed for Food and Drug Administration approval of its blockbuster cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, for women 27-45 years old. Right now it's approved for females 9-26. The additional filing was expected. The news is that the FDA has put it on a fast track. That means it could be approved for that age group in six months or so. Next up: the company could file for approval of the shots for young men and boys."

* ►March 19, 2008 - HPV Vaccine -- What's A Parent To Do? -  Indiana University, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS via ScienceDaily

►March 19, 2008 - US government agrees to consider approving Gardasil use by women up to age 45 - AP via International Herald Tribune

►March 19, 2008 - Teen STD Epidemic - Annual PAP Smear and GARDASIL® Vaccine Provide Strong Defense vs. Cervical Cancer: Dr. Tom Lyons Debunks Myths of Cervical Cancer Prevention and Risks - With one quarter of the population of teenage girls testing positive for sexually transmitted diseases (or more than 3 million teens), gynecologic surgery pioneer Dr. Tom Lyons strongly advocates the GARDASIL vaccine for girls at their first gynecologic exam--BEFORE they become sexually active. - press release - Center for Women's Care & Reproductive Surgery via PRWeb

* ►March 19, 2008 - GlaxoSmithKline Donation Helps Protect Canadian Olympians Against Hepatitis A and B - press release - Canadian Olympic Committee via CNW Group

►March 19, 2008 - Vaccination Payment Change (includes video) - KFYR-TV - "Soon First District Health Unit will be billing insurance companies for vaccines for adults and children. In the past the First District Health Unit received vaccines from the Department of Health. But because of increased vaccine requirements and lack of federal dollars they can no longer cover the cost. This means insurance companies will pick up the tab."

* ►March 19, 2008 - Pharma Exec Indicted for Role in Fraudulent Drug Marketing - Wall Street Journal Law Blog

* ►March 19, 2008 - FDA Announces What's Contaminating Heparin - Cheap and Abundant Man-Made Chemical Compound Is Found in Blood Thinner - ABC News - "An altered version of a dietary supplement made from animal cartilage is now at the center of the worldwide drug safety investigation."

* ►March 19, 2008 - AVANIR Pharmaceuticals Licenses Anthrax Monoclonal Antibody Program to Emergent BioSolutions - press release - AVANIR Pharmaceuticals via PharmaLive via MedAdNews.com

* ►March 19, 2008 - Chickenpox outbreak strikes - Causes timely reminder for second dose - Circleville Herald - "But we are seeing a majority of kids who had at least one dose."

* ►March 19, 2008 - Chickenpox outbreak could force kids to stay home - KXLY.com - "'For this reason, Washington State began a phased-in requirement for all school children to be vaccinated against this disease beginning in 2005.'...The joint decision means all children and staff in affected classrooms who cannot prove vaccination or having previously contracted the disease are being sent home for up to 21 days, depending on how long the outbreak persists."

►March 19, 2008 - Penitents warned v. tetanus on Lent rites - Sun.Star - Philippines

►March 19, 2008 - Chikungunya Virus Didn't Cause Deaths in India, Government Says - Bloomberg

►March 19, 2008 - Community-acquired staph pneumonia appears more common, including MRSA - press release - American Society for Microbiology via www.eurekalert.org

►March 19, 2008 - 9 child safety products that may cause harm - Parents magazine investigates the dangers of common safety products - TODAY via MSNBC

* ►March 19, 2008 - Prenatal Acetaminophen: An Asthma Link? - Pregnant Women Who Take Acetaminophen Could Raise Asthma Risk in Their Kids - WebMD - "So what could be happening? While no one knows for sure, Perzanowski says that acetaminophen use may deplete the lung of an antioxidant called glutathione. Researchers think glutathione, which is found in the lining of airways, may play an important role in preventing damage to the lungs."

* ►March 19, 2008 - For Merck, One More Gardasil Market On The Way - Pharmalot

* ►March 19, 2008 - 3 Formulations of Hib-MenCY-TT Vaccine & 1 Formulation of Hib-MenC-TT Vaccine Compared to Licensed Meningococcal Serogroup C Conjugate Vaccine, Each Administered at 2,3,4 Mths of Age - Sponsored by: GlaxoSmithKline www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►March 19, 2008 - Co-Administration of Meningococcal Vaccine GSK134612 With Infanrix Hexa Versus Individual Administration of Each Vaccine - Sponsored by: GlaxoSmithKline www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►March 19, 2008 - A Study in Infants to Test Two Preparations (Freeze-Dried or Liquid) of the Rotavirus Vaccine (HRV Vaccine). - Sponsored by: GlaxoSmithKline www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►March 19, 2008 - A Study to Evaluate Safety and Immune Response of Novartis Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine In Infants - Sponsors and Collaborators: Novartis Vaccines www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►March 19, 2008 - Study Evaluating 13-Valent Pneumococal Conjugate Vaccine in Healthy Infants - Sponsored by: Wyeth  www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►March 19, 2008 - Safety and Immunogencitiy Study of MenC-TT Vaccine (NeisVac-C) in Toddlers Previously Immunized With PCV7 (Prevenar®) - Sponsored by:  Baxter Healthcare Corporation www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►March 19, 2008 - Immunogenicity & Safety of a Commercially Available Vaccine co-Administered With GSK HPV Vaccine (580299) - Sponsored by: GlaxoSmithKline www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►March 19, 2008 - Dose Ranging Study of Combined Haemophilus Influenzae Type B-Meningococcal Serogroups CY (Hib-MenCY-TT) Vaccine - Sponsored by: GlaxoSmithKline www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►March 19, 2008 - Safety and Immunogenicity of a Booster Dose of -H5N1 Influenza Vaccine - Sponsors and Collaborators: Novartis Vaccines www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►March 19, 2008 - Immunogenicity and Safety of an Adjuvanted Inactivated Subunit Influenza Vaccine to Those of a Non-Adjuvanted Inactivated Subunit Influenza Vaccine, When Administered to Adults Affected by Chronic Diseases - Sponsors and Collaborators: Novartis Vaccines www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►March 19, 2008 - Behind The Heparin Mystery: A Counterfeit Substance - Pharmalot - "Chondroitin sulfate is a widely used supplement to treat joint pain and in its unaltered state, doesn’t have the blood-thinning properties found in the contaminant. But scientists and researchers say the act of changing the molecule gives the substance anti-coagulating properties, according to the Times. Scientists who have examined batches of the contaminated heparin distributed by Baxter International in the US say they suspected the Heparin-like molecule was intentionally mixed into the drug."

* ►March 19, 2008 - Parents' stress may affect child health - New Scientist via The Guardian, UK

►March 19, 2008 - Efficacy Trial of Two Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PncCRM and PncOMPC) for Prevention of Acute Otitis Media Due to Vaccine Serotypes - Sponsors and Collaborators:  National Public Health Institute KTL Merck Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines Pasteur Merieux Connaught www.clinicaltrials.gov

►March 19, 2008 - A Study to Evaluate Safety and Immune Response of Novartis Meningococcal ACWY Congugate Vaccine In Adolescents - Sponsors and Collaborators: Novartis Vaccines www.clinicaltrials.gov

►March 19, 2008 - A Study to Evaluate Safety and Immune Response of Novartis Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine In Healthy Adults - Sponsors and Collaborators: Novartis Vaccines www.clinicaltrials.gov

►March 19, 2008 - Safety, Tolerability, Immunogenicity And CPG Dosage Finding Study of Novartis CpG Adjuvanted Flu Vaccine - Sponsors and Collaborators: Novartis Vaccines www.clinicaltrials.gov

►March 19, 2008 - Study to Evaluate the Consistency of Three Consecutive Production Lots of Influenza Vaccine in Healthy Subjects 18 to 49 Years Old - Sponsors and Collaborators: Novartis Vaccines www.clinicaltrials.gov

►March 19, 2008 - Safety and Immunogenicity of Two Doses of H5N1 Influenza Vaccine in Adults Unprimed and Primed With Adjuvanted or Non-Adjuvanted Influenza Vaccines - Sponsors and Collaborators: Novartis Vaccines www.clinicaltrials.gov

►March 19, 2008 - Safety, Tolerability and Immunogenicity of Three Doses of Novartis Meningococcal B Vaccine When Administered to Healthy at-Risk Adults - Sponsors and Collaborators: Novartis Vaccines www.clinicaltrials.gov

►March 19, 2008 - Abbott Sued By States For Blocking Generic - Pharmalot

►March 19, 2008 - Indonesia Is Country Worst Hit By Bird Flu - High Load Of Circulating Virus Could Lead To Mutation And Human Flu Pandemic - Food and Agriculture Organization via Medical News Today

►March 19, 2008 - Ceftobiprole: A New Cephalosporin for MRSA Infection - journal article (Journal Watch Infectious Diseases)

►March 19, 2008 - Ready for a break, then your body breaks down - Why our immune systems often pack up just as we are about to have some time off work - The London Times

►March 19, 2008 - Now Your Liver Doesn't Have to Make It For You - Corante

* ►March 18, 2008 - Letter from Mark Blaxill and Dr. Boyd Haley to Pediatrics Journal - Clean Vaccines in Oklahoma

* ►March 18, 2008 - Gene for brain connections linked with autism - Journal of Medical Genetics via Reuters

►March 18, 2008 - Compulsory drug licensing disastrous - The Denver Post

►March 18, 2008 - Face up to socioeconomic toll of H5N1, experts urge - CIDRAP News

►March 18, 2008 - The Regulation of Negative Emotions: Impact on Brain Activity - Elsevier via Biocompare

►March 18, 2008 - Circumcision and Risk for STIs: No Evidence of Major Protective Effect - Early childhood circumcision did not lower risk for STIs. - journal article (Journal Watch)

►March 18, 2008 - Scoundrel time - What Doctors Don't Tell You

►March 18, 2008 - Vaccines have saved lives - Sioux Falls Argus Leader

►March 18, 2008 - Gene study suggests China source of H5N1 virus - Reuters via Yahoo!

* ►March 18, 2008 - Lilly Zyprexa Claims Losses in Alaska May Climb to $1.83/Share - Bloomberg

* ►March 18, 2008 - US regulator conducts wholesale review of vaccine additives - The Times, UK - "Allergy Therapeutics lost 5¾p to 34p as it said its late stage clinical trial of a hayfever vaccine Pollinex Quattro, put on hold by the US regulator in July after a patient suffered an adverse reaction, was still being reviewed. It said that although it could find no cause for the reaction, the Food and Drug Administration was conducting a wholesale review of vaccine additives and could not say when it would be completed."

* ►March 18, 2008 - New Ways to Fight Nut, Milk Allergies - Studies Show Peanut-Rich Diets During Pregnancy and Injection-Free Milk Immunizations May Help - WebMD

* ►March 17, 2008 - Mandatory Gardasil vaccine controversy widens - ABC 4 - "Some states have attempted to make the HPV vaccine mandatory, along with other childhood vaccinations. Utah is not among them. The Utah Health Department issued the following statement: 'There are currently no plans to require the HPV vaccine in Utah. The vaccine is an important step towards eliminating cervical cancer; however, getting the HPV vaccine is a personal choice. We encourage parents and women to discuss the vaccine with their physicians and make the decision that is best for them.'"

►March 17, 2008 - Gardasil: Menace or miracle? - Killeen Daily Herald

* ►March 12, 2008 - Vaccines and Autism: Is there a link? - video - AP via ABC 6 - "Are childhood vaccines triggering autism? That question is being raised and in one unprecedented settlement, one family gets justice. ABC6 anchors Alison Alexander and Melissa Mahan talked with Wendy Fournier, the President of the National Autism Association, about the significance of the case."

* ►March 12, 2008 - New Research Confirms Childhood Stroke More Common in Boys - Medscape Medical News

►March 11, 2008 - Update on Overall Prevalence of Major Birth Defects -- Atlanta, Georgia, 1978-2005 (requires registration) - International Stroke Conference via Medscape

►March 11, 2008 - Computerized Prescriber Order Entry and Pediatric Patient Safety (requires registration) - Pediatrics via Medscape Pediatrics

* ►March 7, 2008 - Court Ruling Does Not Confirm Autism-Vaccine Link, CDC Says (requires registration) - Reuters via Medscape - "Let me be very clear that (the) government has made absolutely no statement about indicating that vaccines are a cause of autism," Dr. Gerberding told reporters in a telephone briefing. "That is a complete mischaracterization of the findings of the case, and a complete mischaracterization of any of the science that we have at our disposal today. So I think we need to set the record straight on that."

►March 7, 2008 - Risk of Anaphylaxis Differs Between Children and Adults With Mastocytosis (requires registration) - Allergy via Reuters Health

* ►March 6, 2008 - Autism and Vaccine Link: Poll (requires registration) - Medscape

►March 2008 - 'We CAN' Fight Autism - Two women with a common interest - autism - make the story of We CAN. What took off during open meets for parents of autistic children in Chennai has evolved as a training and resource centre for autism, reports K Deepalakshmi - Express Healthcare

►June 10, 2007 - Boyd Haley, PhD Speaks at Mercury-Free Vaccines Rally - You Tube