* ►December 2008 - Why vaccines are not the answer – The failure of V520 and the importance of cell-mediated immunity in the fight against HIV - journal article (Medical Hypotheses)

►November 15, 2008 - New immunosuppressive approaches: Oral administration of CD3-specific antibody to treat autoimmunity - journal article (Journal of the Neurological Sciences)

►November 15, 2008 - Phenytoin protects central axons in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis - journal article (Journal of the Neurological Sciences)

►November 2008 - West Nile Poliomyelitis in a 7-Year-Old Child - journal article (Pediatric Neurology)

►November 2008 - Questionnaire-based survey of lifetime-prevalence and character of allergic drug reactions in German children - journal article (Pediatric Allergy and Immunology)

►November 2008 - Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Associated With Healthcare-Associated Infections: Annual Summary of Data Reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006–2007 (full text) - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►November 2008 - Controlling for Severity of Illness in Outcome Studies Involving Infectious Diseases: Impact of Measurement at Different Time Points (full text) - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►November 2008 - Screening for MRSA: A Flawed Hospital Infection Control Intervention (full text) - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►November 2008 - Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology of Healthcare-Associated Infections Due to Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)–Producing Strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae That Harbor Multiple ESBL Genes (full text) - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►November 2008 - Improving Cleaning of the Environment Surrounding Patients in 36 Acute Care Hospitals (full text) - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►November 2008 - Cross-regulation between herpesviruses and the TNF superfamily members - journal article (Nature Reviews Immunology)

►November 2008 - Two ways to survive infection: what resistance and tolerance can teach us about treating infectious diseases - journal article (Nature Reviews Immunology)

* ►November 2008 - Probiotics in Allergy Management. - journal article (Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition) - "In conclusion, probiotics are effective in the treatment and/or prevention of a number of conditions, including diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome and atopic dermatitis, and the product used should be selected based on the particular indication."

►November 2008 - West Nile Virus Encephalitis in a Renal Transplant Recipient: The Role of Intravenous Immunoglobulin - journal article (American Journal of Kidney Diseases)

►November 2008 - Epidemiology of atopy patch tests with food and inhalant allergens in an unselected population of children - journal article (Pediatric Allergy and Immunology)

►November 2008 - Effect of Screening for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carriage by Polymerase Chain Reaction on the Duration of Unnecessary Preemptive Contact Isolation - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►November 2008 - Mammalian glycosylation in immunity - journal article (Pediatric Allergy and Immunology)

►November 2008 - Cytokine-mediated regulation of antimicrobial proteins - journal article (Nature Reviews Immunology)

►November 2008 - US Food and Drug Administration's Total Diet Study: Dietary intake of perchlorate and iodine - journal article (Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology)

►November 2008 - Bisphenol A (BPA) daily intakes in the United States: Estimates from the 2003–2004 NHANES urinary BPA data - journal article (Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology)

►November 2008 - Interstitial 22q13 deletions: genes other than SHANK3 have major effects on cognitive and language development - journal article (European Journal of Human Genetics)

►November 2008 - The use of common mitochondrial variants to detect and characterise population structure in the Australian population: implications for genome-wide association studies - journal article (European Journal of Human Genetics)

►November 2008 - Twenty-year trends in prevalence and survival of Down syndrome - journal article (European Journal of Human Genetics)

►November 2008 - A novel splice mutation in PAK3 gene underlying mental retardation with neuropsychiatric features - journal article (European Journal of Human Genetics)

►October/November 2008 - Role of dichloroacetate in the treatment of genetic mitochondrial diseases - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

* ►October 25, 2008 - Rotavirus vaccines cut diarrhea sickness in U.S. - Reuters - "One study by vaccine maker Merck and Co. showed the vaccine eliminated emergency room visits for the strains of rotavirus targeted by the vaccine last year, while others showed clear benefits of the vaccine, which prevents the most common cause of severe diarrhea."

* ►October 25, 2008 - Multinationals Identifying Potential of India, Vaccine Market to Grow 20% - A new research report by RNCOS reveals that the surge in domestic demand and exports is attracting multinationals, driving the vaccine market in India strongly. - : RNCOS E-Services Pvt. Ltd. via PRMinds

* ►October 25, 2008 - Advice not to feed peanuts to babies may be behind soaring levels of food allergies - Advice to avoid giving peanuts to babies for fear of sparking allergic reactions may in fact be driving the rate of allergy higher, according to a leading expert. - Telegraph, UK

►October 25, 2008 - Not Really So Different - Hartford Courant

►October 25, 2008 - A History of Medicine - part 3 - Europe News

* ►October 25, 2008 - McCain Supports Vaccine Choice - Obama Procrastinates - Christian News Wire via The One Click Group

* ►October 25, 2008 - Open Letter to Autism Speaks... Time to unite...Tighten the belt...Time for the real fight....Are you for our children or against them? - Tanners Dad's Blog

►October 25, 2008 - New ME/CFS Charity Video Channel Launched - The One Click Group

* ►October 25, 2008 - SafeMinds Flu Vaccine Flyer - Age of Autism

* ►October 24, 2008 - NVIC Says Government Denies Gardasil Risks - Vaccine Watchdog Group Calls for Transparency (includes video) - press release - National Vaccine Information Center via Business Wire

* ►October 24, 2008 - CDC Gardasil Risk Report Is A Cover-up by Barbara Loe Fisher (includes video) - Vaccine Awakening

* ►October 24, 2008 - NVIC Vaccine E-Newsletter

CDC Gardasil Risk Report Is A Cover-up by Barbara Loe Fisher

www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com
www.NVIC.org
www.StandUpBeCounted.org

This week the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in association with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued a report on Gardasil vaccine safety that amounts to a cover-up of serious reactions, including paralysis and deaths, that have been reported to the government's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS).

Today (October 24, 2008), the National Vaccine Information Center issued a press release that calls on the CDC and FDA to release to the public the study design, data and names of principal investigators involved in the report maintaining that Gardasil vaccine is safe with no serious side effects. NVIC will also be calling on the newly elected President and members of Congress to remove the nation's vaccine safety monitoring system from DHHS and place it in a separate entity reporting directly to Congress.

Sadly, U.S. government officials have learned nothing in the past 26 years from parents asking for investigation of vaccination side effects and identification of individuals at higher risk for having vaccine reactions so their lives can be spared. Now, a callous disregard for human life, which has been tragically demonstrated for decades, is once again illustrated in this latest refusal to properly evaluate the risks of the newly licensed Gardasil vaccine. Why should anyone have confidence in government and drug company officials who do not bother to scientifically investigate the biological mechanisms contributing to serious reactions, injuries and deaths and why some individuals may be more vulnerable than others for suffering Gardasil reactions?

Conflicts of interest are rampant in a mass vaccination infrastructure that has the same people, who are regulating and promoting vaccines, also evaluating vaccine safety. This kind of conflict of interest cannot be tolerated. The people - and only the people being told and often forced to buy and use vaccines - can reform the system by getting involved in the democratic process and appealing to their elected officials and demanding change. Because 26 years is long enough to wait for those in government responsible for ensuring vaccine safety to do the right thing.

At the end of the day, the only way we can have the ability to place economic and political pressure on the public health system to change is to have the right to make informed, voluntary decisions about which vaccines we and our children use. The right to informed consent to vaccination or any medical intervention which carries a risk of injury or death is a human right. Anything less, as we can see from the latest whitewash of Gardasil vaccine risks by government health officials we are supposed to trust, is a threat to both individual and public health.

* ►October 24, 2008 - Pharma Runs TV Ads For Supportive Lawmakers (includes video) - Pharmalot

* ►October 24, 2008 - Novartis Replacing Flu Vaccine Syringes with Fixed Needle - Occupational Health & Safety - "Novartis, which makes the vaccine in Rosia, Italy, and Liverpool, England, facilities and has FDA approval to distribute it in pre-filled syringes, agreed to the modification after CDPH learned that syringes distributed nationwide have a permanently affixed 5/8-inch needle and lack a safety device to protect the user from needlesticks."

* ►October 24, 2008 - Training for ‘Ladies with the vaccines’ - The Peninsula

* ►October 24, 2008 - Clinical Trials - WSOC Charlotte - "In a recent poll by the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan, 77 percent of adults reported they wanted only FDA-approved medications for their children. Yet, only 30 percent of parents said they would allow their children to participate in a trial. Some of the most common reasons for not participating include: possible risk of harm to the child, not wanting a child to be a "guinea pig" and the child's physician not being directly involved in the research."

* ►October 24, 2008 - Palin Outlines Plan To Help Special Needs Children - AP via KDKA.com

* ►October 24, 2008 - Sarah Palin Gives Her First Policy Speech and It Is On Kids With Special Needs - Adventures in Autism

* ►October 24, 2008 - Palin Details Special Needs Policies - The Trail Blog via Washington Post

 * ►October 24, 2008 - Drug Industry Adapts to Democrats' Mounting Clout - Wall Street Journal

* ►October 24, 2008 - Special Needs Kids: The New Squeaky Wheel - Age of Autism

►October 24, 2008 - Europe Commission Delays Sweeping Pharma Bill (includes video) - Pharmalot

►October 24, 2008 - Merck Shutdown of Rosetta is Seattle’s Loss, Boston’s Gain As Company Tries to Lure Key Researchers East - Xconomy

►October 24, 2008 - Isis' Ibis Biosciences Subsidiary Highlights the Power of the Ibis T5000 Pathogen Identification and Characterization System at the ICAAC/IDSA Meeting - Isis Pharmaceuticals via The Earth Times

* ►October 24, 2008 - Cold virus might help immune system - The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine via ABC7Chicago.com

►October 24, 2008 - Europe agency rejects Lilly drug for fibromyalgia - Reuters

* ►October 24, 2008 - Required Immunizations Bad Idea - OpEdNews - "It is a bad call by Federal and State Governments to require such a huge list of vaccinations to be given to a child under the age of two. It is also bad parenting for families to allow their child to have to be exposed to these types of immunizations before they are developed enough to be able to handle them better."

* ►October 24, 2008 - Health officials urge flu vaccines for children 6 months to 18 years - Memphis Commercial Appeal

* ►October 24, 2008 - Seasonal Influenza Treatment Options in a Family Setting CME (requires registration) - Medscape

* ►October 24, 2008 - “The Butterfly Effect”: Chapter Energy Helps the Measles Initiative Soar - Chapter activities create a whirlwind, attracting more advocates and increasing support to defeat measles - American Red Cross

►October 24, 2008 - Protecting At-Risk Populations During Infectious Disease Outbreaks CME (requires registration) - Medscape

* ►October 24, 2008 - Six-legged soldiers - Insects have been converted into weapons of war and tools of terror for millennia. A new book asks: Are we ready for the next wave? - The Scientist

►October 24, 2008 - Many pesticides in EU may damage human brain: study - Reuters via Scientific American

* ►October 24, 2008 - Environmental illnesses are gaining attention - The Mercury News - "Experts say that everyone is affected in some way by chemical sensitivity. No one quite knows why, but some think genetics may play a large role. Some people are on the severe end, with their sensitivities so extreme that they can't function in many public places where they can't control their environment. Others may have relatively mild symptoms — or none at all. The rest are in the middle. Adults suddenly may develop asthma. People may become irritated by certain scents that once went unnoticed."

►October 24, 2008 - New law allows website hosts to just say no to drugs - USA Today

* ►October 24, 2008 - Kansas Sues 13 Drugmakers Over Medicaid Fraud - Pharmalot

* ►October 24, 2008 - Congress questions FDA objectivity on BPA plastic safety - USA Today - "According to a letter to the FDA from Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak sent last week, the FDA hired a private consulting group with strong industry ties to perform some of its analyses of BPA."

* ►October 24, 2008 - Medical Lawsuits Put Health At Risk - Forbes

►October 24, 2008 - Government pays 61% of healthcare costs in US - journal article (BMJ)

* ►October 24, 2008 - Scientists slam FDA report on bisphenol A chemical - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

►October 24, 2008 - Doctors in US and Europe think work conditions are deteriorating - journal article (BMJ)

►October 24, 2008 - New fills for funding gaps - The Scientist

►October 24, 2008 - Autoimmune disease: Blocking the drivers - A protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor AEB071 has potential as a novel treatment for psoriasis and other human diseases that are associated with aberrant T-cell activation. - journal article (Nature Reviews Immunology)

►October 24, 2008 - Innate immunity: STING: adding to the antiviral arsenal - STING (stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes) is an ER adaptor protein that mediates host responses to pathogen-derived nucleic acids. - journal article (Nature Reviews Immunology)

►October 24, 2008 - Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research FY 2007 Annual Report Innovative Technology Advancing Public Health - FDA/CBER

►October 24, 2008 - Toxic Bile Damages the Liver - Researchers at the Heidelberg University Hospital discover new genetic disease / Gene mutation that triggers severe cirrhosis of the liver identified / Published in “Hepatology” - The Heidelberg University Hospital

►October 24, 2008 - Interpreting research findings to guide treatment in practice - journal article (BMJ)

►October 24, 2008 - Deprived Of A Sense Of Smell, Worms Live Longer - Many animals live longer when raised on low calorie diets. But now researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown that they can extend the life spans of roundworms even when the worms are well fed — it just takes a chemical that blocks their sense of smell. - Washington University School of Medicine via ScienceDaily

►October 24, 2008 - FDA Panel: Imaging Agents Could Aid Alzheimer's Diagnosis (free content) - The Wall Street Journal

* ►October 23, 2008 - Parents, doctors air vaccine worries at hospital forum - The Record via www.northjersey.com - "While none of the speakers advocated an anti-vaccine perspective, Kirby said there are many questions that need to be resolved, adding that studying differences in the vaccinated and unvaccinated population should be a national priority. The author of “Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines,” Kirby said he suspects that there are children with a genetic predisposition that makes them vulnerable to an adverse reaction."

* ►October 23, 2008 - Notice (A): Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing - National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS via www.pharmcast.com

* ►October 23, 2008 - Notice (C): Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing - National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS via www.pharmcast.com

►October 23, 2008 - Gates Foundation Seeks Out Nontypical Research to Fund (free content) - The Wall Street Journal

►October 23, 2008 - Introduction of shared electronic records: multi-site case study using diffusion of innovation theory - journal article (BMJ)

►October 23, 2008 - Nev. agency links 114 hepatitis cases to 2 clinics - AP via Yahoo!

►October 23, 2008 - CBER Foreign Regulators Seminar - FDA/CBER

►October 23, 2008 - Pharma top industry in slashing jobs - World of DTC Marketing

►October 23, 2008 - Epilepsy: A New Relationship Between Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor And Inflammatory Signaling - Boston University via Medical News Today

►October 23, 2008 - Watching a brain learn – Duke researchers gain insight to its circuits - WRAL.com

►October 23, 2008 - Big drop in C. difficile figures - Cases of the hospital bug Clostridium difficile fell significantly in the last three months, figures show. - BBC

►October 23, 2008 - JCI table of contents: - Editor's Pick: Two drugs are better than one at targeting tumors with B-RAF mutations - Journal of Clinical Investigation via EurekAlert!

* ►October 23, 2008 - Public knowledge and attitudes towards Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination (pdf) - journal article (BMC Public Health)

* ►October 23, 2008 - Novartis factory leads fight against deadly flu - LDP Business - "United States public health officials have taken delivery of the first batch of a Liverpool-produced vaccine against a deadly strain of bird flu."

* ►October 23, 2008 - Help Wanted: FDA Advisory Panel Chairs Needed - Pharmalot

* ►October 23, 2008 - Nobel Laureate Confirms Importance of Adjuvants in Controlling Devastating Diseases - Hemispherx's Adjuvant Portfolio Among the Most Studied At Clinical Level -  Hemispherx's via GlobeNewswire

►October 23, 2008 - VMI to Test Its Pandemic Flu Plan - Virginia Military Institute

* ►October 23, 2008 - Report Finds Risks of Developing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases can be Dramatically Reduced - Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility via PRNewswire via Sys-Con.Com, UK - "Environmental factors are key drivers in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, according to the authors of a new report, "Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging", released today."

* ►October 23, 2008 - Wyeth plaintiff says she complained of discrimination - The Journal News via LoHud.com

* ►October 23, 2008 - Prescribing "placebo treatments": results of national survey of US internists and rheumatologists - journal article (BMJ)

* ►October 23, 2008 - Glaxo To Disclose Payments To Docs & Professors - Pharmalot

* ►October 23, 2008 - Reader Poll: Glaxo And $150K Cap On Fees To Docs - Pharmalot

* ►October 23, 2008 - Sanofi-Aventis Suspends Acomplia Sales In Europe - Pharmalot - "The move comes after the European Medicines Agency noted that a study revealed obese or overweight patients taking the fat pill faced approximately double the risk of developing psychiatric disorders than patients taking a placebo."

►October 23, 2008 - Egypt: Migrants the weakest link in bird flu preparedness - report -IRIN

* ►October 23, 2008 - Anesthesia exposure may increase childhood developmental disorders risk - the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists via BigNews Network

►October 23, 2008 - Experts predict next epidemic will start in animals - USA Today

►October 23, 2008 - Global Health And Infectious Diseases: NIAID Scientists To Speak On Range Of Infectious Disease Topics At Major Scientific Meeting - NIAID Office of Communications NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases via Medical News Today

►October 23, 2008 - Manual of Standard Operating Procedures and Policies Review of CBER Regulated Product Proprietary Names  - FDA/CBER

►October 23, 2008 - EU Panel Backs Novartis Diabetes, Eli Lilly Schizophrenia Drug - Dow Jones via CNN Money

►October 23, 2008 - Colorado State University Receives $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant for Innovative Global Health Research - Colorado State University

►October 23, 2008 - FDA Advisory Committee Provides Clear Path Forward For Development of Amyloid Imaging Agents For Alzheimer's Disease - Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Applauds FDA and Advisory Committee for Advancing the Field of Molecular Imaging - Avid via Business Wire via MarketWatch

►October 23, 2008 - Wyeth defends ‘unnecessary’ Newbridge job cuts - Kildare Nationalist, Ireland

►October 23, 2008 - Hepatitis B vaccine protection may wane in teens - The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal via Reuters Health

* ►October 23, 2008 - Side Effects Not Linked to Gardasil (free content) - The Wall Street Journal

* ►October 23, 2008 - Gardasil Passes a 2-Year Safety Check (requires registration) - WebMD via Medscape Pediatrics

* ►October 22, 2008 - Panel calls for vaccine for adult smokers - AP via Yahoo! - "The panel decided Wednesday that adult smokers under 65 should get pneumococcal vaccine. The shot — already recommended for anyone 65 or older — protects against bacteria that cause pneumonia, meningitis and other illnesses."

►October 22, 2008 - Genetic immunization with Hantavirus vaccine combining expression of G2 glycoprotein and fused interleukin-2 (pdf) - journal article (Genetic Vaccines and Therapy)

* ►October 22, 2008 - NIH Scolded Employee For Flagging Conflicts - Pharmalot

* ►October 22, 2008 - Chantix Tops New Report On Serious Side Effects - Pharmalot

* ►October 22, 2008 - Merck's Free Radical - Cancer drugs don't help 75% of the people who take them. Stephen Friend says he can use science to end the crapshoot - Forbes

►October 22, 2008 - Deceptively Happy: Mysterious Syndrome Often Misunderstood - Rare Genetic Condition Leads to Developmental Difficulties, Happy Disposition - ABC News - "Ryan is one of a few thousand children in the United States who has Angelman syndrome, a condition associated with severe cognitive and developmental disorders, as well as seizures."

* ►October 22, 2008 - Biggest battles against infectious diseases may be yet to come - With the increase in plane traffic, contagious illnesses spread farther and faster than ever. Some diseases, such as tuberculosis, are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Old enemies like polio refuse to go away. Others like smallpox which have been eradicated threaten a devastating comeback if released. These and other threats are explored by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its World Health Report 2007 – A safer future: global public health security in the 21st century. - GreenFacts via Categorynet.com

►October 22, 2008 - Pharmalot Talks, Briefly, About Merck (video) - Pharmalot

►October 22, 2008 - Trius Awarded $28 Million Contract to Develop Novel Antibiotics - Trius via PRNewswire via COMTEX via MarketWatch

* ►October 22, 2008 - The Loss of a warrior mother... Dedication to Catherine Rose ( Cafaro) Busse 1962 - 2008 - Tanners Dad's Blog

* ►October 22, 2008 - Growth of drug resistant HIV in China is "worrying," says AIDS institute - journal article (BMJ)

* ►October 22, 2008 - Self referral to allied health professionals will prevent medical "merry-go-round" - journal article (BMJ)

►October 22, 2008 - Atorvastatin advertising misled over benefits for women, study claims - journal article (BMJ)

►October 22, 2008 - NICE to confer on taking greater account of patients’ views - journal article (BMJ)

►October 22, 2008 - Research methods and reporting - A new section of the BMJ about how to do and write up research - journal article (BMJ)

* ►October 22, 2008 - Potential developmental neurotoxicity of pesticides used in Europe (pdf) - journal article (Environmental Health)

►October 22, 2008 - Acute psychosis caused by co-amoxiclav - journal article (BMJ)

►October 22, 2008 - Novel treatments and current clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease therapies show promise - IOS Press via EurekAlert!

* ►October 21, 2008 - Delaying baby vaccine could cut asthma - Delaying a baby vaccination by two months could dramatically reduce the risk of child asthma, new research has found. - The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology via Telegraph, UK

* ►October 21, 2008 - Pediatrician Looks Past The Blame (requires registration) - The Washington Post - "Rivers said, she was taken aback when a pediatric neurologist at Johns Hopkins accused her of exaggerating, or fabricating, their symptoms, which included migraines, seizures, vertigo, severe digestive problems and chronic infections. "He basically said he thought I had a psychological need to have sick children, that I was making it up and that I didn't need to come back," Rivers recalled of the 2004 appointment, which left her stunned, then resigned. "Too many other docs had already blown me off, or thought I was crazy or medical-attention-seeking," but none had been as unvarnished in their views."..."One potential culprit was a form of mitochondrial disease, a group of genetic disorders that often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. These diseases, which can affect any part of the body or organ system, can range from relatively mild to fatal. They are caused by defects in the DNA that trigger a sort of "energy crisis," impairing the body's ability to burn food and oxygen to generate energy. Diagnosis is often extremely complicated, time-consuming and expensive, and it can involve biopsies of muscle or skin and many lab tests."

* ►October 21, 2008 - US university sets up conflict of interest office after investigation into drug company payments - journal article (BMJ)

* ►October 21, 2008 - Assessing the quality of phase I clinical trial abstracts - ECCO-the European CanCer Organisation via EurkeAlert!

►October 21, 2008 - Notice: Authorization of Emergency Use of Doxycycline Hyclate Tablet Emergency Kits for Eligible United States Postal Service Participants in the Cities Readiness Initiative and Their Household Members; Availability - Food and Drug Administration, HHS via www.pharmcast.com

►October 21, 2008 - Tackling global shortages in health workers - Initial success of UK government strategies in Malawi must be sustained - journal article (BMJ)

►October 21, 2008 - Early-onset depressive disorders predict the use of addictive substances in adolescence - University of Helsinki via EurekAlert!

►October 21, 2008 - Foundation trusts still have to prove their worth, say MPs - journal article (BMJ)

* ►October 21, 2008 - Reports of Health Concerns Following HPV Vaccination - HPV Vaccine Safety - CDC

* ►October 21, 2008 - HPV vaccines: are they the answer? - journal article (British Medical Bulletin) - "There may be benefit in vaccinating other groups (men, sexually active women of all ages) but the cost effectiveness of these interventions will need to be evaluated. In societies in which organized screening programmes are not available, HPV vaccines are probably the most realistic intervention against HPV-associated disease."

* ►October 21, 2008 - Another Study Fuels Speculation U.S. Kids Being Overdrugged - The recent study, “A three-country comparison of psychotropic medication prevalence in youth,” found U.S. children were up to three times more likely to be on psychiatric drugs than children in Germany or the Netherlands. - Citizens Commission on Human Rights via I-Newswire

* ►October 21, 2008 - UMassOnline Graduate Behavioral Intervention in Autism Program Gains National Distinction with Sloan Consortium Annual Award - Most Outstanding Online Learning and Teaching Program Collaboratively Developed by UMass Lowell, UMass Medical School-Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center and UMassOnline Since Program's Online Debut in 2005, Enrollments Have More than - Centre Daily

* ►October 21, 2008 - Effect Of Gamma Waves On Cognitive And Language Skills In Children - New studies conducted by April Benasich, professor of neuroscience at Rutgers University in Newark, and her colleagues reveal that gamma wave activity in the brains of children provide a window into their cognitive development, and could open the way for more effective intervention for those likely to experience language problems. - ScienceDaily

* ►October 21, 2008 - Focus failing - The Temple News - "The prescription amphetamine Adderall, designed to alleviate symptoms associated with neurological disorders, is being abused by procrastinating college students."

►October 21, 2008 - Living with celiac disease - The Buffalo News

* ►October 20, 2008 - HHS limits anthrax vaccine legal liability - Government Executive

* ►October 20, 2008 - Smallpox (requires registration) - emedicine

* ►October 20, 2008 - Genetic characterization of Measles Viruses in China, 2004 (pdf) - journal article (Virology Journal)

►October 20, 2008 - Infection Control - CDC via WTVY Marketplace

►October 20, 2008 - Do Cell Phones Increase Brain Cancer Risk? - Editorial in Surgical Neurology urges scientists to clarify possible risks - Elsevier

* ►October 20, 2008 - 3M makes transdermal patch for flu vaccine - TwinCities.com - "Already in use to help people stop smoking and for birth control, the transdermal patch someday might replace the need for a flu shot."

* ►October 20, 2008 - Commentary: Controversies in the Department of Health’s clinical guidelines for immunoglobulin use - journal article (BMJ)

►October 20, 2008 - New TB test reveals patients at risk, says study - Imperial College London via EurekAlert!

►October 21, 2008 - Children’s vitamin D intake should be doubled, US paediatricians say - journal article (BMJ)

►October 19, 2008 - Child virus kills 3, sickens 110 in east China - AP via Yahoo!

* ►October 19, 2008 - Key to fighting world poverty: toilets, report says - The Tokyo-based Un­ited Na­tions Uni­ver­s­ity via World Science - "Simply in­stal­ling toi­lets where needed through­out the world and en­sur­ing safe wa­ter sup­plies would do more to end crip­pling pov­er­ty and im­prove world health than any oth­er pos­si­ble meas­ure, ac­cord­ing to a new re­port."

* ►October 17, 2008 - Senatore Trenton Vaccine Rally Photo Slideshow - KodakGallery.com

* ►October 16, 2008 - HHS Preparing to Open FDA Offices in China, India, Europe, and Latin America This Year - Globalization of the Agency a Key Part of Import Safety Action Plan to Enhance Product Safety - HHS News

* ►October 16, 2008 - EPA Takes Big Step Toward Protecting Children From Lead Poison - First New Lead Rule By Agency in 30 Years - NRDC Natural Resources Defense Council

►October 16, 2008 - Untested children of HIV-positive mothers, and undiagnosed adolescents, 'a massive issue' at UK conference - Aidsmap

►October 16, 2008 - JCI online early table of contents: - Editor's Pick: Molecular defect for one form of male factor infertility uncovered - Journal of Clinical Investigation via EurekAlert!

►October 15, 2008 - $2.9 million Australian study AMAZES asthma researchers - Research Australia

►October 15, 2008 - More effective treatment identified for common childhood vision disorder - NIH/National Eye Institute via EurekAlert!

►October 15, 2008 - Scientists: One brain cell may reverse muscle paralysis - Nature via World Science

►October 12, 2008 - Pollution studies getting personal - Minnesota is turning to biomonitoring to measure chemicals in people's bodies. - Star Tribune

►October 10, 2008 - Study: Chemical in plastics affects cancer treatments - Bloomberg via Newsday

►October 9, 2008 - Ginkgo Biloba Extract Neuroprotective Action Is Dependent on Heme Oxygenase 1 in Ischemic Reperfusion Brain Injury. - journal article (Stroke)

* ►October 7, 2008 - Title: Use of vaccinia virus deleted for the E3L gene as a vaccine vector (patent) - Arizona Board of Regents (Tempe, AZ) via www.pharmcast.com

* ►October 7, 2008 - Title: Compositions and method for preventing reactogenicity associated with administration of immunogenic live rotavirus compositions (patent) - The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services (Washington, DC) via www.pharmcast.com

* ►October 7, 2008 - Title: Method of inhibiting influenza infection with antiviral peptides (patent) - Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (Madison, WI) via www.pharmcast.com

* ►October 7, 2008 - Title: Method of treating IL-10 deficiency (patent) - Pepgen Corporation (Los Angeles, CA) via www.pharmcast.com

►October 7, 2008 - Title: Methods of protein production in cell lines (patent) - AviGentics, Inc. (Athens, GA) via www.pharmcast.com

►October 7, 2008 - Title: Therapeutic compositions for the treatment of a respiratory tract disease (patent) - Universiteit Gent (Gent, BE) via www.pharmcast.com

* ►October 2008 - Asthma link to early vaccination? - Delaying jabs for babies could cut down the risk of asthma, claims a new study. - The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology via UK Family - "Researchers in Canada monitored the development of 11,531 babies who received the triple vaccination. Results published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found the likelihood of developing asthma by the age of seven was halved in those babies delaying the vaccine by two months."

►October 2008 - Bisphenol A at Low Nanomolar Doses Confers Chemoresistance in Estrogen Receptor Alpha Positive and Negative Breast Cancer Cells (pdf) - journal article (Environmental Health Perspectives)

* ►October 2008 - The Immunization Alliance (requires registration) - by Paul A. Offit, MD - Alliance working on a multi-pronged approach to recapture the public’s trust in immunization. - Infectious Disease News - "Finally, because parents today are much less likely than their parents to fear vaccine-preventable diseases, they are much more likely to fear vaccine side effects, real or imagined."

* ►October 2008 - What is the rotavirus vaccine? - BCHealth Files BC Centre for Diseases Control

* ►October 2008 - Influenza (Flu) Vaccine - BCHealth Files BC Centre for Diseases Control

* ►October 2008 - Resistant influenza activity increased in the Southern Hemisphere (requires registration) - Oseltamivir resistance recently detected on three continents. - Infectious Disease News

►October 2008 - Study of previous influenza pandemics may be key to future prevention (requires registration) - Researchers urged not to view prior findings as ‘disposable.’ - Infectious Disease News

►October 2008 - Orf virus may cause contagious ecthyma in animals or humans (requires registration) - Infectious Disease News

►October 2008 - Antiretroviral treatment recommendations for adults with HIV updated (requires registration) - International AIDS Society USA panel published new guidelines for ART treatment. - Infectious Disease News

►October 2008 -  Migrant population may have contributed to TB prevalence in Beijing (requires registration) - Infectious Disease News

►October 2008 - The Orphan Drug Act Turns 25 (requires registration) - The legislation is credited with building biotech and spawning hundreds of drugs for rare diseases. So why do some analysts hesitate to call it a success? - The Scientist

►October 2008 - CDC launches National MRSA Educational Initiative (requires registration) - The campaign highlights specific actions for parents to protect themselves and their families against MRSA. - Infectious Disease News

►October 2008 - Election 2008 and health care - (requires registration) - Both presidential candidates say they will reform health care and broaden access; their plans have significant differences. - Infectious Disease News

►October 2008 - Health care worker shortage may be exacerbating HIV/AIDS epidemic (requires registration) - Thirty-six countries in sub-Saharan Africa have fewer than 2.3 health care professionals per 1,000 citizens. - Infectious Disease News

►October 2008 - AIDS Compendium (requires registration) - Infectious Diseases News gives newsbytes about the rapidly changing world of HIV treatment. - Infectious Disease News

* ►September 15, 2008 - Cognitive decline as a manifestation of mitochondrial disorders (mitochondrial dementia) - journal article (Journal of the Neurological Sciences)

* ►September 2008 - Timing of routine vaccinations and the risk of childhood asthma (full text) - journal article (The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology) - "McDonald et al1 report a decreased risk of childhood asthma in 7-year-old children whose first dose of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT) vaccine was delayed compared with the risk seen in children receiving timely vaccinations. Their study assessed both exposure (vaccinations) and outcome (asthma) from health care records. Whether a child was classified as asthmatic depended on the parents' tendency to seek health care when their children had symptoms. This is likely to be positively correlated with their tendency to keep to vaccination schedules."

►September 2008 - Models of Integrated Training in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - journal article (Academic Psychiatry)

* ►September 2008 - Evaluation of operational chronic infection endpoints for HCV vaccine trials - journal article (Contemporary Clinical Trials)

►Volume 49 Number 1, 2008 - Role of Brain Inflammation in Epileptogenesis (pdf) - journal article (Yonsei Medical Journal)

►Issue 4, 2008 - Antipsychotics for acute and chronic pain in adults - journal article (Cochrane Reviews)

* ►February 25, 2008 - On the epidemiology of influenza - journal article (Virology Journal) - "Compelling epidemiological evidence indicates vitamin D deficiency is the 'seasonal stimulus.'"

►Metabolic Syndrome 2008 - journal articles (Nature)

* ►Gardasil and Unexplained Deaths - website - "Hi. My name is Christina Richelle Tarsell, but people call me Chris. I celebrated my 21st birthday in November 2007. I did not live to see my 22nd.  Suddenly, unexpectedly, and inexplicably, I died in bed in June. After an extensive autopsy, the cause of death is still a mystery. My family wants to know what happened to me. My family has concerns about the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which I had received only days before my death. They are researching the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System  for accounts of such deaths. Can you help us find answers?"

* ►October 24, 2008 - A Hell of a way to help Abbie - Chester Chronicle, UK - "“At the end of 2004 there was a massive outbreak of mumps at the university. 'All female students were offered the MMR vaccine and Abbie was responsible for getting the students to sign up. She had the vaccine herself just before Christmas and over Christmas she was very ill. 'The doctor thought she had an infection because she had headaches and trouble standing. 'On January 1, 2005 it turned out she had viral encaphalitis. The part of the brain that sorts out balance and co-ordinates eye and hand movements swelled up. We don’t know if it was mumps or the vaccine. 'Since then, she lost her balance and co-ordination and has been in a wheelchair."

* ►October 24, 2008 - No mumps in N.S. since May - Province urging students to get combination vaccine - The Chronicle Herald

* ►October 24, 2008 - Flu Vaccine: Right To Know! By Jim Thompson - Age of Autism

* ►October 24, 2008 - Parents should decide on flu vaccine for kids - column - Calgary Herald via Canada.com - "If the state is under an obligation to respect the right to informed consent for treating sick people, why would we allow it to bypass that right to inject medication (that can have side effects) into those who are not sick as a means of protecting the rest of the population? It is particularly repugnant when that group includes babies and young children -- those who are absolutely dependent on loving parents to make decisions that are in their best interests."

* ►October 24, 2008 - Doctors do not back cervical vaccine choice made by ministers - The wrong vaccine against cervical cancer has been chosen by the Government and doctors would give their own daughters the alternative jab, a prominent doctor has warned. - The Telegraph, UK

►October 24, 2008 - Certain viruses can cause cancer says Dr. Beliveau - Northern Daily News

* ►October 24, 2008 - On autism, McCain does get it - editorial - Palm Beach Post

* ►October 24, 2008 - Expert urges FG to raise awareness on autism - The Tide, Nigeria - "...the current awareness on the disorder was low, considering the growing number of autistic children in the country."

* ►October 24, 2008 - Palin on Special Needs Kids - Political Punch Blog via ABC News

* ►October 24, 2008 - Sarah Palin talks about wardrobe flap, double standard for women and special education - An exclusive interview: 'If people only knew how frugal we are' (requires registration) - Chicago Tribune - "Palin's eyes well up as she talks about her sister's son, Karcher, who has autism. 'My sister and I have talked a lot about this. It makes me cry thinking about it,' Palin said. 'She asked with tears in her eyes, she says, 'What happens when Kurt and I, though, are elderly, then what happens to Karcher?'"

* ►October 24, 2008 - Leary's autism remarks anger Emerson alumni - College cites the famous graduate's charitable work, will draft apology (requires registration) - Boston Globe

* ►October 24, 2008 - Cherie Blair 'On the Record' on Women in Public Life, Gov. Palin - This is a rush transcript from "On the Record ," October 23, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. - FOX News - "But we have this issue with my son, when Neal was born, about whether he had had the MMR vaccine, which it the triple measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. And he in fact had had that vaccine. But there was a campaign going on in one of the newspapers to suggest that it wasn't safe. So much so, in fact, that vaccination rates went down."

►October 24, 2008 - Autism Yesterday at the Orlando Film Festival - Age of Autism - "Autism Yesterday has been accepted to the Orlando Film Festival and the film will premiere Saturday, November 8th at 4pm at The Gallery at Avalon in downtown Orlando."

►October 24, 2008 - Autism claims are ignorant and offensive - letter - The First Post, UK

* ►October 24, 2008 - Failed Paradigm Of Care Induces Chronic Medical Conditions - A Failed Paradigm of Care That Induces 1-3 Chronic Medical Conditions - Alliance for Human Research Protection via The One Click Group - "The evidence is mounting against psychiatry's paradigm of care-in particular its reliance on toxic drugs which, evidence shows, are unsuited for human consumption--inasmuch as the prescribed treatments trigger irreversible disabling measurable biological diseases."

* ►October 24, 2008 - Acomplia Fat Loss Pill Linked To Suicides - Daily Mirror via The One Click Group

* ►October 24, 2008 - Vaxart Demonstrates Efficacy of Oral Avian Flu Vaccine in Preclinical Studies - Using proprietary platform, company develops first orally-administered vaccine to protect against avian influenza in a large-animal model - press release - Vaxart Inc. via PRNewswire via COMTEX via MarketWatch - "The Vaxart vaccine (ND1) comprises a non-replicating chimeric adenovirus-5 vector, or delivery vehicle, engineered to express avian flu hemaggluttinin (HA) and a TLR3 ligand as a vaccine adjuvant."

►October 24, 2008 - County scraps flu shot clinics - Mohave Valley News - "With so many private providers in recent years having the flu vaccine, the health department does not want to compete with those providers, according to McNally. Last year, the health department had leftover vaccines."

►October 24, 2008 - Common cold sufferers can take comfort in U of C research - Calgary Herald via Canada.com - "For the first time ever, researchers established the recently discovered antiviral protein, called viperin, had a particularly strong response to rhinovirus. Proud says now that scientists know that, researchers can look towards which therapies, like vitamins or nasal sprays, will boost the immune response of those genes even further, to wipe away cold symptoms."

►October 24, 2008 - Experts probe more measles cases linked to school outbreak - WalesOnline

►October 24, 2008 - 101 moms call for end to virus bias - China Daily - "In the letter, the women said their children, all of whom are carriers of the hepatitis B virus, are being isolated from society by not being allowed to go to kindergarten with their peers."

►October 24, 2008 - Oct. 24, 1882: Koch Pinpoints the TB Bacillus - Wired.com

* ►October 23, 2008 - The HPV vaccine that doctors would recommend - Personal view: (Not) warts and all - BMJ-British Medical Journal via EurekAlert!

* ►October 23, 2008 - FDA Study Says Merck’s Gardasil Is Safe, Vexing Media and Activists - Pharma Industry Blog BNET

►October 23, 2008 - Kids and flu shots - The Mom Beat Blog via OregonLive.com

* ►October 23, 2008 - McCain supports vaccine choice. - Inside Autism Blog via Orange County Register

* ►October 23, 2008 - Just in -- McCain Supports Parental Vaccination Choice - McCain Supports Parental Vaccination Choice and Prioritizes Vaccine Safety. Obama Silent Despite Repeated Overtures from Parents - Christian Newswire

* ►October 23, 2008 - Oxytocin to treat Autism is topic of UC Davis Lecture Nov 12 - Rocklin and Roseville Today - "For more information, visit the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute Web site at http://www.mindinstitute.org, or call (916) 703-0280. Many previous presentations are available for viewing under the 'M.I.N.D. videos' section of the Web site."

►October 23, 2008 - Is Something Fishy? Yep. Mercury-Scare Activists. - Center for Consumer Freedom

►October 23, 2008 - Toni Braxton 'Comes to Terms' with Son's Autism Diagnosis - People via Celebrity Baby Blog

* ►October 23, 2008 - Super Vaccine Could Save Lives - Bacteria Beware: UCSB Scientists Are After You - The Santa Barbara Independent

* ►October 23, 2008 - Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise In Patients With Bowel, Kidney And Prostate Cancer - Analysis of data from several phase I and II clinical trials of a new cancer vaccine has shown it is capable of eliciting an immune response in most patients with bowel, kidney and prostate cancer, and that it may provide clinical benefit. - ECCO-the European CanCer Organisation, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS via ScienceDaily

►October 23, 2008 - Panel Advocates Improved Understanding Of Hepatitis B And Screening Of High-risk Populations - Management of hepatitis B is a challenge for physicians and patients due to an incomplete understanding of the disease course, complex treatment indications, and the lack of large studies focusing on important health outcomes. To examine these issues, the NIH convened an independent, impartial panel this week to weigh the available evidence on the management of hepatitis B. - NIH/National Institutes of Health, Office of Disease Prevention via ScienceDaily

►October 23, 2008 - Standard Hepatitis C Treatment Cost-Effective for Prisoners - Study finds therapy reduces new infections, cuts outlays - HealthDay via U.S. News & World Report

►October 23, 2008 - 50% of Doctors Prescribe Placebos - Taking Advantage of 'Placebo Effect' Is OK, Most Doctors Say - WebMD

* ►October 23, 2008 - ACIP opens door to anthrax shots for first responders - Anthrax Vaccine -- posts by Meryl Nass, M.D.

* ►October 23, 2008 - Fighting Peanut Allergies With Peanuts - New Research and New Approaches Offer Hope to Families Coping With Food Allergies - ABC News - "The research has shown that 'we really can change the immune system with this kind of treatment,' Burks said. The children's cell and antibodies no longer have the same severely allergic reaction to peanuts. Similar results have been found using ancient Chinese herbs. In that research, at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York, mice were given an herbal concoction for six weeks. It virtually eliminated their peanut allergies."

►October 21, 2008 - Richard French Live - Should NJ Mandate Flu Shots for Kids? - video - RNN-TV

►October 7, 2008 - Pediatric Use of Antipsychotics Linked to Metabolic and Cardiovascular Events (requires registration) - Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine via Medscape

* ►October 24, 2008 - Assam denies vaccine to blame for infant deaths - Indian Express - "'The government is 100 per cent sure that the deaths were not caused by the measles vaccine,' health minister Sharma said. 'I have consulted at least 50 pediatricians including the head of the department in the Guwahati Medical College, and everybody is of the same opinion that vaccines do not cause deaths,' he said."

* ►October 24, 2008 - Probe begins into death of infants - The Hindu 

* ►October 24, 2008 - Polio vaccines from Central depot are ‘ineffective’ - Expressindia - "While the fate of around 4.6 lakh doses of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccines lying in a cold storage in Lucknow is still uncertain, now 10 lakh doses of trivalent polio vaccine have been found to be in Stage II of heat exposure. Both the vaccines for JE and trivalent polio were supplied to the state by the Central Medical Store Depot in Karnal."

* ►October 24, 2008 - Anaplasma phagocytophilum Transmitted Through Blood Transfusion --- Minnesota, 2007 - MMWR/CDC

* ►October 24, 2008 - Progress in Introduction of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine --- Worldwide, 2000--2008 - MMWR/CDC

* ►October 24, 2008 - Update: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Associated with Cadaveric Dura Mater Grafts --- Japan, 1978--2008 - MMWR/CDC

►October 24, 2008 - QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged >20 Years Who Said They Tried to Lose Weight During the Preceding 12 Months,* by Age Group and Sex --- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2005--2006 - MMWR/CDC

►October 24, 2008 - Notifiable Diseases/Deaths in Selected Cities Weekly Information - MMWR/CDC

* ►October 23, 2008 - Forum on Vaccines: All Sides of the Issue - replay webcast (requires registration) - The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology

* ►October 23, 2008 - Vaccine Injury - WHOI HOI-19 - "Beth got a tetanus shot in 2003 and that week started getting symptoms of Bracheal Neuritis--the nerves in her shoulder where she got the shot were so inflamed they were dying. Beth said, 'I couldn't lift my arm to the steering wheel of my car. I couldn't lift it past my trunk. I literally had to lift up my hand.'...Dr. Rogers from Methodist Medical Center said 'Brachial Neuritis is known to be a serious adverse effect from a tetanus shot. but to put it into context it is literally one in millions that it happens to, but it does happen.'"

* ►October 23, 2008 - Tetanus Vaccine Injury (includes video) - News Anchor Mom Blog

* ►October 23, 2008 - Hepatitis B vaccine protection may wane in teens - The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal via Reuters UK - "...We need to continue surveillance for hepatitis B among vaccinated adolescents ... for making decisions about whether the additional doses of hepatitis B vaccine should be recommended in the future."

* ►October 23, 2008 - ACIP opens door to anthrax shots for first responders - CIDRAP News - "The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has opened the door to voluntary anthrax vaccination for first responders, revising an 8-year-old recommendation against that step. The committee, meeting yesterday, said the risk of anthrax exposure for emergency responders is low but 'may not be zero,' and therefore first-responder agencies may want to offer the vaccine on a voluntary basis, according to information supplied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today. The CDC routinely adopts the ACIP's recommendations."

►October 23, 2008 - FBI Seeks Anthrax-Scare Culprit (requires registration) - Washington Post

* ►October 23, 2008 - Prescription Induced Drug Disaster - Deaths Spiral - Alliance for Human Research Protection via The One Click Group

* ►October 23, 2008 - Deadly Conflict Of Interest - GMC/MMR Vaccine Trial Chairman - The One Click Group

* ►October 23, 2008 - Nurses accidentally gave a 14-month-old baby from Netherton two MMR jabs - Bootle Times via icSeftonandwestlancs
 
* ►October 23, 2008 - Four Babies Dead From MMR Vaccine - Panic Spreads - Times of India via The One Click Group

* ►October 23, 2008 - Assembly to probe worrying MMR vaccination rates - The capital's worrying MMR vaccination rates and the risk of a measles epidemic are top of the agenda for a London Assembly meeting at City Hall tomorrow. Less than a month ago, figures from the NHS revealed that in 2007/08, fewer than half of children in the capital have had the MMR vaccine and booster by their fifth birthday. It also showed that the gap between coverage levels achieved in the capital and the national average is widening. - Media-Newswire.com

►October 23, 2008 - Proposal for pan-London programme to boost MMR rates - Dr Simon Tanner, Regional Director of Public Health London, told the Assembly's Health and Public Services Committee that the proposal would mean that some of the specific funding given to each London Primary Care Trust this year to increase MMR rates, would instead be pooled in order to target the most needy areas. PCT Chief Executives will consider the proposal tomorrow. - Media-Newswire.com

►October 23, 2008 - Comment On CFS PACE Trial Protocol - The One Click Group

►October 23, 2008 - Even Doctors Are Against Complete Immunity Preemption - InjuryBoard.com

►October 23, 2008 - Child Warriors: Dean - Age of Autism

* ►October 23, 2008 - Exposure to low doses of mercury changes the way the arteries work - An international team of researchers has shown that mercury is another important factor in cardiovascular disease as it changes the way arteries work. One of the possible sources of exposure of humans to mercury is by eating contaminated fish. - News-Medical.net

* ►October 23, 2008 - Autism Expert to Present Why Behavorial and Biomedical Interventions are Critical to Recovery - Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh is scheduled to speak at this year's national Defeat Autism Now conference, this weekend - unveiling proof that recovery from autism is a reality. - press release - Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. via PRWeb

* ►October 23, 2008 - 10 Myths About Autism - Experts Examine Misconceptions About Autism (includes video) - ABC News

* ►October 23, 2008 - Special Education Attorney on Palin's Record - Age of Autism

* ►October 23, 2008 - McCain Addresses Vaccine Safety, Obama Silent - McCain Supports Parental Vaccine Choice. McCain Addresses Vaccine Safety. Obama Silent. By Rebecca Estepp - Age of Autism

* ►October 23, 2008 - McCain Senior Policy Advisor Responds To Autism Questionnaire - Age of Autism

* ►October 23, 2008 - CDC Advisory Panel Votes to Update Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations - Vote expands recommendation to include adults aged 19-64 who have asthma and those who smoke cigarettes - press release - Merck & Co., Inc. via Business Wire - "Merck & Co., Inc. is the sole supplier of PNEUMOVAX 23 in the United States."

* ►October 23, 2008 - Merck to hire scientists, but cut sales staff - The Montreal Gazette via Canada.com - "Merck Frosst Canada Ltd. is poised to grow its scientific staff by 10 per cent, as part of a new research mandate focusing on infectious diseases."

►October 23, 2008 - Is Gardasil Safe? - The Checkup Blog via Washington Post

* ►October 23, 2008 - Letter: Vaccine saves lives - Topeka Capital-Journal

* ►October 23, 2008 - Flu Shots For The Elderly Are Ineffective - Orthomolecular Medicine News Service via The One Click Group

* ►October 23, 2008 - Canadian Man Paralyzed for 5 Months After Flu Shot - A Canadian man says a rare disease triggered by the flu shot left him paralyzed for five months, cbcnews.ca reported Wednesday. - FOX News

* ►October 23, 2008 - Flu season's coming, and so are flu shots - One million British Columbians get vaccine, though it doesn't protect against all strains - Vancouver Sun via Canada.com - "Rather than a prick in the arm, Ng suggests getting plenty of rest, washing hands regularly, and taking a good multivitamin, as well as vitamin C and possibly oil of oregano."

* ►October 23, 2008 - Flu vaccines planned for thousands of kids - Quad City Times - "The Davenport effort is being facilitated by Genesis with help from a jersey auction staged by the Quad-City Flames hockey team. The Clinton Foundation is providing monetary support for the Clinton vaccinations. Hockey players will appear at some schools to publicize the immunization effort, and other special events are planned as well, Retzl said."

►October 23, 2008 - Free flu shots draw 1,300 - Drive-through vaccination serves as practice plan for disasters - Recordnet.com

* ►October 23, 2008 - Doctor Recommends New Powerful Natural Antiviral Against the Flu - press release - ZEO Health Ltd. via PRNewswire via COMTEX via MarketWatch - "Zeolite-AV contains minerals that provide safe, effective prevention and relief from the Flu and other viruses."

* ►October 23, 2008 - GSK Pays $29M for Rights to AFFiRiS’ Alzheimer's Vaccines - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

►October 23, 2008 - GlaxoSmithKline in $550M deal to develop Alzheimer's vaccines - Triangle Business Journal

►October 23, 2008 - 'Sushi Haru' patrons face small Hepatitis risk - CTV

►October 23, 2008 - Measles outbreak affects over 250 - Panorama, Gibraltar

►October 23, 2008 - ILADS President Calls for More Comprehensive Dialogue To Prevent Chronic Lyme Disease - Most Lyme disease patients are not fully informed of their treatment options. Neither the Center for Disease Control (CDC) nor the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) disclose the existence of the ILADS-authored treatment guidelines. ILADS guidelines offer treatment options for patients whose Lyme disease symptoms persist after the short dose of antibiotics recommended by most doctors. ILADS believes full disclosure is good for patients and helps them avoid development of chronic Lyme disease. Chronic Lyme disease often results in debilitating symptoms such as chronic fatigue, migraine headaches and neurological difficulties. - press release - ILADS via PRWeb

►October 23, 2008 - 32 new polio cases reported in NWFP this year: Muqim Khilji - Geo Television Network

►October 23, 2008 - Making flies sick reveals new role for growth factors in immunity - Arizona State University via EurekAlert!

►October 23, 2008 - Calif. Businesses Must Collect Mercury Thermostats, U.S. Bans Mercury Exports - GreenBiz.com

►October 23, 2008 - Post and Courier recognized for stories on mercury pollution - Charleston Post and Courier

►October 23, 2008 - Mercury in lawyer's car not suspicious, French police say - AP via International Herald Tribune

►October 23, 2008 - Is BPA Bad for You? - A common part of many plastics has been listed as a toxic substance in Canada but is still deemed safe in the U.S. - Scientific American

* ►October 23, 2008 - UCLA develops safer, more effective TB vaccine for HIV-positive people - TB is the leading cause of death worldwide for HIV-positive individuals - University of California - Los Angeles via EurekAlert!

►October 23, 2008 - HIV testing this week at Normandy, where about 50 high school students have been exposed - AP via DigitalBurg.com

►October 22, 2008 - UW researcher gets Gates grant to test HIV cure - Thanks to a new initiative to stimulate bold approaches to global health, Keith Jerome will have a year and $100,000 to see whether his idea for curing HIV has promise. - Seattle Times

►October 22, 2008 - FDA OKs expanded use of J&J drug for HIV patients - AP via Forbes

►October 22, 2008 - Estimate Of Lives Lost Due To Delay In Antiretroviral Drug Use For HIV/AIDS In South Africa - More than 330,000 lives were lost to HIV/AIDS in South Africa from 2000 and 2005 because a feasible and timely antiretroviral (ARV) treatment program was not implemented, assert researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) in a study published online by the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. - Harvard School of Public Health via ScienceDaily

►October 22, 2008 - South Africa: Firing Over H.I.V. Drugs Ruled Wrongful (requires registration) - The New York Times

►October 22, 2008 - Science & Medicine | Breaks From HIV/AIDS Drug Regimens Can Lead to Inflammation, Premature Death, Study Says - www.kaisernetwork.org

►October 22, 2008 - Swedish health agency blasted for HIV stance - A Swedish health agency revealed in an article published Wednesday that it had refused to help police track down people who knowingly infect others with HIV. - AP via Seattle Times

* ►October 22, 2008 - 'Flying syringe' mosquitos, other ideas get Gates funding - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded 100,000 dollars each on Wednesday to scientists in 22 countries including funding for a Japanese proposal to turn mosquitos into "flying syringes" delivering vaccines. - AFP via PhysOrg.com

* ►October 22, 2008 - Biovest Announces $1.6M in Federal Funding Appropriated for Groundbreaking Cancer Vaccine & Skin/Bone/Tissue Repair Research - Biovest International, Inc. via Business Wire via MarketWatch

►October 22, 2008 - Biggest battles against infectious diseases may be yet to come - Health Risks in a Globalized World - GreenFacts via Categorynet.com

►October 22, 2008 - Washington settles with Pfizer over dangerous drug marketing - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

►October 22, 2008 - Time to give ill health the needle - Coventry Telegraph

►October 22, 2008 - CDC on POW (includes audio) - KRBD Public Radio - "Since August Prince of Wales Island has been addressing an outbreak of respiratory illnesses, linked to an adno-virus."

►October 22, 2008 - FDA inspection system outdated: Report - Reuters via Calgary Herald via Canada.com - "According to the report, it would take the FDA 13 years to inspect all foreign facilities that make products imported to the United States. U.S. plants are checked every 2.7 years."

►October 22, 2008 - Cervical Cancer Vaccine Called Safe (requires registration) - HealthDay via Washington Post

►October 22, 2008 - U.S.: Female immigrants must get cancer vaccine - Safety, costs for 11- to 26-year-olds are questioned, but CDC supports rule - Los Angeles Times via Houston Chronicle

►October 22, 2008 - Rwanda: Country's Fight Against Meningitis to Be Honoured - The New Times (Kigali) via AllAfrica.com

►October 22, 2008 - Are you prepared for flu season? - Officials believe flu vaccine supply sufficient to meet state demand - The Estacada News

* ►October 22, 2008 - Flu shots from Kaiser may have gone bad during shipping - KGW.com via NWCN.com

►October 22, 2008 - Have you gotten your flu shot this year? - CDC is recommending kids also be vaccinated - Peoria Journal Star

►October 22, 2008 - N.Ky. Students Take Steps To Prevent Flu - KYPost.com - "Students from four Covington, Ky., schools lined up Wednesday to get the flu vaccine, but no one had to worry about needles. Instead, students received the flu mist vaccine."

►October 22, 2008 - Pregnant women, tots can get shots - Redding Record Searchlight

►October 22, 2008 - Regional Groups Vow to Fight Bush Administration Mercury Challenge - WMAC Public Broadcasting

►October 22, 2008 - Glaxo's Witty Drops Share Buybacks to Fund Purchases - Bloomberg

►October 22, 2008 - NRDC Calls on Food and Drug Administration to Ban BPA from Food Packaging to Protect Children - Kansas City infoZine

* ►October 22, 2008 - Costs needle health unit - Northumberland Today - "Diane Dingman, the health unit's director of communicable disease control, told the health unit board at their Oct. 16 meeting that it’s always an effort to get the many vaccinations offered by the health unit out there. Right now, the health unit is compensated $5 for every influenza shot administered. Last year, 21,000 flu shots were given over the three counties."

►October 21, 2008 - Health Officials Want Illinoisans To Get Flu Shots - Flu Vaccines Now Coming In From Manufacturers - CBS2 Chicago

* ►October 21, 2008 - DHSS Proposes New Rules At N.J.A.C. 8:57-3 Governing The New Jersey Immunization Information System - State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services via Medical News Today - "The Communicable Disease Service of the Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health in the Public Health Services Branch of the Department of Health and Senior Services (Department) is proposing new rules at N.J.A.C. 8:57-3, governing the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS)."

►October 21, 2008 - 3,271 Flu Shots In One Day Sets World Record - Central Florida News 13 - "The record was set during the Fast and Free Flu Shot event, held at Centra Care in Sanford, in November 2006. A letter and official certificate were received from Guinness World Records' London headquarters commemorating the record."

►October 21, 2008 - Cervical cancer vaccine a boon for women in India - Financial Express

►October 20, 2008 - Carley backs cancer vaccine - Manchester Evening News

►October 20, 2008 - Caution urged with rabies vaccine shortage - The Daily Times via Delmarva Now

►October 20, 2008 - Measles Risk From Perth Airline Flight - eMaxHealth.com

* ►October 20, 2008 - Scientists to test TB vaccine in Cape Town - Business Day, South Africa

►October 19, 2008 - Tripura sounds bird flu alert along Indo-Bangla border - Press Trust of India

* ►October 17, 2008 - NJ Forces Mandatory Vaccinations NEW LAW *FLU SHOT* - video - YouTube

►October 16, 2008 - Certain Antipsychotic Medications May Increase Risk for Heart Disease - National Institute of Mental Health

►October 15, 2008 - U.S. Court Upholds Bayer, Barr Deal Over Cipro (requires registration for full article) - Reuters Health via Therapeutics Daily