Picks of the day archives - news that hit the "front page"

                                                         Vaccination News    

* ►July 3, 2009 - Obama to launch flu campaign - Effort aimed at fighting H1N1 virus - Washington Times

* ►July 3, 2009 - '100,000 fresh swine flu cases a day by August,' says Health Secretary - Spread of swine flu can no longer be contained, Government admits - The Independent, UK

* ►July 3, 2009 - 'Mine was actually quite mild': Four Londoners on their experiences of swine flu - The Guardian, UK

* ►July 3, 2009 - Japan reports first case of Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 flu - Xinhua via China View

* ►July 3, 2009 - Why It's Easy to Steal From Medicare - Arrests in Detroit and Miami are another argument against importing to the rest of the health economy the model that enabled these scams. - Wall Street Journal

* ►July 3, 2009 - Hepatitis A Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 24--35 Months --- United States, 2006 and 2007 - MMWR/CDC

* ►July 3, 2009 - QuickStats: Percentage of Young Adults Aged 18--29 Years* with Selected Chronic Conditions,† by Sex --- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2005--2007 - MMWR/CDC - "During 2005--2007, young women aged 18--29 years (17.4%) were more likely to report having at least one of six selected chronic conditions than young men (12.9%) in the same age group. For both young men and young women, asthma, arthritis, and hypertension were the three most common of the six conditions. Greater percentages of women than men reported having asthma, arthritis, or cancer; similar percentages of women and men reported having hypertension or diabetes."

* ►July 3, 2009 - Many strains of meningococcal disease: info, warnings issued - Otago Daily Times - "Although the incidence of meningococcal disease had declined as a result of the immunisation project, at any time there might be several strains of the disease doing the rounds, he said. 'Let's not forget that the vaccine was focused on one particular strain of meningococcal disease, however; and we may never know what particular strain this boy [Ryan O'Connell-Cairns] had,' Dr Holmes said."

* ►July 3, 2009 - Whoop cough epidemic - Tweed Daily News, Australia - "Murwillumbah's 'immunisation guru' GP Doug Warne said despite the belief that many people are refusing to vaccinate their children this is not the case. 'Immunisation rates on the Tweed have increased over the past five years,' Dr Warne said. 'In general a small per cent (of parents) have concerns about possible adverse affects of immunisation and despite continuing education refuse it.'"

* ►July 3, 2009 - Boys 'should be vaccinated' in cervical cancer fight - The Scotsman - "Dr Ashraf congratulated the UK governments for introducing the HPV vaccination programme. But he said they had 'missed a trick' in not appearing to recognise that HPV infection affects both male and females. The vaccine chosen for the programme – Cervarix – is effective against two strains of HPV, whereas rival Gardasil also protects against two strains linked to genital warts."

* ►July 2, 2009 - Boys should be given cervical cancer vaccine, says BMA - Boys should be given the cervical cancer vaccine as well as girls in order to protect both sexes against sexually transmitted infections, doctors said. - The Telegraph, UK

* ►July 2, 2009 - Even The Shallows Dry Up: The GMC Hearing June 22nd and 23rd. By Martin J. Walker - Age of Autism

* ►July 2, 2009 - Gluten & autism: case study in Journal of Child Neurology - Teresa Binstock, Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy via Generation Rescue

* ►July 2, 2009 - Maine CDC Autism Conference: Intro by Dora Mills (includes video) - Adventures in Autism

* ►July 2, 2009 - Autism and Gene Research. Who Benefits? By Teresa Conrick - Age of Autism

* ►July 2, 2009 - Music a wonder drug for autism - Time of India

* ►July 2, 2009 - Federal probe finds problems with chelation study - AP via NPR

* ►July 2, 2009 - From P.S. 176X, kids with autism get joyful launch (includes video) - CNN - "P.S. 176X is the largest school for children with autism in New York City and very likely the largest in the country, if not the world."

* ►July 2, 2009 - Blast from the Past Post: MESSAGE BOARD BUZZ. Autism Speaks Selects Eric London? - Age of Autism

* ►July 2, 2009 - New flu may not spread like regular flu -studies - * New virus has not quite mutated to human form * Additional changes could worsen spread - Reuters - "Genetic analysis and lab experiments with the virus show it lacks a piece of genetic material that makes ordinary flu viruses so transmissible, a team of U.S. researchers found. Researchers in the Netherlands, meanwhile, found it lives very well in the nose and their findings suggest it has the ability to stay around for a long time -- and get worse. Both studies, published in the journal Science, show that H1N1 swine flu needs to be closely watched, said Dr. Terrence Tumpey of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

* ►July 2, 2009 - CDC: US swine flu cases rise to nearly 34,000 - AP via Forbes - "The numbers mark an increase from the 127 deaths and nearly 28,000 confirmed and suspected swine flu cases reported last week."

* ►July 2, 2009 - Washington to give antiviral drugs to WHO - Reuters - "The U.S. government said on Thursday it will give 420,000 treatment courses of Tamiflu to the Pan-American Health Organization to help fight the new H1N1 influenza virus in Latin America and the Caribbean."

* ►July 2, 2009 - WHO chief identifies "warning signs" of severe flu - Reuters

* ►July 2, 2009 - Concern over case of drug resistant swine flu - The influenza A H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak has now spread to almost all corners of the world - the last update, # 56, from the World Health Organisation (WHO) says there are now a grand total of 77,201 confirmed cases including 311 deaths. - News-Medical.net

* ►July 2, 2009 - Better Info on H1N1: Cidrap at U. Minnesota - Anthrax Vaccine -- posts by Meryl Nass, M.D.

* ►July 2, 2009 - Swine flu transmission studies suggest new virus is here to stay:experts - Canadian Press via Winnipeg Free Press

* ►July 2, 2009 - Swine flu vaccine made in Europe - The first doses of an H1N1 swine flu vaccine have been produced in Europe - but it will be around two months before any is distributed. (includes video) - BBC - "The doses were produced by Novartis at a plant in Marburg, Germany. The vaccine was made in cell culture, a much faster method than the traditional way of growing it in eggs."

* ►July 2, 2009 - Mandatory flu vaccine for Haj, Umrah pilgrims - Zawya

* ►July 2, 2009 - World Health Organisation: TB Vaccine Could Kill Babies With HIV - The One Click Group

* ►July 2, 2009 - Gardasil - the proposed mandatory vaccine for young women - WeeksMD

* ►July 2, 2009 - Washington Changes Childhood Vaccine Program - Washington State Department Of Health via eMaxHealth - "Washington’s program that uses state and federal funds to buy vaccine for all children in the state is changing. Starting July 1, human papillomavirus vaccine will no longer be bought with state money. Next May, state funds will no longer be used to buy any childhood vaccine — allowing time to plan a smooth transition so there are no breaks in vaccinating kids. The state will continue using federal funding to buy vaccines for low income children."

* ►July 2, 2009 - City's Health Department issues measles alert after 11 confirmed cases in Brooklyn - New York Daily News

* ►July 2, 2009 - Hepatitis B Virus Mutations May Predict Risk Of Liver Cancer - Certain mutations in the DNA of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are associated with the development of liver cancer and may help predict which patients with HBV infections are at increased risk of the disease, according to a large meta-analysis in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, published online July 2. - Journal of the National Cancer Institute, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. via ScienceDaily

* ►July 2, 2009 - Springs surgery tech suspected of exposing thousands to hepatitis C - Colorado Springs Gazette - "Federal officials Thursday warned that about 6,000 surgery patients, including 1,000 at a Colorado Springs surgery center, are at risk of having been infected by an operating room technician with hepatitis C."

* ►July 1, 2009 - Novel H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) - CIDRAP News

* ►July 1, 2009 - Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 56 - World Health Organization

* ►July 1, 2009 - Swine flu concerns rise in Southern Hemisphere - Several provinces in Argentina declared a health emergency Tuesday as the number of H1N1 cases continues to rise. - Christian Science Monitor

* ►July 1, 2009 - Hospital: Man treated for flu before diagnosis - Doctors suspected H1N1 strain from start - Las Vegas Review - "The chief nursing officer at MountainView Hospital said Tuesday that the 33-year-old man who died last weekend as a result of the H1N1 virus was treated as though he had the disease from the day he was admitted, despite the fact that he was not diagnosed until well into his 13-day hospitalization. According to registered nurse Helen Vos, John Talley told hospital officials he had been ill 'for more than a week' before he turned up at the hospital's emergency room for treatment of flulike symptoms on June 15. She said doctors suspected the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, but a so-called 'rapid' test came back negative."

* ►July 1, 2009 - Monsanto's Roundup Kills Human Cells - Adventures in Autism

* ►June 30, 2009 - Food Hypersensitivity & Bisphenol A - Teresa Binstock, Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy via Generation Rescue

* ►June 30, 2009 - Parents haunted by cadet's peanut death - Nathan Francis was 13 when he died from anaphylactic shock after eating one mouthful of food containing peanuts at an Army cadet camp. - The World Today via www.abc.net.au

* ►June 29, 2009 - Vexing Vaccinations - More Florida parents challenge, push limits of immunization law - Orlando Sentinel

* ►June 29, 2009 - New Nanoparticles Help Fight Meningitis - They could be useful in fighting other brain infections as well - Softpedia - "A newly bioengineered peptide nanoparticle has the ability to pass through the blood-brain barrier and provide localized care to brain regions affected by meningitis, as well as by other antibiotics-resistant bacteria and pathogens."

* ►June 11, 2009 - Immunization Works! Special Issue June 11, 2009 - Immunization Works! via CDC - "Syncope has been reported after administration of other adolescent and adult vaccines, so it is not unique to Gardasil or even vaccines. Syncope can also occur with certain medications, after blood donation or in response to pain. Jerking movements, loss of bladder control, and other signs that resemble seizures may occur, but these do NOT mean that the person is having a seizure. Syncope and its associated signs and symptoms usually last only a short time (seconds to minutes) and resolve when the patient is placed in a position, such as lying down, to restore adequate blood flow to the brain."

* ►June 10, 2009 - Government and CDC Finally Agree to do Extensive Research into Vaccine Safety . . . Maybe - AskDrSears

* ►July 1, 2009 - Vaccine Expert Reveals What You Should Know Before You Roll Up Your Sleeve - NaturalNews.com - "Here are Dr. Tenpenny's well documented findings in the form of questions everyone should be asking."

* ►July 1, 2009 - Halt Japanese encephalitis immunization drive: BJP - Times of India - "The state BJP has raised eyebrows over the Chinese vaccine for Japanese encephalitis being administered to school children by state health department. 'There is a psychological fear among parents about the safety of this vaccine. This is because of the perception that Chinese goods are of low quality. Although we are told that the vaccine has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is known that drugs are being tested in third world countries. 'From whatever research we have carried out, it is learnt that mouse brain is a component in this vaccine, and it has a side effect. However, we are still researching about this vaccine,' Parvatkar said. 'Parents have also consulted their family doctors about this vaccine, and the doctors themselves have expressed their ignorance of such a vaccine,' he added."

* ►July 1, 2009 - The Case for Public Ownership of Patient Data - journal article (JAMA)

* ►July 1, 2009 - Ethical Collection, Storage, and Use of Public Health Data - Review of Herpes Zoster - journal article (JAMA)

* ►July 1, 2009 - State Licensure and Professional Monopolies in Medicine - journal article (JAMA)

* ►July 1, 2009 - Clinical Trials Registry Expands - journal article (JAMA)

* ►July 1, 2009 - Your Health in the Information Age: How You and Your Doctor Can Use the Internet to Work Together (book review) - journal article (JAMA)

* ►July 1, 2009 - Warning over 'swine flu parties' plan - Government tells parents virus is too unpredictable to risk exposing children - The Independent, UK

* ►July 1, 2009 - Fears mount after third school pupil develops swine flu - Belfast Telegraph - "And she also revealed that some of those children who were given the anti-viral Tamiflu had become violently ill. 'I have spoken to one parent whose child has been suffering from side effects from taking Tamiflu and I have spoken to a number of people who have said that they knew of other children who have been really sick after taking Tamiflu,' she said."

* ►July 1, 2009 - Autism patients' treatment is denied illegally, group says - Consumer Watchdog asks a judge to order the state Department of Managed Health Care to enforce the law and require insurers to serve autistic members. The agency says it's doing its job. (requires registration) - Los Angeles Times - "More than 37,000 children with the most severe cases receive services, such as ABA, through the state. Because the state's limited budget for such children is rationed according to the neediest, thousands more suffer serious and debilitating problems but are ineligible for state aid."

* ►July 2009 - Impact of Electronic Health Record-Based Alerts on Influenza Vaccination for Children With Asthma - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►July 2009 - Effects of Oseltamivir on Influenza-Related Complications in Children With Chronic Medical Conditions - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►July 2009 - Using Personal Health Records to Improve the Quality of Health Care for Children (free full text) - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►July 2009 - The Future of Pediatrics: Mental Health Competencies for Pediatric Primary Care (free full text) - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►July 2009 - Improving Clinical Quality Indicators Through Electronic Health Records: It Takes More Than Just a Reminder - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►July 2009 - Low-Income Parents' Views on the Redesign of Well-Child Care - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►July 2009 - Cardiovascular Medication Errors in Children - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►July 2009 - Expert Witness Participation in Civil and Criminal Proceedings (free full text) - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►July 2009 - Teaching by Listening: The Importance of Adult-Child Conversations to Language Development - journal article (Pediatrics)  

* ►July 2009 - Delivery Indications at Late-Preterm Gestations and Infant Mortality Rates in the United States - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►June 30, 2009 - Gardasil: the denial continues by Renate Klein - On Line Opinion - "Two weeks after receiving the 'cervical cancer' vaccination Gardasil, 26-year-old Shannon from Melbourne remembers, 'it became so difficult to breathe that I went straight to the emergency room. I was very frightened at this point. Two weeks before I had been fit and healthy, and by this stage I was limping around the house like a stroke victim, wheezing and worried I was suffocating.'  At the hospital Shannon had x-rays, blood tests and an MRI. She was told that the lining of her left lung had become so inflamed that it was rubbing against her chest wall each time she breathed. The Head Consultant looking after her said that she must have gotten some mysterious virus and that Gardasil had been tested and was safe. She was released with no diagnosis other than 'pleurisy' and given painkillers. Five months after receiving the vaccine she saw a neurologist who confirmed that she had damage to her left side and that it was 'an auto-immune reaction, resulting in inflamed lining of the left lung and nerves on the left side, with a temporal connection to Gardasil injection'. Shannon says she’s never been so sick all her life. Fourteen months later she had to quit her job and is now desperately trying to regain her health."

* ►June 30, 2009 - ACIP: No Preference for Separate MMR and Varicella Vaccines - MedPage Today - "Most members supported separate administrations of the MMR and varicella vaccines because of a lower risk for febrile seizures in the first two weeks after receiving the shots. The committee had originally recommended the use of the four-vaccine combination, known as ProQuad, because it reduces the number of shots and presumably increases immunization rates. But, in March 2008, that preference was removed following preliminary data from two studies that detected an increased risk of febrile seizures with the combination."

* ►June 30, 2009 - Appeals Court to Vaccine Court: Don’t be a Putz! By Kent Heckenlively, Esq. - Age of Autism

* ►June 30, 2009 - David Kirby: "Tidal Wave" of Young Adults with Autism about to Flood Cash-Strapped California - The Huffington Post

* ►June 30, 2009 - Harvey Karp: Cracking the Autism Riddle: Toxic Chemicals, A Serious Suspect in the Autism Outbreak - The Huffington Post

* ►June 30, 2009 - Did leak from a laboratory cause swine flu pandemic? - Same strain of influenza was released by accident three decades ago - The Independent, UK

* ►June 30, 2009 - Insect cells deliver potential flu vaccine - The Canberra Times - "A swine flu vaccine made using insect cells is only months away from being available in Australia as researchers seek approvals for human trials. The University of Queensland has produced Australia's first batch of a new candidate vaccine against the A(H1N1) swine flu virus. US firm Protein Sciences developed the vaccine earlier this month and is transferring its technology to other countries. This is part of an agreement with the United Nations and the World Health Organisation to ensure a vaccine is available to all UN member countries."

* ►June 30, 2009 - Vical H1 Influenza Vaccine Delivers Robust Preclinical Results With 100% Response - Vical via Globe Newswire via StreetInsider.com

* ►June 30, 2009 - Dreading flu shot? Get set for triple dose - The Canadian Press via The Chronicle Herald - "Health Canada, which regulates vaccines, has said manufacturers will be required to submit immunogenicity data — results of clinical trials that show whether the vaccine elicits a sufficiently strong immune response. And vaccine manufacturers are being asked to submit plans for how they will conduct surveillance for adverse events once their vaccines are in wide use."

* ►June 30, 2009 - When viruses book a flight - Toronto doctor's system of analyzing air traffic to map potential hotbeds first tested with swine flu - The Toronto Star

* ►June 30, 2009 - Swine flu followed flight paths - www.stuff.co.nz

* ►June 30, 2009 - Swine flu may have been leaked from laboratory - View London, UK

* ►June 30, 2009 - People May have Brought H1N1 Virus from Asia - Pork Magazine

* ►June 30, 2009 - Younger people 'should get swine flu vaccine first' - BMJ Group via The Guardian, UK

* ►June 30, 2009 - Sinovac obtains revised approvals for pandemic influenza vaccine - Datamonitor via COMTEX via Trading Markets

* ►June 30, 2009 - Battle against H1N1 may develop new diagnosis - China Daily - "Enough doses of H1N1 vaccine to cover 1 percent of the Chinese population would be prepared before Oct 1, he said. 'Experts are now busy devising the inoculation plan," he noted. "Not everyone in the country needs to be vaccinated.'"

* ►June 30, 2009 - China Journal: My 4 Days in Quarantine - CBS News

* ►June 30, 2009 - Wash. gov. OKs emergency money for flu season - Longview Daily News - "Gov. Chris Gregoire has approved $700,000 in emergency spending to buy more antiviral medicine for the next flu season."

* ►June 30, 2009 - Bonnie's Notes: Obama Health Reform; Vax Mandate History; Autism Treatment; ►June NY Rally - New Yorkers for Vaccine Information and Choice

* ►June 30, 2009 - Autism treatment wait times growing, warns NDP - CTV - "Critics say the backlog of autistic children waiting for crucial therapy in Ontario is growing at an alarming rate and in some cases leaving parents to pick up the tab for costly treatment. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says as of March 31, there were 1,513 children waiting for treatment -- up 450 from December."

* ►June 30, 2009 - Holistic Medicine Used To Treat Autism - Colon Therapy Sessions Used To Relax Patients (includes video) - WSMV Nashville - "A Vanderbilt University study is backing what parents of autistic children may have suspected for years. There is a possible link between autism and gastrointestinal disorders."

* ►June 30, 2009 - Problem pregnancy 'autism risk' - Complications during pregnancy and giving birth later in life may increase the risk of having a child with autism, a review of dozens of studies suggests. - BBC

* ►June 30, 2009 - Novartis receives Complete Response letter from the US Food and Drug Administration for its investigational vaccine Menveo(R) - Hugin via COMTEX via FOX Business

* ►June 30, 2009 - Patients’ safety must not be sacrificed to financial targets, doctors say - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 30, 2009 - Prioritizing Comparative-Effectiveness Research — IOM Recommendations (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 30, 2009 - Comparative-Effectiveness Research — Implications of the Federal Coordinating Council's Report (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 30, 2009 - BMA meeting: NHS doctors must not be "muzzled," BMA chairman says - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 30, 2009 - FDA Seeks Public Input on Tobacco Regulation - FDA

* ►June 30, 2009 - EU says Pfizer is suggesting changes to Wyeth bid to win regulatory approval (requires registration) - AP via Los Angeles Times

* ►June 30, 2009 - Merck Allowed to Discharge More into Shenandoah River - WHSV.com

* ►June 30, 2009 - Novavax in multi-million Spanish deal on vaccines - AP via Forbes

* ►June 30, 2009 - Medical examiner: Ore. girl appeared malnourished - AP via Yahoo! - "A 15-month-old girl whose parents belong to a congregation that shuns doctors appeared to be malnourished after her death from pneumonia, a medical examiner testified Tuesday in the manslaughter trial of her parents."

* ►June 29, 2009 - “Mandatory Vaccinations Are Constitutional/Legal” - “This is a law that goes back 100 years, maybe more.” What “law” he refers to, well, we don’t know because he doesn’t know. - Lew Rockwell Blog

* ►June 29, 2009 - H1N1 Flu Formerly Known As Swine - Planet Chiropractic

* ►June 29, 2009 - HIV-Positive Namibian Women Suing Government for Forced Sterilization - Ms. Magazine

* ►June 29, 2009 - Drugging Our Children to Death - HealthNewsDigest - "The initiative to drug our children for profit has exceeded all common sense boundaries and is threatening the welfare of every American child. It is up to each and every one of us to stop this madness! We have allowed ourselves to be “sold down the river” by savvy marketing executives who care more about their corporate bottom line than they do about our children or our families. The scope of the collective greed and malice has now reached epidemic proportions and, sadly enough, can be measured in body countsmany of them being our children’s. The numbers don’t lie. The verdict is in. We are drugging our children to DEATH! Gwen Olsen spent more than a decade as a sales rep in the pharmaceutical industry, working for health care giants such as Johnson Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Abbott Laboratories."

* ►June 29, 2009 - U.S. Attorney News Release: Ringleader Sentenced to Nine Years In Federal Prison For Allergy Testing Health Care Fraud Scheme That Bilked Insurance Companies and Deceived Thousands of Patients (pdf) - United States Department of Justice (USDOJ)

* ►June 29, 2009 - Who wants to be the flu doctor? - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 29, 2009 - Doctors’ leaders back new guidance on using patients’ records for research - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 29, 2009 - Roche's Tamiflu Works In Swine Flu Despite Denmark Case (requires registration) - Dow Jones Newswires via The Wall Street Journal - "This first surge in demand for Tamiflu came after a new bird flu virus had emerged in Asia, and had been widely expected to be the cause of the first pandemic in more than 40 years. That didn't happen though because the virus never was circulated heavily in humans. Instead the now circulating swine flu virus emerged in Mexico a few months ago, causing the 21st centuries first pandemic. The U.S. alone has a stockpile of 50 million courses of antiviral medicine on a federal level and a further 22 million courses on a state level. Governments are holding the drugs to protect people working on the front line of a pandemic, such as healthcare workers, thereby limiting the spread. At some point, there will certainly be resistance to Tamiflu, said Birgit Kulhoff, pharmaceutical analyst in Zurich with private bank Rahn & Bodmer. "Sooner or later there will be resistance, and I would expect that to happen when the swine flu virus starts mixing with seasonal flu viruses," she said."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Erythromycin in whooping cough - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 29, 2009 - Breaking the mould in patient safety - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 29, 2009 - Out of Frame: Under Our Skin - DCist.com - "Did you know that the test recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) to diagnose Lyme misses it 3/4ths of the time?"

* ►June 28, 2009 - Drug Marketing Tax Deductibility Penalty - House Ways & Means Committee is not ready to tie the loss of tax deductibility for drug promotional expenses to failure to disclose gifts to physicians. That’s potentially bad news for pharma in the post-Fourth continuing discussions of health care reform. - The RPM Report

* ►June 26, 2009 - Age for starting cervical cancer screening in England will not be lowered - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 26, 2009 - Disease disguised as common cold can be deadly - LimaOhio.com - "Three days after John Merricle's visit to St. Rita's he was notified by the hospital and the health department that he had pertussis. The Merricles were quarantined to their house between June 18 to 22 and put on antibiotics. John Merricle's co-workers at Allen Metropolitan Housing Authority were also quarantined for five days on antibiotics in case they were infected. Quarantine in cases like this is routine, Dershem said. "We had to close the maintenance department for a couple days and contract out work," said Cindy Ring, executive director at Allen Metropolitan Housing Authority. "We did lots of checking with the health department to make sure we contacted everyone that could have been exposed to it."

* ►June 25, 2009 - Cost of US health reforms is estimated at $1.6 trillion for first 10 years - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 25, 2009 - Making information about clinical trials publicly available - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 25, 2009 - Less medicine is more - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 25, 2009 - National Autism Association Teams Up With 12 Organizations To End Abusive Restraint and Seclusion In Schools - press release - National Autism Association

* ►June 24, 2009 - Legalising drugs would be "an historic mistake," UN report says - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 23, 2009 - Whistleblowing is crucial for a "world class" NHS - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 23, 2009 - Doctors call for head of World Medical Association to quit as "matter of priority" - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 23, 2009 - Website captures people’s experiences of clinical trials - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 18, 2009 - Karen’s Story (USA) - Gardasil: Women Hurt by Medicine - "Our lives have been turned upside down after Gardasil. My daughter had a 3.8 GPA without even trying. She failed all her classes since Gardasil. My daughters health has been in serious decline since she received her Gardasil injections. Within hours she was vomiting, feverish with a terrible headache. She could not get out of bed for almost 3 weeks. I called the doctor regarding her illness she said she must have received a bad flu shot. She was vaccinated with Gardasil at the same time as the flu vaccine."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Developing vaccines a riskier prospect than new drugs - Increasing failure-to-success ratio a concern for future research (requires registration) - Medical Post

* ►May 24, 2009 - Raindrop’s Story (USA) - Gardasil: Women Hurt by Medicine - "Why have the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries chosen to experiment with the first ever, large scale application of a new, unproven, genetically modified, inter-species gene mixing vaccine technology on the female youth of an entire generation? Under the ruse of attempting to eradicate cervical cancer, Merck is actually engaged in the first large scale, real world deployment and testing of genetically modified DNA, genetically engineered proteins and genetics produced by the combining of genetic material from more than one origin or species in a vaccine."

* ►June 30, 2009 - Bill Gates Foundation’s funding policy criticised - Efficacy of huge grants to vaccination programmes questioned - GAVI received a disproportionately large sum of $1.5 billion for “purchase of new vaccines” - Higher costs would be borne by poor nations when GAVI funding is withdrawn - The Hindu - "By pointing out that the efficacy of this vaccine in preventing childhood pneumonia remains highly questionable, Dabade and Puliyel argue that the policy of funding AMC for this vaccine 'allows GAVI to divert BMGF money to vaccine manufacturers without providing commensurate benefits to the children it is supposed to help.' To point out the vaccine’s low efficacy Dabade and Puliyel cite data from a 2008 paper of S.A. Madhi and associates in the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which show that 1000 children have to be vaccinated to prevent approximately four cases of pneumonia. 'Given that the vaccine costs $250 per child,' Dabade and Puliyel point out, '$250 000 will be spent to prevent these four cases of pneumonia [whereas]…treatment of four children with pneumonia with oral cotrimoxazole, in accordance with the WHO protocol, will cost [only] $1 in India.'"

* ►June 30, 2009 - Vaccination campaign: Govt probes children’s negative reaction - Government is investigating reported cases of negative reaction by some children to the poliomyelitis, measles immunisation, and the Vitamin A supplementation drugs they received a fortnight ago under the national vaccination campaign. - The Herald, Zimbabwe - "Efforts to get a comment from WHO were fruitless as the country representative, Dr Custodia Mandlhate, was said to be out of the country, while other senior officers at the organisation were out of office. The Herald has been receiving calls from the parents whose children had reportedly developed side-effects after receiving the vaccines. Most of the callers complained about high temperatures and vomiting, diarrhoea and nose bleeds affecting their children."

* ►June 30, 2009 - Close observation after Gardasil needed - New Zealand Doctor Online - "The advisory centre’s latest note emphasises the need for close observation and, if needed, recipients lying down after vaccination. Theo Brandt, centre communications manager, says syncope can sometimes cause jerking movements, loss of bladder control and other signs resembling epileptic seizures. Dr Turner says the centre has had calls from parents worrying about fitting. 'Fainting can look like fitting and there has been the misapprehension that HPV is causing epilepsy,' she says. The FDA says it’s evaluating whether syncope warnings are needed for other adolescent and adult vaccines."

* ►June 30, 2009 - Canada aims to give H1N1 flu vaccines in October - Reuters India

* ►June 30, 2009 - Vaccinations urged as whooping cough spreads - The highly contagious and potentially fatal whooping cough has reached epidemic proportions in parts of Australia. - www.abc.net.au

* ►June 30, 2009 - Biogen Reports a 13th Sick Patient on MS Drug (requires subscription) - The Wall Street Journal - "The 10 cases since -- including three this month -- have frustrated Biogen's aim of making Tysabri into a blockbuster drug. The company has invested in treatments for PML and ways to mitigate the infection -- once thought to be almost always fatal -- and in persuading doctors that PML's risk in Tysabri patients is less severe and less likely."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Legislation Introduced to Require First Comparative Study of Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Populations - press release - Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney via http://maloney.house.gov - "What is ultimately needed to resolve this issue is a comprehensive national study comparing outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated children.  As the most scientifically advanced country in the world, we should be jumping at the chance to resolve the questions that have been raised.  Parents deserve answers, and children deserve no less than absolute certainty and safety."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Maloney Vaxxed v. Unvaxxed Study Reintroduced - Call your representative and ask for support for HR 3069. - Adventures in Autism - "Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Christopher Smith (R-NJ) have introduced the 'Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Populations Act of 2009,' HR 3069, legislation that would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive, peer-reviewed, comparative study of vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, which has never before been completed."

* ►June 29, 2009 - The BMJ Vaccines Propaganda, Professor David Salisbury And Trimedia Public Relations - The One Click Group

* ►June 29, 2009 - Rebecca Coombes - BMJ Propaganda For MMR Vaccine - The One Click Group - "Vaccine disputes will continue and escalate while UK regulatory authorities refuse to rid themselves of conflicts of interests, refuse to carry out safety testing for adequate periods, refuse to obey MMR data sheets, refuse to allow recording of vaccine deaths on death certificates, refuse to carry out efficacy tests, refuse to compare vaccines with safer ones and placebos, refuse to remove unsafe additives and contaminant viruses, refuse to check all autism victims for vaccine history compared with those unvaccinated and refuse to administer the safer vaccines left at the best ages. Coombes castigates support groups set up by grieving parents, preferring to allow very many to fall by the wayside dead or maimed with a permanent illness. Coombes is not medically qualified nor produces proper references. I have published 53 references, available on request. The BMJ has sunk to its lowest depths of depravity. See Vaccine disputes, Rebecca Coombes, BMJ 2009;338:b2435"

* ►June 29, 2009 - Omissions Prove What's Really Going On In the System - Lisa Blakemore Brown, Psychologist via The One Click Group - "Last week I sent in a Rapid Response to the BMJ re: Rebecca Coombes' piece of propaganda in vaccines. These transparent efforts to damn parents who dare to say vaccines harmed their children are not confined to the BMJ and I had replied to another shocking parent bashing article just recently. See A winning campaign would be for professionals to tell the truth, Lisa Blakemore Brown, Journal of the Academy of Pediatrics.  I am grateful to the BMJ for publishing the letter, but disturbed at what they left out."

* ►June 29, 2009 - More Florida parents challenge, push limits of immunization law - Orlando Sentinel - "Florida's school-vaccine law says children must be vaccinated against a host of diseases before they can enroll day care or school — public or private. The law also says kids need more immunizations prior to seventh grade. The law also provides for some exemptions, and the use of those get-out clauses has inched up. In 1999, more than 93 percent of Florida's kindergartners were up to date on immunizations when they enrolled, according to the Florida Department of Health. A decade later, that has fallen to less than 90 percent. But some organizations, such as Jacksonville-based K.N.O.W. Vaccines, offer tips on how to get a religious exemption to the state's immunization law. State Sen. Jeremy Ring, a father of four, sponsored Florida's recent anti-vaccine bill. He thinks children should be vaccinated by the time they start school but doesn't see why parents shouldn't have the choice to 'vaccinate on a different schedule' so that babies do not get multiple immunization shots in a day."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Inquiry continues into Dr Andrew Wakefield - Irish Medical Times - "The Fitness to Practise Panel of the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK is due to complete its latest sitting of the public inquiry into Dr Andrew Wakefield this Friday, June 26. Together with Prof John Walker-Smith and Prof Simon Murch, Dr Wakefield is being investigated over allegations of serious professional misconduct in relation to a research study involving young children from 1996-98, published in The Lancet, which suggested a link between autism and the MMR vaccine. ... Further sessions are scheduled for the rest of the year, although it is difficult to approximate when the inquiry will conclude. At this stage, further hearing dates include: July 6 to 10 and 27 to 31; August 10 to 28; and November 16 to December 23."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Dr. Nancy, Making the Television Rounds (requires registration) - Washington Post - "On the 'Today' show in February, Snyderman ripped into the author of a 1998 study in the Lancet that asserted a link between childhood vaccines and autism -- which the British medical journal later called 'fatally flawed.' Snyderman, who believes passionately in vaccines, declared: 'This guy is a fraud.' NBC later removed her from a planned 'Dateline' examination of the subject. 'That was a really stupid thing to say,' Snyderman concedes. 'It crossed every line. I shouldn't have said it.'"

* ►June 29, 2009 - Supreme Court rejects appeal from Ohio parents of autistic boy - Canton Repository - "The Supreme Court is leaving in place an appeals court ruling that an autistic child from Ohio is not entitled to private education at taxpayer expense."

* ►June 29, 2009 - 14 Studies Part 3: Ladies and Gentlemen, Take Your Positions By Julie Obradovic - Age of Autism

* ►June 29, 2009 - Dan Mulvaney, Adult with Autism, Graduates (New York Times) - Age of Autism

* ►June 29, 2009 - Spread of a Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus via Global Airline Transportation (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 29, 2009 - Severe Respiratory Disease Concurrent with the Circulation of H1N1 Influenza (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 29, 2009 - Historical Perspective — Emergence of Influenza A (H1N1) Viruses (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 29, 2009 - The Persistent Legacy of the 1918 Influenza Virus (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 29, 2009 - Pneumonia and Respiratory Failure from Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) in Mexico (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 29, 2009 - Girl dies after catching swine flu - A schoolgirl has died after contracting swine flu as the the number of new cases of the virus in Britain surge. - The Telegraph, UK - "The girl, who already suffered from what was described as an "underlying health problem" was being treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital. If her death is confirmed to have been linked to the illness she will become the third Briton to die of the virus."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Mexican swine flu victims were young, some healthy - * Most patients were under age 59 * All hospitalized patients had pneumonia * No single pattern predicts sickest patients - Reuters

* ►June 29, 2009 - Younger People Appear More at Risk From New Swine Flu - Not just the infirm should be vaccinated, experts urge - HealthDay via Forbes

* ►June 29, 2009 - Drug-resistant Swine Flu Seen In Danish Patient - Danish Patient Has First Reported Case Of Tamiflu-resistant Swine Flu, Health Officials Say - AP via CBS News

* ►June 29, 2009 - Roche, CDC Say Tamiflu Still Works On Swine Flu - Dow Jones via Wall Street Journal

* ►June 29, 2009 - County preps for H1N1 vaccines - Topeka Capital-Journal - "Freeze said the Shawnee County Health Agency is preparing for the possible need to vaccinate all 173,000 residents of Shawnee County in the fall. 'We would be leaning very heavily on universities, schools and employers,' Freeze said, 'asking them to play a significant role with the distribution.'"

* ►June 29, 2009 - Pandemic planning: Protect police forces from being hurt in civil disturbances - The same cast of characters behind 'mass fatality management planning' for the flu pandemic developed a 'business plan for the Iraqi military market.' - Citizens for Legitimate Government

* ►June 29, 2009 - Will two flus mix in Indonesia? Experts worry - * H5N1 circulates freely in Indonesia * Flu viruses cause more deaths in poorer countries - Reuters

* ►June 29, 2009 - Dreading your flu shot? Get ready for a double dose - Canadian Press via Edmonton Sun

* ►June 29, 2009 - Chief health officer warns pregnant women of flu risk - Canwest News Service via Canada.com

* ►June 29, 2009 - Argentine health minister quits as flu spreads - TV - Reuters

* ►June 29, 2009 - Study Charts Swine Flu's Spread Through Air Travel - Study shows swine flu's spread can be tracked through air travel - AP via ABC News - "In a startling measure of just how widely a new disease can spread, researchers accurately plotted swine flu's course around the world by tracking air travel from Mexico. The research was based on an analysis of flight data from March and April last year, which showed more than 2 million people flew from Mexico to more than 1,000 cities worldwide."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Dynasty: Influenza virus in 1918 and today - NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases via EurekAlert!

* ►June 29, 2009 - Deadly pneumonia in swine-flu outbreak hit young hard - CDC - "Canadian public health officials are debating what segments of the population, such as younger people or those at risk of serious disease, including pregnant women, should receive priority for a potential pandemic vaccine in the fall."

* ►June 29, 2009 - HIB Vaccine Shortage Over, but Don’t Rush in to Catch Up - AskDrSears

* ►June 29, 2009 - Juvaris, ADi in vaccine collaboration - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal - "Juvaris BioTherapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company developing adjuvanted vaccines for infectious diseases, on Monday announced a collaborative agreement with Antigen Discovery Inc. Burlingame-based Juvaris said it will have access to ADi’s high-throughput protein microarray screening system to help it discover disease-specific antigens to fuel Juvaris’ vaccine pipeline."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Merck Resolves Shipping Delays For Shingles Vaccine >MRK (requires subscription) - The Wall Street Journal - "A year ago, Merck began telling customers to expect delays of up to six weeks for Zostavax, a shot Merck began selling in 2006. The company had made a batch of so-called bulk varicella that was less potent than required. Bulk varicella is used not only in Zostavax but also for the chickenpox vaccine Varivax. The snag limited production of bulk varicella, forcing Merck to prioritize the ingredient in favor of Varivax, which is part of the routine vaccination schedule for children. The problem had previously forced Merck to stop filling orders for a combination shot, ProQuad, that contained Varivax. Last year's delays caused an 82% plunge in third-quarter sales of Zostavax, and sales have been lumpy since then. For full-year 2008, Zostavax sales rose 32% to $312 million.Merck has resolved the production problem and has significantly increased the manufacture of bulk varicella." 

* ►June 29, 2009 - Big vaccine business for GSK, Novartis? Swine flu may require 600 million doses - AP via WRAL.com

* ►June 29, 2009 - The Real Terrorists are Behind The Drugstores - OpEdNews - "The second reason for reducing natural health alternatives is to reduce the health, strength, and willpower of the population. Between vaccinations that are intentionally laced with toxins, diseases, and chemical poisons, contaminants placed in our water and food supplies, ineffective medications, misinformation about health treatments, current medical problems, and our own inclinations towards poor health practices, the general population is doomed to a life of illness, weakness, and submission to higher powers."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Sinovac Receives Revised Approvals for Panflu - PRNewswire-Asia via InterestAlert!

* ►June 29, 2009 - Pandemic planning not priority for business: survey - Can West News Service via Financial Post via Canada.com

* ►June 29, 2009 - Vitamin A Supplements Can Reduce Malaria Cases In Children By One-Third, Study Finds - Kaiser Network via Medical News Today

* ►June 29 2009 - Drug cos defend acetaminophen as U.S. weighs limits - Reuters - "Too much acetaminophen has been known to cause liver injury for decades, but FDA officials are worried that the rise of products that combine it with other medications can lead consumers unknowingly to overdose by taking too much of a medication or taking too many different products at once. The agency called for stronger warnings about the risk earlier this year but is seeking advice from outside advisers at a two-day meeting on whether such over-the-counter and prescription combination drugs can safely remain on the U.S. market."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Screening and treatment for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. - Pediatrics via www.guideline.gov

* ►June 29, 2009 - H1N1 can mutate into ‘milder’ strain - Inquirer.net, Philippine News

* ►June 29, 2009 - Law means rethinking how you protect patient data - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 29, 2009 - AMA meeting: Vitamin D checks urged - Studies associate low levels with increased risk of disease, but more extensive research is needed before testing and supplementation become routine. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 29, 2009 - AMA meeting: Delegates see boosting quality of care as duty - A new AMA ethics policy lays out steps physicians should take to make sure patients get the correct treatments. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 29, 2009 - Twitter: What's the use? - Early physician adopters say the social media site can help you promote your practice and communicate with colleagues. - www.ama-assn.org

 * ►June 29, 2009 - Lawsuits test boundary rights of medical patents - The cases come at a time of renewed interest by the U.S. Supreme Court in patent law and could have ramifications for medical research. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 29, 2009 - AMA meeting: Doctors get to see how ethics bar is set - An AMA-sponsored fellowship adds to its online curriculum the study of how ethics policy is made at the Annual Meeting. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 29, 2009 - PML Brain Infection from Tysabri Reported in 10th Patient - AboutLawsuits.com

* ►June 29, 2009 - Toddler dies of meningitis after hospital sends him home with paracetamol - Daily Mail, UK

* ►June 29, 2009 - Jury returns $1.67B drug verdict against Abbott - Reuters - "A U.S. federal jury returned a $1.67 billion verdict against Abbott Laboratories (ABT.N) in a patent suit brought by Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) related to arthritis treatments, the drug companies said on Monday."

* ►June 29, 2009 - DEA Swamped With Calls Regarding Jackson’s Death by Evelyn Pringle - Lawyers and Settlements - "On ►June 27, 2009, the Drug Enforcement Agency issued a press release to members of the media titled: 'DEA Responds to Large Number of Calls regarding Michael Jackson’s Death'. The UK’s Sun newspaper claims Jackson was taking Demerol, Dilaudid, Vicodin, Xanax, Soma, Paxil, Zoloft and Prilosec."

* ►June 29, 2009 - Miami physician sentenced in Medicare fraud case - South Florida Business Journal - "Miami physician Roberto Rodriguez, 54, was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison and ordered to pay more than $9 million in restitution for his role in a Medicare fraud scheme involving HIV infusion services."

* ►June 29, 2009 - New Report - Catastrophic Pharmaceutical Drugs Addiction Of Epidemic Proportions - Wales on Sunday via The One Click Group

* ►June 29, 2009 - Experiment seeks to head off Type 1 diabetes - AP via The Guardian, UK - "The doctor had barely pulled away the needle when a blister appeared on Tracey Berg-Fulton's abdomen: An experimental shot was revving up the 24-year-old's immune system - part of a bold quest to create a vaccine-like therapy for diabetes.

* ►June 29, 2009 -  The Ethics of Smallpox Immunization - Aish.com

* ►June 29, 2009 - Henderson led WHO's effort to rid the world of smallpox - USA Today

* ►June 29, 2009 - Professor's work aiding long fight for HIV vaccine - UT The Daily Texan - "The covalent vaccine method contains chemical extract that binds with cells while ensuring the generation of more antibodies to stop the spread of the virus. This approach may be useful because the virus tends to mutate rapidly — and usually developes immunity to highly active retroviral therapies. 'Covalent binding is like a little bomb on human cells that are responsible for our immunity.' Paul said. 'Covalent vaccination stimulates cells to start dividing and they will kill the virus.'"

* ►June 29, 2009 - Mark Oaten MP Slams UK Government Stance On DNA Database - The One Click Group

* ►June 29, 2009 - 'Smoking Gun' Found in Cookie Dough E. Coli Scare - ABC News - "Nestle issued a press release today confirming FDA had informed the company “that it has found and confirmed evidence of E. coli 0157:H7 in a retained production sample of 16.5 oz. Nestlé Toll House refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough bar.  The product has a day code of 9041 and a 'Best before 10 JUN 2009' notation.”

* ►June 29, 2009 - Bay group sues over river pollution limits - AP via Forbes - "The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is challenging a Virginia State Water Control Board decision that allows Merck & Co. to increase its pollution discharge into the Shenandoah River."

* ►June 28, 2009 - 19-year-old who died had flu-like symptoms - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - "A former Kenosha high school baseball star who died Saturday reportedly had suffered flu- or pneumonia-like symptoms and had been given antibiotics by a doctor. Sam Schissel became unresponsive at his family's home in Somers and was taken by ambulance to Kenosha Medical Center, the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department said Sunday. Schissel's mother said a doctor had given her son antibiotics, a hospital spokeswoman said. The treatment was given a day or perhaps a couple of days before Schissel's death, the spokeswoman said."

* ►June 28, 2009 - Judge: Wyeth can have data from study - Arkansas Democrat Gazette - "Data that scientists have gathered since August 2005 in following up on a study of the effects of hormone replacement therapy on postmenopausal women should be turned over to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals as it continues to defend itself against lawsuits over its hormone drugs, an attorney for the company argued Friday in Little Rock."

* ►June 28, 2009 - Autistic kids laugh differently than others - ANI via Thaindian

* ►June 28, 2009 - Novartis in talks to buy much of Elan -report - The Guardian, UK - "The Sunday Times said a "well-placed source" confirmed the talks but added the "complexity of the deal made a decision some way off". Elan, a co-marketer with Biogen Idec of multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri, hired Citigroup in January to conduct a review of the business and said at the time a merger or sale of the company was possible."

* ►June 26, 2009 - More Gene Mutations Linked To Autism Risk - Combination of inherited and new mutations acting together - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine via Biocompare

* ►June 26, 2009 - ACIP recommends off-label MCV4 use for certain high-risk individuals - Health care providers may soon be able to administer a second dose of meningococcal polysaccharide diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine to individuals at increased risk for meningococcal disease several years following their first vaccination. - Infectious Disease News

* ►June 26, 2009 - Virus worries health officials - The Kingston Whig-Standard - "Canadian health officials are growing increasingly concerned over the number of young, healthy individuals who are dying from the new H1N1 virus, a Kingston specialist says. 'We are ... worried that we are seeing some young people -- people without underlying illnesses -- who are dying from it,' said Dr. Gerald Evans, an infectious disease expert at Kingston General Hospital."

* ►June 25, 2009 - KBI rolls out PER.C6 service in US - US contract services firm KBI Biopharma has begun using the PER.C6 platform for cell line generation as part of its offering to meet growing demand for biomanufacturing services. - Outsourcing-Pharma.com - "Part of the reason for the PER.C6 technology’s popularity is related to its high production potential. In June last year a Percivia team reported that they had achieved a new record yield of 27 g/L. This productivity was one of the reasons that Swiss drugmaker Novartis selected the PER.C6 line for its cell culture vaccine production plant in Holly Springs, North Carolina. While Novartis’ adoption of PER.C6 happened years before the H1N1 “swine” flu began the technology's utility and speed advantages over traditional egg-based flu vaccine production will certainly be seen as beneficial for the rapid production of an effective vaccine."

* ►June 25, 2009 - Scientists Study Children’s Susceptibility to Pesticides, Urge EPA to Act - Beyond Pesticides

* ►June 24, 2009 - Antiviral Resistance in Influenza Viruses Circulating in Central and South America Based on the Detection of Established Genetic Markers (requires registration) - Influenza Respiratory Viruses via Medscape

* ►June 23, 2009 - HHS Announces Advanced Development Contract for New Way to Make Flu Vaccine - press release - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - "'The technology has advanced in recent years to a point that we believe it could help meet a surge in demand for U.S.-based vaccine for seasonal and pandemic flu,' Secretary Sebelius said. 'We want to use the technology to help our nation respond to emerging infectious diseases.' With this new technology, known as recombinant influenza vaccine, a gene would be extracted from a flu virus and placed into an insect virus called baculovirus, which does not affect people and can multiply quickly to high levels in insect cells. The cells are purified to become a basic part of a human vaccine."

* ►June 22/23, 2009 - The End of Mr Miller's Closing Speech - CryShame - "The GMC Hearing Monday June 22nd and Tuesday June 23rd. - At mid morning on Tuesday June 23rd, Mr Miller finished his closing speech on behalf of Professor Walker Smith. It was a bravura performance Having dealt with the Lancet Children singularly throughout the previous week, on Monday Mr Miller turned his attention to Professor Walker- Smith's involvement in the Lancet paper."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Certain Asthma and Allergy Drugs Get Stiffer Suicide Warning by Evelyn Pringle - Lawyers and Settlements

* ►June 12, 2009 - Flu Vaccine 2009 Produced, Ready for Testing - The MCDK cell flu vaccine, prepared in large fermenters and later purified, will be tested to determine its effectiveness for immune protection against swine H1N1 flu. - Suite101.com

* ►Immunization Site Map (pdf) - CDC.gov

* ►July 2009 - Enhanced Immunogenicity of Seasonal Influenza Vaccines in Young Children Using MF59 Adjuvant - journal article (The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal) - "Subjects and Methods: Unprimed healthy children (6 to <36 months) were enrolled in an observer-blinded study and randomly assigned to receive 2 doses of MF59-adjuvanted vaccine (Sub/MF59, n = 130) or nonadjuvanted split vaccine (split, n = 139); subgroups of these (n = 43 and 46, respectively) received a booster dose 1 year later. Safety and clinical tolerability were assessed after each dose. Hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers were measured against influenza A and B strains included in the formulation of the vaccines and against mismatched strains. Results: Clinical tolerability and safety were generally comparable between vaccine groups, though some transient, mild solicited reactions were more frequent in the Sub/MF59 group."

* ►July 2009 - Vaccine Refusal, Mandatory Immunization, and the Risk of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases - journal article (The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)

* ►July 2009 - Outbreak of Atypical Pertussis Detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction in Immunized Preschool-Aged Children - journal article (The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)

* ►July 2009 - Bacteriology of Spontaneously Draining Acute Otitis Media in Children Before and After the Introduction of Pneumococcal Vaccination - journal article (The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)

* ►July 2009 - Infection With Community-Onset Staphylococcus aureus and Influenza Virus in Hospitalized Children - journal article (The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)

* ►July 2009 - Attitudes and Beliefs of Parents About Childhood Vaccinations in Post-Soviet Countries: the Example of Kyrgyzstan - journal article (The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)

* ►June 28, 2009 - Healthcare - it's make or break for Barack Obama - For 46 million Americans, falling seriously ill will fast-track them to financial ruin. Barack Obama has promised a new deal for the legions of the poor who cannot afford health insurance. But so have other Democrats in the past: can the new president finally give the US a universal healthcare system? - The Observer, UK via The Guardian, UK

* ►June 28, 2009 - Delay for vaccine as swine flu toll rises - Brisbane Times

* ►June 28, 2009 - Swine flu vaccine likely to be delayed - The Age, Australia

* ►June 28, 2009 - Not convinced - New Zealand Herald - "Rosie Roger has decided not to have the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil. 'I didn't really know much about it,' says the year 12 student, 'then my friend came to school and said someone her mum knows got sick from it.'"

* ►June 28, 2009 - Young women shun Gardasil - New Zealand Herald - "Christy Parker, policy analyst for Women's Health Action, said the trust was concerned that Gardasil had been marketed as 'the cervical cancer vaccine' when it doesn't protect against all forms of cervical cancer, and fears it may undermine the importance of three-yearly cervical smears."

* ►June 28, 2009 - Slow uptake of cervical cancer vaccine - Inaccurate claims are behind the slow uptake of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, according to Auckland University's Immunisation Advisory Centre. - Radio New Zealand - "Ministry of Health figures show 26% of girls aged 12 to 16 years and 35% of those aged 17 to 18 have begun the course of three injections. Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner says inaccurate claims about side effects and inadequate testing have scared people."

* ►June 28, 2009 - Cancer vaccine a success story - Sydney Morning Herald - "About 4.7 million doses of Gardasil have been distributed nationally before the Government's free vaccination deadline on June 30. Women aged 18 to 26 still have an opportunity to be vaccinated against cervical cancer at no cost provided they take their first dose by Tuesday."

* ►June 27, 2009 - AMA Declares Vaccine / Autism Debate: Over by Curtiss Lee Linderman Sr - American Chronicle - "The American Medical Association has once again declared their true allegiance and it is unfortunately not to the patients whom they have taken their oath to protect. During the organization´s House of Delegates meeting held in Chicago June 13th through the 17th, three resolutions were voted on that were submitted by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. These resolutions were; A. that the AMA, reaffirm its support for universal vaccination. B. Asked the AMA Council on Science and Public Health to review the most recent research on vaccines and autism. C. Urged the association to continue to support research into the etiology and treatment of autism."

* ►June 27, 2009 - You Don't Say - But Maybe You Should By Robin Nemeth - Age of Autism

* ►June 27, 2009 - 27,717 Swine Flu Cases Including 127 Deaths In USA So Far - Could Be One Million - Medical News Today

* ►June 27, 2009 - Second Buffalo School student dies of swine flu - Buffalo News - "A 9-year-old Buffalo girl died of swine flu today -- the second Buffalo School District student to die of the disease in a week."

* ►June 27, 2009 - On Eve of Elections, Argentina on Verge of Declaring Swine Flu "Emergency" - Latin American Herald Tribune - "The total number of deaths in Argentina from the swine-flu virus reached 26 on Friday, when three new fatalities were confirmed along with 99 new cases of the illness, raising the total to 1,587."

* ►June 27, 2009 - S&W doctor: Delay start of school until H1N1 vaccine ready - Temple Daily Telegram - "Dr. Manju Gaglani, infectious disease specialist at Scott & White Healthcare, believes schools should not open for the fall semester before everybody has a chance to get vaccinated for the H1N1 virus. 'But that’s a government decision, not mine,' Gaglani said. Gaglani is the local principal investigator in the Vaccines for Influenza Prevention in Schools (VIPS) campaign that has vaccinated area school children against the virus since 1998."

* ►June 27, 2009 - New York City swine flu case tally could be as high as 500,000, CDC says - New York Daily News

* ►June 27, 2009 - Pandemic profits - Gulf News

* ►June 27, 2009 - Massive Swine Flu Vaccination Campaign Being Discussed - redOrbit - "According to officials, an unprecedented 600 million doses of swine flu vaccine may be given this fall even though officials have not yet developed a way to administer such a large number of shots."

* ►June 27, 2009 - More swine flu deaths 'a certainty' - An infectious disease expert says the swine flu vaccine will be available too late to help many of the people who are going to contract the virus. - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

* ►June 27, 2009 - Three of family isolated with swine flu fears - The Times of India

* ►June 27, 2009 - Child's wishes count, court says - But health-care desires can be overruled - Canwest News Service via National Post - "The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that mature children can legally refuse medical treatment, in a decision that instructed the nation's courts to take into account maturity level, the seriousness of the procedure and the best interests of the child. ... A. C.'s lawyer said that Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Yukon already permit capable persons of any age to decide their own medical treatment without state interference."

* ►June 27, 2009 - House legislation could delay Kansas bio-defense lab - AP via Kansas City Star

* ►June 27, 2009 - Bruce Ivins’ anthrax log, published on author Lew Weinstein’s CASE CLOSED blog, shows multiple shipments of virulent Ames anthrax in the months preceding the 2001 anthrax attacks - press release - Lewis M. Weinstein via Webwire

* ►June 27, 2009 - Hospital starts clinic for patients with chronic Lyme - South County Independent

* ►June 27, 2009 - Obama urges HIV testing (includes video) - Chicago Sun-Times

* ►June 26, 2009 - Immunogenicity of GSKs' MMR Vaccine (209762) vs. M-M-R® II, When Given With Routine Vaccines at 12-15 Months of Age - Sponsored by: GlaxoSmithKline via clinicaltrials.gov

* ►June 26, 2009 - Pandemic Vaccine Preparedness—Have We Left Something Behind? - journal article (PLoS Pathogens)

* ►June 26, 2009 - Wyeth to up vax production in pandemic - Reuters via FierceBiotech

* ►June 26, 2009 - Conference at ASU projects swine flu's future - The Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX via Technology Marketing Corporation - "Also attending the conference is a local decision-maker: Dr. Bob England, Maricopa County's public health director. England said the conference is useful because the experts can learn ahead of time how changes in variables will affect this pandemic. For example, a presentation made Friday by a Yale University researcher detailed how the public might react to the availability of a vaccine. Some people would rush out for inoculations, yet others would decline it out of fear of side effects or concern over the vaccine's effectiveness."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Bill protecting first responders exposed to infectious diseases signed - StamfordPlus.com

* ►June 26, 2009 - Chromosome Abnormality Tied to Autistic Behavior in Mice - Finding could help advance autism research in humans - Cell via HealthDay News - "The duplicated chromosomal region in mice is the equivalent of human chromosome 15q11-13, which is duplicated in about 5 percent of all people with autism. It is believed that chromosomal abnormalities account for 10 to 20 percent of autism cases, according to a news release from the journal's publisher, Cell Press. So far, duplication of chromosome 15q11-13 is the only recurrent aberration connected to autism."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Risk of mad cow disease from farmed fish? - Reuters Health via Public Broadcasting.net

* ►June 26, 2009 - Vitamin D Testing: What the Government Giveth, It Taketh Away - Dark Daily - "Despite this high level of interest in Vitamin D, Medicare’s largest carrier has proposed restricting reimbursements to medical laboratories for routine Vitamin D testing. The Dark Report reported that Medicare contractor National Government Services (NGS) said it would cover Vitamin D testing only for patients with chronic kidney disease, osteomalacia, hypercalcemia, and rickets and NGS would deny other testing for Vitamin D. (See “Medicare Carrier Proposes No Pay for Vitamin D Test,” TDR, Feb. 23, 2009.)"

* ►June 26, 2009 - Human-to-swine A/H1N1 virus contagion in Argentine hog farm - Argentine health authorities have detected human-to-swine transmission of the A/H1N1 influenza virus in a farm in the province of Buenos Aires, it was officially reported Thursday. - MercoPress

* ►June 26, 2009 - States Should Plan for H1N1 Vaccinations as Numbers Rise More - Wall Street Journal Health Blog

* ►June 26, 2009 - Swine Flu Supplanting Seasonal Strains in Australia's Victoria - Bloomberg

* ►June 26, 2009 -  Seroquel, Zyprexa, and Geodon for Kids? You bet, says FDA panel - Epoch Times

* ►June 26, 2009 - Should or Should You NOT Vaccinate?! - One mom recently ranted, "Vaccinate Your Kids, You Idiots!" Ouch. Harsh words, but definitely a hot-button issue amongst the moms. Here's what members of our community had to say: - Momlogic.com

* ►June 26, 2009 - Smell-Loss Drug Escaped FDA Review Under Homeopathic Label - Bloomberg

* ►June 26, 2009 - Elaine Shannon: Yale Scientists Discover How Exposure to BPA Causes Infertility - The Huffington Post

* ►June 26, 2009 - Vaccination history and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A population-based, case-control study - Source: Cancer Causes & Control, Jul 2009 - ProHealth.com

* ►June 25, 2009 - Notice: Pandemic Influenza Vaccines--Amendment - Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Secretary via www.pharmcast.com

* ►June 25, 2009 - WHO says H1N1 virus is stable, not yet mutating - Reuters - "In prevention and reducing the risk of this infection there is of course a lot of attention given to antivirals and vaccines. But we must not forget there are what we call non pharmaceutical measures which are very effective," she said."

* ►June 25, 2009 - HIV testing in U.S. often performed late - MMWR via Reuters Health

* ►June 24, 2009 - New research eases mercury worries - Bismark Tribune - "Nick Ralston, researcher at the Energy and Environmental Research Center at the university, said fish from North Dakota's streams and rivers were studied along with fish from 11 other states and found to contain high levels of selenium, a close cousin to mercury that not only negates the impact of mercury but is itself good for people."

* ►June 22, 2009 - Infections go from people, pets, back - Reporter News

* ►June 22, 2009 - Notice: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Experimental Study of Presentation of Quantitative Effectiveness Information to Consumers in Direct-to-Consumer Television and Print Advertisements for Prescription Drugs - Food and Drug Administration, HHS via www.pharmcast.com

* ►June 21, 2009 - Hip-hop concert serves as lure for HIV screenings - Houston Chronicle

* ►June 18, 2009 - Malaria vaccine trials put researchers to the test - Scientists must overcome local suspicions and difficult conditions to conduct the largest, most advanced experiment yet - The Globe and Mail - "The chiefs in the Kenyan coastal district of Kilifi called people to meetings recently and asked them to co-operate with the researchers who would be arriving along the pocked road to launch a malaria-vaccine trial. The mothers told their chiefs that they would participate, if asked. But, among themselves, they worried."

* ►June 17, 2009 - Kiddie Kollege parents: Assurances turn to doubts - Philadelphia Inquirer

* ►Heavy Metal Toxicity in Autism Boyd Haley, PhD. - video - Foundation for Autism Information and Research F.A.I.R. Autism Media - "In this interview, Dr. Haley discusses heavy metal toxicity and the chemistry of oxidative stress, as well as a new supplement he developed, called "OSR", to treat toxicity and oxidative stress. This interview was filmed in May, 2009 at the Autism One conference."

* ►The Vaccine-Autism Connection Stephanie Arnold - video - Foundation for Autism Information and Research F.A.I.R. Autism Media - "Stephanie Arnold is an elementary art teacher in Howard county, Maryland. In this interview, Miss Arnold describes how in college, at the age of 21, she received a meningitis vaccine and suffered a devastating reaction. Many of her symptoms mirrored that of regressive autism, and in fact she did at one point receive a diagnosis of "adult onset autism." Miss Arnold recovered with the help of a detox and supplementation program designed by Mary Megson, MD, but still suffers from some lingering sensory issues and other symptoms unless she is diligent with her supplementation protocol. This interview was filmed at the Autism One conference in Chicago in May, 2009."

* ►The Immune System & Autism Aristo Vojdani, PhD., M.T. - video - Foundation for Autism Information and Research F.A.I.R. Autism Media

* ►July 2009 - New insights into the regulation of T cells by c family cytokines - journal article (Nature Reviews Immunology) - "This knowledge potentially allows for the therapeutic manipulation of immune responses for the treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, allergic diseases and immunodeficiency, as well as for vaccine development."

* ►July 2009 - RNASET2-deficient cystic leukoencephalopathy resembles congenital cytomegalovirus brain infection - journal article (Nature Genetics)

* ►July 2009 - Meta-analysis of genome scans and replication identify CD6, IRF8 and TNFRSF1A as new multiple sclerosis susceptibility loci - journal article (Nature Genetics)

* ►June 27, 2009 - Case shines light on Merck - Warren Back received his instructions by telephone at 5.30pm on September 29, 2004, sitting in his nondescript hotel room in the US city of Philadelphia. He was told to collect a series of envelopes and distribute them to his international colleagues who had already gathered in the hotel for a conference, and keep one for himself. - The Australian, with The Wall Street Journal

* ►June 27, 2009 - New H1N1 flu not going away, US health agency says - Reuters India - ""We want states to be ready to offer and administer this novel vaccine," she said, focusing especially on how to reach younger people, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions like asthma and diabetes that put them at higher risk. At a three-day meeting in Atlanta of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC researchers said one vaccination scenario could include as many as 600 million doses."

* ►June 27, 2009 - U.S. Cases of New Flu Hit a High This Week - Wall Street Journal - "Flu officials at the CDC and WHO are carefully monitoring large outbreaks in Australia, Argentina and Chile to see whether the virus becomes more virulent or develops resistance to antiviral drugs. ... Despite digging into their swine-flu collections in lab freezers, 'no one has been able to find the predecessor' to this particular virus, Dr. Cox said. Better surveillance of pig populations is needed to track the evolution of swine flu viruses, she said."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Growing Divide Among Courts On Vaccines - CBS Investigates: Federal Court Decides Boy Vaccinated At 8 Weeks Eligible For Compensation - CBS News - "The National Law Journal recently reported on a DPT (diphtheria, whole-cell pertussis, tetanus) vaccine case that was reversed on appeal, reports CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. The Federal Circuit Court decided that a boy vaccinated at 8 weeks is entitled to compensation, after all. According to the claim, the vaccination caused a seizure disorder that led to the child, Enrique Andreu, developing a low IQ and language and developmental delays. The Appeals Court (Federal Circuit Court) decided the Special Master (Judge) in the original decision 'erroneously… determined that the testimony of Petitioner's physicians was insufficient to establish ‘a logical sequence of cause and effect’ leading to Petitioner's vaccine-related injury; and (erroneously) imposed upon Petitioner an elevated evidentiary burden, requiring conclusive proof in the medical literature linking Petitioner's symptoms to the vaccine at issue.'"

* ►June 26, 2009 - Federal Circuit Reverses Denial of Vaccine Injury Claim - The National Law Journal via Law.com - "The decision affirms that the special master can't require too high of a burden of proof from plaintiffs because it's a remedial compensation program, said Cliff Shoemaker of Vienna, Va.-based Shoemaker & Associates, who represented the injured party who appealed to the Federal Circuit. 'It's a no-fault compensation program designed to compensate people injured by vaccines,' he said. 'But it's a very adversarial and litigious [process involving] complex litigation. It's not what Congress intended.'  The Justice Department represented the Health and Human Services secretary in the case, and spokesman Charles Miller said the agency declined to comment. The special masters are very protective of vaccines and 'require too much science to prove a case,' said vaccine lawyer Kevin Conway of Boston-based Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Vaccine Case Pits Federal Circuit Against Federal Claims Court - AM Law Litigation Daily via Law.com - "A string of setbacks for plaintiffs who claim that vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, cause autism, led us to conclude in several recent posts that drug manufactures are winning this fight. But as the National Law Journal reported Friday, plaintiffs may have found a friend in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. On June 18, the court reversed a decision by a special master of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to deny Enrique Andreu, a developmentally-disabled boy, compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The reversal 'highlights the widening gulf between the Federal Circuit and the Federal Claims Court on vaccine cases,' according to the NLJ."

* ►United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 2008-5184 - ENRIQUE M. ANDREU a minor child, by his parents and natural guardians, ENRIQUE C. ANDREU and SONIA C. ANDREU, Petitioners-Appellants, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent-Appellee. (pdf) - http://amlawdaily.typepad.com

* ►June 26, 2009 - AMA Rejects Call for More Research on Vaccine Link to Autism, Reaffirms Immunization Policies - AAFP News Now - "There's no need for more research into a possible link between vaccines and autism. But there is a continuing need for support of ongoing research into the true etiology of autism and its treatment. And physicians should continue to take a lead role in extolling the benefits of vaccines to health policymakers and the public. Those were among the messages recently sent by the AMA House of Delegates, which met June 13-17 in Chicago."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Arkansas State Health Department: Mandatory Vaccines Are Constitutional - Legal council tells concerned caller that American citizens must accept enforced shot in event of mass swine flu vaccination program - PrisonPlanet.com - "During the phone conversation, the legal council discusses the potential of a future mandatory swine flu vaccination program and states, 'That’s constitutional, there’s no doubt about it….mandatory vaccinations are legal under the Supreme Court….absolutely.'  The caller responds, 'I’m an American and I have a legal right to make my own decision whether or not someone sticks a needle in me,' to which the legal council responds, 'That’s not true….no.' 'As a lawyer you believe that I don’t have the right to deny a vaccination,' asks the caller, to which the legal council responds, 'Absolutely….I don’t know why you have a problem with that….mandatory vaccines are constitutional,' adding that it doesn’t matter about personal or religious objections. ... The legal council at the Arkansas State Health Department cites the 1905 Supreme Court case of Jacobson v Massachusetts to argue that governments can force citizens to take vaccines."

* ►June 26, 2009 - The flu shot: a brief review of anti-influenza vaccinations, by Sherri Tenpenny, D.O. - Generation Rescue

* ►June 26, 2009 - Health Officials: Swine Flu May Have Infected 1 Million in U.S. - AP via The Ledger - "Lyn Finelli, a flu surveillance official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, made the 1 million estimate in a presentation to the vaccine panel. The number is from mathematical modeling, based on surveys by health officials. Regular seasonal flu sickens anywhere from 15 million to 60 million Americans each year. The United States has roughly half the world's swine flu cases, with nearly 28,000 reported to the CDC so far. The U.S. count includes 3,065 hospitalizations and 127 deaths. The percentage of cases hospitalized has been growing, but that may be because of closer scrutiny of very sick patients. It takes about three days from the time symptoms appear to hospitalization, Finelli said, and the average hospital stay has been three days."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Swine Flu’s Multi-Shot Vaccine May Overwhelm State-Run Clinics - Bloomberg - "Two injections will be required three weeks apart for swine flu, also known as H1N1, and a third will be needed for seasonal flu, health officials said at a meeting today at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta. Children younger than 9 years will need four shots, the CDC said. ... The agency estimates that at least 50 million vaccine doses will be available in the U.S. by October 15, and enough vaccine to immunize everyone in the country will be available later in the season."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Flu shot data points to swine flu challenge: Young adults don't get flu shots - Canadian Press via Yahoo! Canada - "Just under a third of Canadians aged 12 and older got a flu shot last year, Statistics Canada reported Friday in data drawn from the Canadian Community Health Survey, an annual effort to collect health information on a broad cross section of Canadians."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Tall hurdles in race for a swine-flu vaccine - Authorities will demand thorough testing after spike in Guillain Barré syndrome seen in the 1970s (requires registration) - Canadian Press via Globe and Mail - "It is believed Canada will purchase adjuvanted vaccine. But what testing it will require to assure itself of the product's safety isn't currently known. The Canadian Press has been asking for weeks for an interview with David Butler-Jones, head of the Public Health Agency of Canada, to discuss issues related to the country's pandemic vaccine contract. Permission for an interview has not been granted by the Prime Minister's office. However, Health Canada, which regulates vaccines, provided by e-mail some information on what will be expected from manufacturers to license an H1N1 vaccine. It said companies will be required to submit immunogenicity data – results of clinical trials that show whether the vaccine elicits a sufficiently strong immune response. And vaccine manufacturers are being asked to submit plans for how they will conduct surveillance for adverse events once their vaccines are in wide use."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Swine flu cases soar in England - The number of confirmed swine flu cases in England has jumped by nearly 20% in a single day, latest figures show. - BBC - "Sir Liam said on Thursday that the UK was likely to receive its first batches of swine flu vaccine in August, rather than in the autumn as first expected. The government has contracts with two manufacturers for 132m doses - enough for the whole population."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Swine Flu Cases in the U.S. Pass a Million, Officials Say (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►June 26, 2009 - Swine flu shot campaign could involve 600M doses - AP via Forbes

* ►June 26, 2009 - Influenza A(H1N1) - update 54 - Laboratory-confirmed cases of new influenza A(H1N1) as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the International Health Regulations (2005) - World Health Organization

* ►June 26, 2009 - Novel H1N1 Flu Situation Update - CDC

* ►June 26, 2009 -  Radiant Research, Inc. Prepares for Upcoming H1N1 Vaccine Trials - press release - Radiant Research, Inc. via Business Wire via Earth Times - "'Our research sites are ideal for this type of clinical trial,' said Julie McHugh, Vice President of Late Phase Clinical Research, Radiant Research, Inc. 'We have conducted over 200 vaccine trials and enrolled thousands of subjects into these trials in the past five years. We know how to enroll these trials quickly and efficiently, and we enforce the standards that ensure quality data collection.' 'We have over a million subjects in our database and they are both familiar with the research process and very interested in this type of trial,' said Michael Kritschgau, Vice President of Radiant Recruitment."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Swine Flu Vaccine: The Race is On - Massive Vaccine Effort Takes Shape as Swine Flu Pandemic Sweeps Globe - WebMD - "The biggest question -- whether to go ahead and try to vaccinate all 300 million U.S. residents -- won't be answered until the last minute. If the answer is 'yes,' it will mean a gargantuan effort. That effort already is well under way, a series of experts reported at this week's meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Vaccination Practices (ACIP)."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Two more Chicagoans dead from swine flu - AP via Chicago Sun-Times

* ►June 26, 2009 - CDC: Flu activity picks up pace, hits summer camps - CIDRAP News

* ►June 26, 2009 - Sanofi Eats Merck's Vaccine Business for Lunch; Hopes Pinned on "Gardasil for Boys" - BNET Pharma Blog

* ►June 26, 2009 - Genome-Wide Analyses of Exonic Copy Number Variants in a Family-Based Study Point to Novel Autism Susceptibility Genes - journal article (PLoS Genetics)

* ►June 26, 2009 - DOH: 536 recover from flu - The Philippine Star

* ►June 26, 2009 - China turns out first batch of antiviral drug for A/H1N1 flu - Xinhua

* ►June 26, 2009 - Implant bacteria, beware: Researchers create nano-sized assassins - Staphylococcus epidermidis is quite an opportunist. Commonly found on human skin, the bacteria pose little danger. But S. epidermidis is a leading cause of infections in hospitals. From catheters to prosthetics, the bacteria are known to hitch a ride on a range of medical devices implanted into patients. - Brown University via Physorg

* ►June 26, 2009 - The Real Reason Big Pharma Mergers Are Wise - It has nothing to do with coming up with new products. - Forbes

* ►June 26, 2009 - Nestlé Said No to FDA Inspectors in Past - Wall Street Journal Health Blog

* ►June 26, 2009 - NIAID Seeks Biodefense Dx for Viruses - GenomeWeb News - "The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will give out $7.3 million in grants in 2010 to develop new biodefense diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, including rapid tools for identifying viral infections."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Michael Jackson's Death Renews Attention on Prescription Drugs - Poynter.org

* ►June 26, 2009 - Government of Canada Launches Child Immunization Campaign - press release -  Public Health Agency of Canada via Marketwire via Earth Times

* ►June 26, 2009 - Wyeth may speed pneumococcal vaccine output - Reuters

* ►June 26, 2009 - New non-universal immunization plan requires upfront payment - Twin Falls Times-News - "School registration fees may seem like a far off nuisance, but associated health care fees may require immediate planning. After funding for the Idaho Immunization Program, sponsored by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, saw a $3 million cut in the recent legislative session, universal childhood immunization in Idaho is no longer a reality. ... According to Klumm, in 1999 immunizations from birth until age 18 cost approximately $184. Now because of increases in the number and prices of vaccines that cost averages about $1,300. This could mean people may pick and choose some immunizations over others which 'could be very scary times,' said Klumm."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Drug enhances power of vaccines - A common immunosuppressive drug may have the ability to boost the power of vaccines, research suggests. - BBC

* ►June 26, 2009 - Top Health Care Companies Spent More Than Half Million On Congressional Trips - The Huffington Post - "A review of hundreds of public documents by the Huffington Post shows that from 2000 through 2008 the top 20 most active companies in these fields sponsored 192 trips worth more than $380,000 for dozens of politicians and staff. The list of those companies -- as determined by campaign contributions in the last election cycle -- include industry giants such as Pfizer, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck & Co."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Roche Pulls Accutane Off Market After Jury Verdicts - Bloomberg - "Roche Holding AG, the world’s biggest maker of cancer drugs, is pulling its Accutane acne medicine from the U.S. market after juries awarded at least $33 million in damages to users who blamed the drug for bowel disease."

* ►June 26, 2009 - Toxic Toys... Not Child's Play! - By Lisa Hunter Ryden - Age of Autism

* ►June 26, 2009 - Dr. Andrew Moulden: Answers to Autism and Vaccine Damage (includes videos) - VacTruth

* ►June 26, 2009 - FDA to reassess toxin in cans, plastic - San Francisco Business Times

* ►June 26, 2009 - CDC joins search for boys seen with rabid bat in Fort Myers Beach - The News-Press

* ►June 26, 2009 - Rabies deadline passes for boys who played with bat - The News-Press - "The chance of effectively vaccinating three boys who may have rabies is beginning to plummet. Lee County Health Department officials have been frantically searching for three boys who may have handled a rabid bat 11 days ago near the pier on Fort Myers Beach. Within two hours of issuing a bulletin searching for a group of five boys believed to be between ages 10 and 12, two of the boys were located. The two boys began a series of six rabies vaccination shots Monday."

* ►June 25, 2009 - Swine Flu Dominates in U.S. Where 98% Test Positive - Bloomberg

* ►June 25, 2009 - Scientists unveil vaccination patch - Taipei Times - "Those who tremble at the sight of a needle may one day be able to receive immunizations via a DNA vaccine patch. Funded by the National Science Council (NSC), the patches have been jointly developed by scientists from National Taiwan Ocean University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Academic Sinica’s Genomics Research Center."

* ►June 25, 2009 - Experts see bad, but not disastrous, flu season ahead - Pandemic. The word alone evokes images of societal chaos. But is that what we're really in for this fall, when the world faces its first official pandemic flu season since 1968? - Physorg.com - "Those who dismiss the H1N1 bug, also known as swine flu, as a hoax like to point out the death rate, so far, has been extremely low. Seasonal influenza generally kills about 36,000 Americans a year, while the H1N1 virus has only resulted in 87 confirmed deaths, as of June 24. But those numbers are misleading, health experts say. They point out that the official death count includes only victims whose diagnoses were confirmed by a special laboratory test. The actual number of infections is believed to be far higher, and should continue to climb as the virus gains traction."

* ►June 25, 2009 - Pandemic reveals strengths of new flu database - CIDRAP News

* ►June 25, 2009 - Hib booster reinstated for 12-15-month-olds - pediatric supersite

* ►June 25, 2009 - WHO chief says H1N1 virus is stable - Reuters

* ►June 25, 2009 - Fake credentials in nanomed leader (requires registration) - The Scientist - "Experts in nanomedicine are questioning the credentials of a researcher who has portrayed himself as an expert in the fledgling field, even starting a professional society and procuring a post as editor of the journal Nanomedicine."

* ►June 25, 2009 - Citation amnesia: The results (requires registration) - The Scientist - "Citing past scientific work in present-day research papers can be a slippery business. Contributions from competing labs can be glossed over, pertinent studies accidentally left out, or similar research not mentioned in an attempt to give the study at hand a sheen of novelty."

* ►June 25, 2009 - School-based health center to open in August - Hillcrest facility will provide free medical care to those who need it - Gazette.Net - "From general checkups to basic lab tests, doctor referrals and immunizations, the school-based health center will provide free basic medical care for uninsured and underinsured Hillcrest Elementary students, as well as those in the school's Head Start, Even Start and Judy Center programs. It would also be an easily accessible option for students with state-subsidized health insurance who typically struggle to find a doctor who accepts that kind of health plan, Williams said."

* ►June 25, 2009 - Don't Endanger Your Life: New Study Reveals the Vitamin You Can't Ignore - journal article (Alternative Health Journal) - "Vitamin B12 deficiencies do not just occur because of a lack of eating animal products. There are other reasons why someone can become vitamin B12 deficient. These include being over the age of 50, using anti-ulcer medications or antacids, using Metformin, use of medications to treat cancer, Parkinson’s and gout, birth control pills, cholesterol lowering drugs, antibiotics and anti-convulsants."

* ►June 25, 2009 - Just how friendly are those probiotics in your food? - Chicago Tribune

* ►June 24, 2009 - Immunity requirements for HCW MMR vaccination revised - pediatric supersite

* ►June 24, 2009 - Small U.S. company awarded grant for H1N1 vaccine production - examiner.com

* ►June 24, 2009 - Swine flu still a concern in the U.S. - Daily Herald

* ►June 24, 2009 - Indonesia Finds Swine Flu Virus After Exporting Cases - Bloomberg

* ►June 24, 2009 - Ask Dr. Weil : Monitor toxins that body burden tests measure - The Arizona Daily Star - "Some experts blame the body burden of industrial toxins for rising rates of asthma, childhood cancers, birth defects and developmental disorders. There is no conclusive evidence for this, but the coincidence is indeed worrisome. Kids have greater exposure to environmental toxins than adults because, pound for pound, they eat more and breathe more air than the average adult."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Processed food and refined grains linked to chronic diseases - Author says rise of processed foods and refined grains are among changes that have ruined our diets - The Vancouver Sun

* ►June 24, 2009 - Lack Of Happiness Hormone Serotonin In The Brain Causes Impaired Maternal Behavior In Mice - Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres via Biocompare

* ►June 22, 2009 - Four doctor-recommended tips for avoiding H1N1 - Creston News Advertiser

* ►June 1, 2009 - Autism--an environmental health issue after all? - National Environmental Health Association via The Free Library

* ►June 2009 - Personality characteristics of adults with autism spectrum disorders or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with and without substance use disorders. - journal article (The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease)

* ►June 2009 - Antigen-Induced Expression of CD203c on Basophils Predicts IgE-mediated Wheat Allergy (free full text) - journal article (Allergology International)

* ►May 19, 2009 - 'Vaccine Bar' May Be a Shot in the Arm for Small Firm - The firm of 'A Civil Action' fame takes on vaccination injury cases - The National Law Journal via Law.com - "Five-lawyer Boston law firm Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan has transformed itself from the products liability firm that housed Jan Schlichtmann's toxic tort case immortalized in the movie "A Civil Action " into a prominent plaintiffs firm in the vaccine bar.  But it hasn't been an easy ride. Name partner Kevin Conway, and other lawyers specializing in vaccine cases filed as part of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, say the program's fee rules make it hard for vaccine lawyers to stay solvent."

* ►July 9, 2009 - Glycan analysis in cell culture-based influenza vaccine production: Influence of host cell line and virus strain on the glycosylation pattern of viral hemagglutinin - journal article (Vaccine) - "Since several years there is an increasing interest in cell culture-based influenza vaccine production to overcome limitations of egg-based production systems, to improve vaccine supply and to increase flexibility in vaccine manufacturing. With the switch of the production system several key questions concerning the possible impact of host cell lines on antigen quality, passage-dependent selection of certain viral phenotypes or changes in hemagglutinin (HA) conformation have to be addressed to guarantee safety and efficiency of vaccines. In contrast to the production of recombinant glycoproteins, comparatively little is known regarding glycosylation of HA, derived from mammalian cell cultures."

* ►July 9, 2009 - Evaluating the impact of human papillomavirus vaccines - journal article (Vaccine)

* ►July 9, 2009 - An assessment of the safety of adolescent and adult tetanus–diphtheria–acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, using active surveillance for adverse events in the Vaccine Safety Datalink - journal article (Vaccine)

* ►July 9, 2009 - Scaling up interventions to eliminate neonatal tetanus: Factors associated with the coverage of tetanus toxoid and clean deliveries among women in Vientiane, Lao PDR - journal article (Vaccine)

* ►July 9, 2009 - Alternative vaccination locations: Who uses them and can they increase flu vaccination rates? - journal article (Vaccine)

* ►July 1, 2009 - CD11c+CD8{alpha}+ Dendritic Cells Promote Protective Immunity to Respiratory Infection with Bordetella pertussis - journal article (The Journal of Immunology)

* ►July 2009 - Influenza A/H1N1 in 2009: a pandemic in evolution (free full text) - journal article (Expert Review of Vaccines)

* ►July 2009 - Vaccine Profile The new ACAM2000™ vaccine and other therapies to control orthopoxvirus outbreaks and bioterror attacks - journal article (Expert Review of Vaccines)

* ►July 2009 - Compulsory childhood vaccination - journal article (The Lancet Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 2009 - Meningococcal vaccines and herd immunity: lessons learned from serogroup C conjugate vaccination programs - journal article (Expert Review of Vaccines)

* ►July 2009 - Mechanisms of avoidance of host immunity by Neisseria meningitidis and its effect on vaccine development - journal article (The Lancet Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 2009 - Bordetella pertussis strain variation and evolution postvaccination - journal article (Expert Review of Vaccines)

* ►July 2009 - Future of polio vaccines - journal article (Expert Review of Vaccines) - "Mounting evidence supports the argument that a high level of population immunity must be maintained after wild poliovirus circulation is stopped to preserve a polio-free status worldwide. Shifting factors in the risk–benefit–cost equation favor the creation of new poliovirus vaccines for use in the foreseeable future."

* ►July 2009 - Pediatric combined formulation DTaP–IPV/Hib vaccine - journal article (Expert Review of Vaccines) - "This article summarizes the available safety, immunogenicity and effectiveness data of this combination vaccine and provides a brief review of future trends in combination vaccine use."

* ►July 2009 - Economic evaluations of hepatitis B vaccination for developing countries - journal article (Expert Review of Vaccines)

* ►July 2009 - SARS vaccines: where are we? - journal article (Expert Review of Vaccines)

* ►July 2009 - Challenge of developing new tuberculosis vaccines to generate life-long protective immunity (free full text) - journal article (Expert Review of Vaccines)

* ►July 2009 - Are there more bowel symptoms in children with autism compared to normal children and children with other developmental and neurological disorders? - journal article (Autism)  - "This study confirms previously reported findings of an increase in bowel symptoms in children with autism. It would appear, however, that this is not specifically associated with autism as bowel symptoms were reported in similar frequency to a comparison group of children with other developmental and neurological disorders."

* ►July 2009 - Developmental regression in children with an autism spectrum disorder identified by a population-based surveillance system - journal article (Autism)

* ►July 2009 - Parenting stress and psychological functioning among mothers of preschool children with autism and developmental delay - journal article (Autism)

* ►July 2009 - Cerebellar Injury in Term Infants: Clinical Characteristics, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings, and Outcome - journal article (Pediatric Neurology)

* ►June 25, 2009 - Origins and evolutionary genomics of the 2009 swine-origin H1N1 influenza A epidemic - journal article (Nature)

* ►June 25, 2009 - Ethical and Scientific Implications of the Globalization of Clinical Research (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 25, 2009 - Easing the Shortage in Adult Primary Care — Is It All about Money? (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 25, 2009 - Journalist Files Charges against WHO and UN for Bioterrorism and Intent to Commit Mass Murder - NaturalNews.com - "As the anticipated July release date for Baxter's A/H1N1 flu pandemic vaccine approaches, an Austrian investigative journalist is warning the world that the greatest crime in the history of humanity is underway. Jane Burgermeister has recently filed criminal charges with the FBI against the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN), and several of the highest ranking government and corporate officials concerning bioterrorism and attempts to commit mass murder. She has also prepared an injunction against forced vaccination which is being filed in America. These actions follow her charges filed in April against Baxter AG and Avir Green Hills Biotechnology of Austria for producing contaminated bird flu vaccine, alleging this was a deliberate act to cause and profit from a pandemic."

* ►June 24, 2009 - No UK Compulsory MMR [Government U-Turns Amid Drug Industry Links] - Child Health Safety - "ChildHealthSafety’s investigations here reveal concerning links between the drug industry,  GlaxoSmithKline in particular and those pushing for compulsory vaccination. And what is revealed here is a “tip of an iceberg“. How it is those with close and substantial ties to the drug industry are given positions of influence in government over policy which favours the commercial interests of the drug industry. Everyone concerned about this matter should urgently contact their MP, whose address can be found here http://tinyurl.com/ljxtgv. The issue of compulsion strikes at the very heart of social democracy; the connections and affiliations of those who claim necessity need scrutiny. Compulsion of any medical product contravenes human rights; it fails to acknowledge humanity’s right to lawful informed consent; it fails to acknowledge the right to decide for oneself one’s own fate in the face of potential death or debility. It resides within the spirit of the abuse of an individual and is more fittingly prescribed by a fascist regime; it has no place in a civilised democracy."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Mandatory H1N1 Vaccine May Be in the Works - Infowars.com - "In a recent article on the unfolding economic collapse, Rep. Ron Paul warns that the hysterically hyped H1N1 flu 'pandemic' may result in the government requiring mandatory flu vaccinations. 'Nearly $8 billion will be spent to address a ‘potential pandemic flu’ which could result in mandatory vaccinations for no discernible reason other than to enrich the pharmaceutical companies that make the vaccine,' writes Paul."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Obama signs bill funding Iraq, Afghanistan wars, swine flu fight, fuel-efficient auto push (requires registration) - AP via Los Angeles Times

* ►June 24, 2009 - US company makes first batch of swine flu vaccine - A US company that on Tuesday was awarded a 35-million-dollar contract to develop an influenza vaccine using insect cell technology has produced a first batch against (A)H1N1 flu, company boss Dan Adams said. - AFP via PhysOrg.com - "'We turned out our first batch of doses -- about 100,000 -- against (A)H1N1 flu last week and we're continuing to manufacture it,' Adams, chief executive officer of Connecticut-based Protein Sciences Corporation, told AFP. The US Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday announced that it has awarded a 35-million-dollar contract to Protein Sciences, which could be extended for another five years to reach 147 million dollars. The insect cell technology 'has advanced in recent years to a point that we believe it could help meet a surge in demand for US-based vaccine for seasonal and pandemic flu,' Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Preclinical Proof-of-Concept Studies Published for Novavax Seasonal Influenza Virus-Like Particle Vaccine - Trivalent Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Elicits Protective Immune Responses against a Variety of Seasonal Influenza Strains in Mice and Ferrets - press release - PRNewswire-FirstCall

* ►June 24, 2009 - First Nations call for swine flu state of emergency - CanWest News Service via Canada.com - "First Nations chiefs in Manitoba called on the provincial and federal governments to declare a state of emergency on Wednesday because of the spread of swine flu on reserves and the lag time in responding to it."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Deaths related to swine flu rise to 7 in Ontario - CBC - "Ontario has had three more deaths associated with swine flu since Monday, raising the province's total to seven, the province's chief medical officer of health said Wednesday. A 17-year old male from the Ottawa region, a 52-year old woman from eastern Ontario and a 68-year old man from the Durham region all tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus, Dr. Arlene King confirmed. All three had underlying health conditions. It's not clear what role the virus may have played in the fatalities."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Girl may be H1N1's youngest Canadian victim - CTV - "The H1N1 virus is being blamed for the sudden and shocking death of a healthy six-year-old girl from the Toronto region. On the evening of June 14, Rubjit Thindal developed a fever and a stomach ache that appeared to be mild, family members say. ... But less than a day after first showing her symptoms, Rubjit was dead. Despite the sudden death, Rubjit's family took all the normal precautions. The morning after the girl first complained about symptoms, she was taken a walk-in clinic where she was prescribed Advil. Later that day, her fever seemed to subside, but Rubjit still complained of a stomach ache, so her parents decided to take her to the hospital. But she wouldn't make it - strapped in safely in the backseat of the car next to her father, Rubjit passed away."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Argentina reinforces hospitals as flu deaths rise - Reuters - "Argentina has confirmed 18 deaths from the new strain of virus, also known as swine flu, putting the South American country third after Mexico and the United States in the number of fatal cases. The health ministry has confirmed 1,294 cases. ... The H1N1 virus is spreading rapidly in an area known as the conurbano, the densely populated working class suburbs and slums that ring Buenos Aires where eight people have died from the new flu and 111 are hospitalized, 75 of them on respirators."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Influenza A(H1N1) - update 53 - Laboratory-confirmed cases of new influenza A(H1N1) as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the International Health Regulations (2005) - World Health Organization

* ►June 24, 2009 - State will get 310,000 flu vaccinations; unknown how many county will receive - Hubbard County continues to grapple with money, hirings and filling vacancies. But it’s also a time for Hubbard County’s employees to be promoted. - Park Rapids Enterprise - "Nationally 18 million doses of the newly-formulated vaccine should be available after Labor Day, she said, with Minnesota getting 1.72 percent of those doses."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Likely flu sufferer can’t get test results - Woman fears she may pass H1N1 to husband with heart condition - Ottawa Citizen - "Poulin and Borland are bearing the brunt of a decision by Ontario public health authorities to stop mass H1N1 testing because it is no longer needed. Public-health officials say the tests were done in the initial stages of the outbreak to determine the behaviour of the virus in order to contain it. Once containment became futile as the virus spread through the community, it was pointless to continue testing."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Swine Flu Testing To Be Required At Sports Event - Serbia Says Athletes At International Sporting Event Must Be Screened For Swine Flu - AP via CBS News - "Thousands of athletes who will be competing in next month's World University Games in Serbia will be required to provide a certificate saying they do not have swine flu, or they will be quarantined, the government said Wednesday."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Vaccine Pioneer Joins Inovio Biomedical's Scientific Advisory Board - Inovio Biomedical - "Inovio Biomedical Corporation (NYSE Amex: INO), a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that Stanley A. Plotkin, MD, has agreed to join the company’s scientific advisory board. Dr. Plotkin developed the rubella vaccine now used worldwide and has worked extensively on the development and application of other vaccines including polio, rabies, varicella, rotavirus and cytomegalovirus. He is Emeritus Professor, Wistar Institute and the University of Pennsylvania, and Executive Advisor to the CEO of Sanofi Pasteur."

* ►June 24, 2009 - CEL-SCI Files Patent Application to Support Company's Treatment for More Virulent Strain of H1N1 Swine and Other Influenza Viruses - CEL-SCI Corporation via PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX via MarketWatch - "Geert Kersten, Chief Executive Officer of CEL-SCI said, "By filing this provisional patent in the U.S., we are preserving our rights to file patents on these inventions and for their use world-wide either as an injected vaccine before a person is infected or exposed or as a therapeutic vaccine for treatment."

* ►June 24, 2009 - U.S. group advises cuts in post-exposure rabies jabs - Reuters - "The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or ACIP, which advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, voted on Wednesday to change the vaccine schedule from five doses to four, eliminating the last shot. The move was intended to conserve vaccine supplies in the event of a vaccine shortage, which occurred from 2007 to 2009."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Grassley seeks information about medical school policies for disclosure of financial ties (pdf) - finance.senate.gov - "Grassley sent his request to the 23 educational institutions that did not respond to an earlier request made by the American Medical Student Association for the same information. In that case, the schools reportedly replied to a survey by answering either “no response” or “decline to submit policies.” Of the 149 schools asked, 126 provided information to the student association."

* ►June 24, 2009 - University bars whistleblower professor from her laboratory - A leading academic who claims she was suspended after blowing the whistle on her university's misuse of public funds and unsafe facilities is suing the college for £300,000. - London Evening Standard via This Is London

* ►June 24, 2009 - Solvay loses out on Dutch H1N1 vacc contract - Belgian drug and chemicals giant Solvay has lost out on a contract to supply the Dutch government with an H1N1 vaccine after it said it could not meet the production deadline. - in-PharmaTechnologist.com

* ►June 24, 2009 - $37 million to extend regional biodefense and emerging infectious diseases research - Washington University in St. Louis

* ►June 24, 2009 - Camps called safe despite swine flu - St. Louis Today

* ►June 24, 2009 - Swine flu hits summer camps - Portland Press via Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel

* ►June 24, 2009 - Dr. Mayer Eisenstein’s June 29 Webinar with Mary Tocco is Follow Q & A to Hope for Autism Conference, 8:00 pm CST - press release - ExpertClick

* ►June 24, 2009 - Intercell Supports the Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Recommendations of CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - Expanded Guidelines to include availability of IXIARO(R) vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis - IXIARO now available in the U.S. for travelers to Asia, military personnel, others at high risk regardless of the length of visit - press release - Intercell AG via PRNewswire

* ►June 24, 2009 - FDA Pressed for Transparency (free content) - Wall Street Journal - "For instance, Francesca T. Grifo, of the non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists, said the agency should allow FDA scientists to publicly air opinions about a drug or medical product when they disagree with a final agency decision. Mr. Sharfstein questioned such a move, saying scientists often 'disagree sharply,' and airing those differences might erode the public's trust in FDA decisions. In the last several years, veteran FDA scientists have complained to Congress and the White House that they have been silenced when they disagree with agency managers. Some have also said they've been forced to manipulate scientific data."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Questions raised about HPV vaccine - KTAR.com

* ►June 24, 2009 - HPV Vaccine May Expand To Men, Boys - WBZtv.com

* ►June 24, 2009 - ACIP revises immunity requirements for HCW MMR vaccination - Pediatric SuperSite

* ►June 24, 2009 - Olmsted on Autism: Affective Contact By Dan Olmsted - Age of Autism

* ►June 24, 2009 - Psych Drugs' False Promises for Autism - Age of Autism

* ►June 24, 2009 - Rethink Autism Launches First Website Empowering Families And Professionals With Science-Based Techniques To Confront The Daily Challenges Of Autism - Rethink Autism via Medical News Today

* ►June 24, 2009 - FDA Panel To Mull Acetaminophen Questions - Over the Counter Today

* ►June 24, 2009 - Measuring intellectual disability - EurekAlert! via Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

* ►June 24, 2009 - Lancet Examines Obama's Pledge To Fight HIV/AIDS - Lancet Infectious Diseases via Kaiser Network

* ►June 24, 2009 - Big companies dominate herbal sales - North County Times - "The industry's little-guy, granola image has been a great marketing asset, allowing it to tap into Americans' frustration with big medicine, big prices and big risks. Supplement makers are dwarfed by leading pharmaceutical firms, whose drugs command sales in the tens of billions of dollars. Yet the reality is that natural remedy makers constitute a sizable business that doesn't have to play by the same rules as companies that make prescription or over-the-counter medicines."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Measuring fragile X mental retardation - Researchers from the University of California, Davis have developed a specific and quantitative means of measuring levels of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) protein (FMRP), which is mutated in fragile X syndrome. The related report by Iwahashi et al, "A quantitative ELISA assay for the fragile X mental retardation 1 protein," appears in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. - News-Medical.Net

* ►June 24, 2009 - Immunization campaign works to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus in Mauritania - UNICEF

* ►June 24, 2009 - Successful initial safety tests for genetically-modified rice that fights allergy - In a first-of-its-kind advance toward the next generation of genetically modified foods -- intended to improve consumers’ health -- researchers in Japan are reporting that a new transgenic rice designed to fight a common pollen allergy appears safe in animal studies. Their report is in the current issue of ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. - PhysOrg.com

* ►June 24, 2009 - Some forms of mercury more toxic than others. - Environmental Health News

* ►June 23, 2009 - Parents Cure Autism – As Useless Docs Fail Kids - Child Health Safety

* ►June 23, 2009 - Ex-exec: Off-label promo 'part of Pfizer culture' - FiercePharma

* ►June 23, 2009 - Medarex's Vaccine-Like Prostate Cancer Treatment Shows Great Promise - Seeking Alpha

* ►June 23, 2009 - Biocontainment Laboratory Finished, Ready for Research - The Memphis Daily News - "Dr. Maria Gomes-Solecki, the company’s director of research, is at work on developing antibodies to the bacterium that causes plague, vaccine therapies for Lyme disease and other diseases transmitted from animals to humans. Scientists at the Memphis lab will investigate drug-resistant tuberculosis, cholera, streptococci and tularemia. The laboratory will be available to scientists from the university, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center."

* ►June 23, 2009 - Is Merck KGaA Crazy? Or Just Crazy About Cancer Vaccines? - BNET Pharma

* ►June 23, 2009 - "Pay-for-Delay Settlements" in the Pharmaceutical Industry: How Congress Can Stop Anticompetitive Conduct, Protect Consumers' Wallets, and Help Pay for Health Care Reform (The $35 Billion Solution) (pdf) - Jon Leibowitz Chairman - Federal Trade Commission

* ►June 23, 2009 - Fifteen states sue Wyeth - WHHY News and Information

* ►June 23, 2009 - PAHO board to discuss 'revolving fund' vaccine system - PAHO's board this week is set to discuss "a long-standing system that makes vaccines affordable to middle-income Latin American countries" because of growing concerns that the policy "deters manufacturers from offering deeper discounts on such products to the world's least developed countries," the Financial Times reports. - News-Medical.Net

* ►June 23, 2009 - Number of Polio cases in Nigeria decreases, some states still showing low immunizations rates - The number of polio cases in Nigeria has gone down from 799 in 2008 to 353 this year, according to the country's National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Africa Science News Service reports. - News-Medical.Net

* ►June 23, 2009 - No benefit seen with special infant formula - Nutrition Journal via Reuters Health

* ►June 22, 2009 - Strong growth predicted for Chinese vaccine market - The growth of the Chinese vaccine market is set to outstrip the country’s pharma sector, according to a Frost & Sullivan (F&S) report that predicts 14-15 per cent CAGR. - in-PharmaTechnologist.com

* ►June 22, 2009 - Jury to be picked for Ala. drug pricing lawsuit - San Jose Mercury News

* ►June 22, 2009 - Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis may cause elevated gliadin antibodies - journal article (Acta Paediatrica)

* ►June 22, 2009 - Prospective Study of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level, Cardiovascular Disease Mortality, and All-Cause Mortality in Older U.S. Adults - journal article (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society)

* ►June 22, 2009 - National Institutes of Health to fund University of Louisville autism study - Business First of Louisville - "A pilot study found that patients with autism 'have fewer tantrums and repetitive behaviors symptomatic of sensory overload after a low-frequency magnetic field is pulsed around their brains through a coil placed near the scalp,' the release said.  The $900,000 NIH award will fund a four-year clinical trial of the treatment. In the trial, patients will receive a higher frequency of magnetic stimulation and more than twice the number of sessions administered in the pilot study."

* ►June 22, 2009 - The Great Vaccination Debate - There are parts of the country where up to 20% of families are saying ‘no’ to vaccines. - audio - The Environment Report

* ►June 21, 2009 - AVI BioPharma Under Contract with U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency for Development of Therapeutics Targeting H1N1 Swine Flu - AVI BioPharma

* ►June 20, 2009 - Novel swine-origin influenza A virus in humans: another pandemic knocking at the door - journal article (Medical Microbiology and Immunology)

* ►June 20, 2009 - Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Autoimmunity, and Vitamin D - journal article (Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology)

* ►June 19, 2009 - Cigarettes cost $2500 a year, Pfizer study finds - Smokers are puffing away an average 17 days a year and burning enough cash to pay for family health insurance or a holiday if they quit. - Herald Sun, AU

* ►June 1, 2009 - Stiffer Enforcement at the FDA - Agency officials promise swift action against violators of drug safety and quality regulations. - BioPharm International

* ►June 1, 2009 - The Ups and Downs of the FDA Budget - Importing foreign drugs is not the best way to increase access to medicine. The risks are too high, and it burdens the over-stretched FDA unfairly. - BioPharm International

* ►June 2009 - Does Influenza Vaccination Improve Pediatric Asthma Outcomes? - journal article (Journal of Asthma) - "This study suggests influenza vaccination is associated with fewer asthma exacerbations. After controlling for several potential confounding variables, administration of influenza vaccine was associated with a protective effect against indicators of asthma exacerbations. Our results indicate that children with asthma in the military beneficiary population may benefit from annual influenza vaccination."

* ►Volume 7 Number 1, 2009 - The Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry on Healthcare Practitioners’ Prescribing Habits (full text) - journal article (The Internet Journal of Academic Physician Assistants) - "Fortune magazine has reported that in 2008, the pharmaceutical industry continued to be in the top three most profitable industries in the United States for the past two decades.1 It is a lucrative industry that utilizes different strategies to gain revenue. Companies manufacture drugs that are developed from research. After FDA approval, these drugs are patented which can last up to 20 years..."With pharmaceutical companies working to find open doors within healthcare some have even began targeting medical schools."

* ►July 2009 - The safety and immunogenicity of influenza vaccine in children with asthma in Mexico - journal article (International Journal of Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 2009 - Cardiovascular activity and the antibody response to vaccination - journal article (Journal of Psychosomatic Research)

* ►July 2009 - Involvement of the PRKCB1 gene in autistic disorder: significant genetic association and reduced neocortical gene expression - journal article (Molecular Psychiatry)

* ►July 2009 - Behavioral Outcome in Children with a History of Neonatal Encephalopathy following Perinatal Asphyxia - journal article (Journal of Pediatric Psychology)

* ►June 24, 2009 - Pregnancy and H1N1 Flu - journal article (JAMA)

* ►June 24, 2009 - Brian Rudman: Pathetic response to flu threat - The New Zealand Herald

* ►June 24, 2009 - Team's T-cell balancing act - A Team of biomedical researchers from Melbourne is working to create the world's first melanoma vaccine, and initial results are very promising. - The Australian

* ►June 24, 2009 - FDA Tells Drug and Device Makers to Give Balanced Picture of Risks in Ads, Labels - journal article (JAMA)

* ►June 24, 2009 - Clinical Practice Guideline Development and Antitrust Law - journal article (JAMA) - "To the Editor: The Connecticut attorney general's antitrust investigation and settlement with the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) regarding its development of clinical practice guidelines for Lyme disease offers important guidance for strengthening the integrity of clinical practice guideline development and preserving clinical discretion. I believe that in their Commentary, Mr Kraemer and Mr Gostin1 mischaracterized fact and misread the relevant law in criticizing the attorney general's intervention as political and purporting to defend the supposed positive, scientific character of clinical practice guidelines against the imposition of normative goals. Contrary to their argument, the attorney general's intervention can in fact advance evidence-based medicine."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Clinical Practice Guideline Development and Antitrust Law—Reply - journal article (JAMA) - "Recent research shows that, when the science is disputable, practice guidelines often do not give enough attention to valid scientific dispute.1 But it is only against the best available science that clinical practice guidelines should be measured. The IDSA guidelines appropriately synthesize scientific data on diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of Lyme disease, and the antitrust investigation that resulted from their issuance was justified by neither fact nor law."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Sign the Universal Declaration of Resistance to Mandatory Vaccination - NaturalNews.com

* ►June 24, 2009 - State keen to scrap monthly polio drive - Indian Express - "'Monthly pulse polio drive takes lot of manpower as well as money but the results are not satisfactory. For the last 13 years, the program is being implemented in the state but still around 250 cases are being reported every year from the state. Thus, the government is of the opinion that the present structure of programme should be changed and the polio drop can be included in the routine immunisation programme,' said Dr I S Srivastava, the Director General (Medical and Health), Uttar Pradesh government."

* ►June 24, 2009 - UIC study hopes to shed light on autism, 'insistence on sameness' - Team uses combination of genetics, medication and brain scans to explore craving for routine - Chicago Tribune - "Hoping to provide relief to people like Alec and to solve a piece of the autism puzzle, a team of researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago is looking at the relationship between the brain chemical serotonin and the trait known in the field as 'insistence on sameness.' ... With the help of a five-year, $9.6 million federal grant, the team is using a combination of genetics, medication and brain scans to explore possible mechanisms behind this craving for routine."

* ►June 24, 2009 - Hospital puts autism resources online and on call - Parents can find services for counties all across Chicago area - Chicago Tribune

* ►June 23, 2009 - Generation of Kids Hooked on Psych Drugs By Evelyn Pringle - Lawyers and Settlements

* ►June 23, 2009 - Harvey Karp: Cracking The Autism Riddle: Common Sense About Vaccines And Autism - The Huffington Post - "All sorts of arguments are thrown around to persuade parents that shots threaten their children with autism. I'd like to discuss 4 of the commonly repeated concerns, 3 flawed...and 1 that I think has merit. 1) Too many shots can overwhelm a child and cause autism. No!"

* ►June 23, 2009 - In New Theory, Swine Flu Started in Asia, Not Mexico (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►June 23, 2009 - Vaccine Maker Facing Possible Bankruptcy Wins Contract (requires registration) - The New York Times - "Almost all of that money is owed to Emergent BioSolutions, a vaccine company in Rockville, Md., that lent Protein Sciences $10 million last year in advance of the pending acquisition of virtually all the assets of Protein Sciences by Emergent. The acquisition deal fell apart, and Emergent sued Protein Sciences and its top executives, accusing them of fraud and breach of agreements. The series of events raises questions about whether the government is entrusting part of the nation’s influenza defense to a financially shaky or untrustworthy company. Conversely, the award of the contract could put Emergent into an uncomfortable light for trying to force into bankruptcy a company with promising vaccine technology."

* ►June 23, 2009 - U.S. invests in advanced flu vaccine method - * HHS awards up to $150 million to Protein Sciences Corp * Company uses insect bacteria to make vaccines - Reuters - " The United States has set aside $1 billion for a vaccine to combat the H1N1 strain that has caused a global pandemic. The cash infusion comes as Protein Sciences, which is developing a quicker way to make vaccines, fights to stay in business. Three creditors filed a petition on Monday in Delaware court seeking to force the company into involuntary bankruptcy."

* ►June 23, 2009 - Vaccines’ troubling links - The Northern Daily Leader - "In some states of America, parents are being pressured and coerced (blackmailed) by the authorities to have their children vaccinated, even though there is mounting evidence linking vaccines to many serious diseases and death."

* ►June 23, 2009 - RP tarries as nations scramble for A(H1N1) vaccine supply - GMANews.TV - “More than 90 percent of the global capacity for vaccine manufacturing is located in Europe and in North America. Developed countries through advanced purchased agreements with manufacturers have already reserved a good portion of the limited current manufacturing capacity. Thus in the event of a pandemic, the world would be several billion doses short of the expected demand," says Shashikant statement."

* ►June 23, 2009 - Pandemic Might Be as Severe as 1968 Hong Kong Flu - Bloomberg - “Even if it does not mutate into a more deadly form, a second wave of the flu in low-income countries could have serious consequences -- given poor countries’ limited capacity to monitor and treat an outbreak and the higher incidence of chronic disease within their populations,” the bank said."

* ►June 23, 2009 - Schools to offer flu shots - Northwest Arkansas News Source

* ►June 23, 2009 - Vaccine Sales Expected to Grow Worldwide - Higher margins and the increasing funding by the government as well as Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) like GAVI will drive the future sales of vaccines. - PRMinds

* ►June 23, 2009 - State's only swine flu death still a mystery - Specialists hunting for clues to explain woman's decline - The Boston Globe

* ►June 23, 2009 - Adults with Asthma Under-Vaccinated Against Flu - MedPage Today

* ►June 23, 2009 - CDC: Those with asthma should get flu shot - United Press International

* ►June 23, 2009 - N.J. confirms death of fifth resident with swine flu - The Star-Ledger via NJ.com

* ►June 23, 2009 - Oregon's second swine flu death confirmed: a young Marion County child - The Oregonian via OregonLive.com

* ►June 23, 2009 - Local H1N1 vaccine trial planned - WYMT.com - "The deadly H1N1 virus captured the world's attention. Now, a group of Lexington professionals is trying to find a way to stop the bug in its tracks. Central Kentucky Research Associates plan to conduct clinical trials of a new vaccine for the virus."

* ►June 23, 2009 - New vaccine process proposed - Chemical, not biological, method is fast - Worcester Telegram & Gazette - "The Antigen Express approach takes vaccine development in a different direction by using laboratory machines to string together amino acids into peptides, short bits of proteins designed to stimulate the body's production of immune cells against specific threats, such as influenza. The process results in a dry powder that can be stored and later mixed with fluid to create vaccine doses, Mr. Powell said. There are no peptide vaccines approved for use in the United States, but Antigen Express has been testing peptides against H5N1 avian influenza in Lebanon and has reported that early tests showed the treatments were safe and well-tolerated."

* ►June 23, 2009 - Swine flu jab call slammed - TeleText, UK - "Calls for Westminster to foot a £100m bill for vaccinating everyone in Scotland against swine flu have been rejected by the Scottish Secretary."

* ►June 23, 2009 - GMC Fitness to Practice Hearings: Deeper into the Shallows. By Martin J. Walker - Age of Autism

* ►June 23, 2009 - Autism One 2009 - What Somali Immigrants From Minnesota Learned By Abdulkadir Khalif - Age of Autism

* ►June 23, 2009 - FDA Seeks Public Input on Transparency - FDA

* ►June 23, 2009 - Major Study To Examine Benefits Of Vitamin D, Fish Oil - Brigham and Women's Hospital via redOrbit - “If something as simple as taking a vitamin D pill could help lower these risks and eliminate these health disparities, that would be extraordinarily exciting,” said Dr. JoAnn Manson of Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who, along with Dr. Julie Buring, will be co-leader of the research project."

* ►June 23, 2009 - Wonder Drug! Maybe? - Motley Fool - "How many patients need to be "cured" of a disease to send a stock up more than 22%? Apparently just two. That's right, two. A couple, a pair, dos, deux. However you say it, it's a mighty small number. The euphoria, which waned a little as Medarex (Nasdaq: MEDX) ended up just 12.5%, came from a Mayo Clinic report that two prostate cancer patients in a clinical trial testing the company's cancer drug ipilimumab had become cancer-free."

* ►June 23, 2009 - Media advisory - Hot topics in child and youth health at paediatric conference - The Canadian Press via CNW via Canadian Business - "Workshops and seminars on timely child and youth health issues. Topics include best practices in managing autism, child health and the environment, elite child athletes, the impact of the internet and other technologies on children and youth, innovations in child hearing loss, causes of poor health in Canadian children and ongoing challenges for the childhood cancer survivor."

* ►June 23, 2009 - Glutathione (GSH) The Miracle Protein - submityourarticle.com

* ►June 23, 2009 - Cervical cancer vaccines in limbo for lack of govt policy - My Republica, Nepal - "More than 3,000 others were set to be vaccinated under the third stage this year but Merck, manufacturer of the Gardasil vaccine, has been arguing that the government itself has to conduct the vaccination, something now being done by the non-governmental sector. The company says it cannot send the vaccines until the government includes administering the vaccines in its health policy."

* ►June 23, 2009 - Rotary Marks Progress in Drive to Eradicate Polio - Despite economic challenges, donations exceed expectations - press release - Rotary International via PRNewswire-USNewswire

* ►June 22, 2009 - New FDA Records Obtained by Judicial Watch Indicate 28 Deaths Related to Gardasil in 2008 - Records Document 6,723 Adverse Reactions in 2008, Including 1,061 Considered "Serious" and 142 Considered "Life Threatening" - Judicial Watch - "Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has obtained records from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) documenting 28 deaths in 2008 associated with Gardasil, the vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV), up from 19 deaths in 2007. The total number of Gardasil-related deaths is 47 since the vaccine was approved in 2006. Overall, the FDA documented 6,723 'adverse events' related to Gardasil in 2008, of which 1,061 were considered 'serious,' and 142 considered 'life threatening.'"

* ►June 22, 2009 - Fewer Calgary Catholic students took free cancer vaccine - Calgary Herald via Canada.com - "But the chairwoman of the Calgary Catholic schools said Monday she believes many parents chose not to have their daughters vaccinated after hearing Calgary Bishop Fred Henry's concerns about the shots. 'We left it up to parents,' said Marge Belcourt. 'A good number are paying attention to what the bishop is saying.'"

* ►June 22, 2009 - Swine flu tolls leaps past 52,000 cases - AFP via Yahoo!

* ►June 22, 2009 - Charlottesville-Right Now: David Kirby - David Kirby, author of Evidence Of Harm joined Charlottesville Right Now to discuss autism. (includes audio) - Charlottesville-Right Now

* ►June 22, 2009 - N.Y. Times joins bid for Wyeth case files - Arkansas Democrat Gazette - "The New York Times has joined a national public-interest law firm in asking a federal judge in Little Rock to unseal court documents shedding light on Wyeth Pharmaceuticals' "ghostwriting" practices..."The documents shown to jurors at trial in Little Rock and elsewhere across the country have not been publicly available outside of the trial because of a protective order sought by Wyeth. On June 11, Public Justice, a law firm in Washington, D.C., representing PLoS, a medical journal published by the Public Library of Science, filed a motion in Little Rock asking Wilson to unseal the documents."

* ►June 22, 2009 - LISD board: Form a flu vaccine plan - Laredo Morning Times - "The proposal is threefold: get the flu vaccinations as early as possible, hopefully by September; provide a low-cost vaccine to employees; and ensure that distribution is done at each campus and administrative building."

* ►June 22, 2009 - EFNS guideline on the management of community-acquired bacterial meningitis: report of an EFNS Task Force on acute bacterial meningitis in older children and adults. - European Journal of Neurology via www.guideline.gov

* ►June 22, 2009 - Frequency of Failure to Inform Patients of Clinically Significant Outpatient Test Results (free full text) - journal article (Archives of Internal Medicine) - "In this study, failures to inform patients of clinically significant abnormal test results or to document that they have been informed appear to be relatively common, occurring in 1 of every 14 tests. Failure rates varied widely among practices, from 0% to 26%; practices that used better processes to manage results had lower failure rates and had physicians who were more satisfied with the processes used. Practices that used a combination of paper and electronic records, that is, that had a "partial EMR," had the highest failure rates."

* ►June 22, 2009 - Regarding the Inverse Relationship Between Blood Pressure and Outdoor Temperature: It Is the Sun - journal article (Archives of Internal Medicine)
 
* ►June 22, 2009 - Court says public must pay for private special ed - AP via Yahoo!

* ►June 22, 2009 - FDA to regulate tobacco - The bill will give the agency authority to oversee the advertising, marketing and manufacturing of tobacco products. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 22, 2009 - More practices refusing to accept credit cards from patients - Increasing transaction fees are cited as a major factor. But experts say those fees are still cheaper than issuing paper statements and chasing payments. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 22, 2009 - Many hospitals cut back on infection-control efforts - Infection preventionists say budget cuts could hurt patients and cost hospitals money over time. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 22, 2009 - Blue Shield's right to cancel couple's coverage upheld - The court ruling comes amid a spate of lawsuits and settlements that physicians say did little to deter abusive practices. Doctors want a legislative solution. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 22, 2009 - Family physicians seeing fewer prenatal visits - The decline sparks concerns about limits on training opportunities and women's access to care. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 22, 2009 - AMA partnering with Microsoft on physician Web portal - HealthVault, a personal health record platform, is one of many systems expected to be available. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 22, 2009 - Turning Off the Runway Lights at HHS - There’s plenty of controversial elements in health care reform. But fashion shows sponsored by the US department of health? - The RPM Report

* ►June 22, 2009 - Everyone’s Holding Hands For Health Reform; DNC is Holding Out Its Hand - Big money is at stake in the health care reform debate. For politicians too. - The RPM Report

* ►June 22, 2009 - Health Care Reform: Too Big To Fail - At the moment, the legislative prospects for health care reform look less promising than at anytime in 2009. A look at the numbers reveals a brighter picture for Democrats. - The RPM Report

* ►June 22, 2009 - Rangel-ing Over Drug Promotional Expenses: A Tussle That Might Not Scare Pharma Too Much - A DTC tax provision in proposed reform legislation is causing a fuss among pharma stakeholders. It may not be as painful as some believe. - The RPM Report

* ►June 22, 2009 - Parents of Autistic Child Find Help From iPhone; Today Apple Approved Behavior Tracker Pro - Marketwire

* ►June 22, 2009 - Bad test results often not reported to U.S. patients - Reuters

* ►June 22, 2009 - Heart study questions diabetes drugs - A molecular pathway could explain how a class of drugs leads to heart failure. - news (Nature)

* ►June 22, 2009 - Check up: How are illness spread? - Our house is kept very clean and my family eats a good, healthy diet but just recently we've all been coming down with one bug after another. How are illnesses spread and what is the best way of avoiding them? - Independent, IE

* ►June 21, 2009 - Anti-tumor effects of a human VEGFR-2-based DNA vaccine in mouse models (pdf) - journal article (Genetic Vaccines and Therapy)

* ►June 21, 2009 - Luke deserves so much more - Luke Modra spends 20 hours a day locked in a spartan room. He's alone. His guards pass his food through the door. He has a TV in his room, but no remote control. - Herald Sun, AU - "Luke has never broken the law. He has never been charged or convicted of any wrongdoing. But he has been given a life sentence -- autism, a complex condition of developmental disorders that affect communication and social skills."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Zimbabwe: Few Respond to Extended Immunisation Programme - The Herald via allAfrica.com

* ►June 20, 2009 - A New Look for NVIC Vaccine News - NVIC.org

* ►June 19, 2009 - Swine Flu 1976 & Propaganda - video - Dailymotion - "CBS " 60 MINUTES" documentary on the swine flu epidemics of 1976 in the U.S. It went on air only once and was never shown again. Please look at this, it talks by itself."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Anxious Parents Misdiagnose Milk Formula Intolerance - Some parents may be unnecessarily switching infant milk formulas for their healthy infants. A new study found that many parents misinterpret common baby behaviors as milk intolerance and needlessly switch formulas without consulting a health professional. - BioMed Central, via EurekAlert! via ScienceDaily

►June 18, 2009 - Mortality rate for children with MRSA remains low despite rise in infections - Infectious Disease News

* ►June 18, 2009 - Painkiller ban 'has cut suicides' - The controversial withdrawal of a common painkiller has dramatically cut suicides, say researchers. - BBC

* ►June 18, 2009 - Pharmaceutical industry pumped $28.7B into N.J. economy - The Star-Ledger

* ►June 18, 2009 - Girls With Social and/or Attention Deficits: A Descriptive Study of 100 Clinic Attenders - journal article (Journal of Attention Disorders)

* ►June 18, 2009 - Swine Flu Vaccine: Will We Have A Choice? by Barbara Loe Fisher (includes video) - NVIC.org

* ►June 18, 2009 - South Korea Releases Australian Team Quarantined Over Swine Flu - Bloomberg

* ►June 17, 2009 - Parliament: Law allows quarantine of passengers - Malaysia Star

* ►June 15, 2009 - Serious Bacterial Infections in Febrile Infants in the Post–Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Era - journal article (Academic Emergency Medicine)

* ►June 15, 2009 - Epidemiological studies of the 'non-specific effects' of vaccines: I – data collection in observational studies - journal article (Tropical Medicine & International Health)

* ►June 10, 2009 - Increased Immunoglobulin in Children with Autism - University of California Davis via NIEHS.nih.gov

* ►June 2009 - The immunology of smallpox vaccines - journal article (Current Opinion in Immunology)

* ►June 2009 - Immunology of TLR-independent vaccine adjuvants - journal article (Current Opinion in Immunology)

* ►June 2009 - New horizon of mucosal immunity and vaccines - journal article (Current Opinion in Immunology)

* ►June 2009 - Heterologous prime–boost vaccination - journal article (Current Opinion in Immunology)

* ►June 2009 - Immune evasion by malaria parasites: a challenge for vaccine development - journal article (Current Opinion in Immunology)

* ►June 2009 - Yellow fever vaccine — how does it work and why do rare cases of serious adverse events take place? - journal article (Current Opinion in Immunology)

* ►June 2009 - Tuberculosis vaccine research: the impact of immunology - journal article (Current Opinion in Immunology)

* ►June 2009 - Imitation and communication skills development in children with pervasive developmental disorders (free full download available) - journal article (Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment)

* ►June 2009 - Friending Pharma (requires registration) - With academic/pharma partnerships on the rise, how do academic scientists make the most of the deal? Here are tips from three kinds of collaborations with industry. - The Scientist

* ►May 26, 2009 - Role of T cells in nonimmediate allergic drug reactions. - journal article (Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology)

* ►July 2009 - Human Papillomavirus Type 16 (HPV-16) Virus-Like Particle L1-Specific CD8+ Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTLs) Are Equally Effective as E7-Specific CD8+ CTLs in Killing Autologous HPV-16-Positive Tumor Cells in Cervical Cancer Patients: Implications for L1 Dendritic Cell-Based Therapeutic Vaccines - journal article (Journal of Virology)

* ►July 2009 - Influenza vaccination uptake among students and clinical staff of a university in Iran - journal article (International Journal of Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 2009 - Mitochondrial membrane permeabilization in neuronal injury - journal article (Nature Reviews Neuroscience)

* ►June 22, 2009 - Jail, fines for those who break home quarantine - The New Straits Times

* ►June 22, 2009 - 8-year-old UP girl infected with two types of polio virus - Indian Express - "According to the Health Department records, Tammana had received six doses of monovalent oral polio vaccine of type-1 (mOPV-1) and she does not have any frequent travel history, which makes the health experts believe both types of virus are in circulation in the area."

* ►June 21, 2009 - Vaccinate Canadians under 40 and natives first: experts - Canwest News Service via National Post - "Five-to-40-year-olds and Canada's aboriginal communities should be the first to get vaccinated against human swine flu, experts say as Canadian officials decide who gets priority for the flu shots. Under Canada's official pandemic plan, the entire population would ultimately be immunized against the H1N1 swine flu. ... Gymnasiums would be used for mass school-based vaccination programs but experts say the harder to reach group will be the 18-to-30-year-olds. 'Some of them are in school, a lot of them are not,' MacDonald said. 'They're very much living in the moment and don't necessarily see themselves as being at risk. We need some fast thinking about how to reach those people.' She suggested booths could be set up outside bars for information and immunization. 'You've got to be creative about this and really think out of the box.'"

* ►June 21, 2009 - Fear: The Ultimate Pandemic - The Times-Standard - "Everywhere we turn, we are bombarded with the terrors of “Super-Flu” viruses -- veritable, fear-inducing epidemics, rivaled only by a conjuration in a horror story or screenplay. One of many traits, which separate us from other mammals, is our ability to think critically -- to balance our emotional responses with care and finesse. So why are we allowing ourselves to be stirred up into a frenzy by inventive phrases like “Swine” and “Bird Flu?”

* ►June 21, 2009 - Teenage swine flu patient dies in N.Y. - United Press International - "Lucretia Belton, mother of the eighth-grader, said her son's kidneys had failed, forcing him to be kept alive by machines. Belton added her son had suffered from complications from the H1N1 virus, including a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection and pneumonia."

* ►June 21, 2009 - Wis. testing finds mostly youth ill from swine flu - AP via Wausau Daily Herald - "The death of a 12-year-old Wausau area girl — the fourth person and second child to die of swine flu in Wisconsin — continues a pattern of the virus sickening more youths than adults, according to state health officials."

* ►June 21, 2009 - Swine flu strikes 10 at Minn. camp for kids with muscular dystrophy - The Minnesota cases played a part in the national association canceling its summer camping programs. - Minneapolis Star Tribune

* ►June 21, 2009 - Cervical cancer jabs for boys too, say docs - Mirror.co.uk - "But doctors at the British Medical Association conference in Liverpool later this month will call for boys to be included in the HPV programme too, so they will not be able to pass on the virus, responsible for most cervical cancer, to girls."

* ►June 21, 2009 - Kids' vaccines aren't the problem - Cherry Hill Courier-Post - "From the moment a baby is born, millions of bacteria begin to populate the infant's body. Most of these bacteria are constantly interacting with, and stimulating, the immune system. Many of these interactions promote the general health of the child and play an important function in preventing infections and certain diseases. In addition, the baby is constantly exposed to many different viruses that the immune system must ward off. These interactions occur in large numbers every day of the child's life. What these bacteria and viruses are doing is something very similar to what vaccines do: Stimulate the immune system to promote immunity and prevent infection. Essentially, infants are getting from the earliest days of life hundreds of thousands of 'vaccines' every day. The addition of five or six more vaccines given by the doctor could not possibly overwhelm the immune system."

* ►June 21, 2009 - To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate? - NJ Conservatives with Attitude

* ►June 21, 2009 - Autism diet book wins major health book award - Examiner.com - "Nourishing Hope for Autism, a holistic book that promotes diet as an effective way to help reduce the symptoms of autism, has been named the Most Progressive Health Book of 2009 as part of the Independent Publishers Book Awards."

* ►June 21, 2009 - The Best Gifts for Father's Day are the Simplest. By Tim Welsh - Age of Autism

* ►June 21, 2009 - Nathan LaBarba: Cousin Warrior - Age of Autism

* ►June 21, 2009 - Nurse gave Dettol instead of polio drops to child, admits Goa health minister - Times of India

* ►June 21, 2009 - Online map details HIV prevalence in each state - San Francisco Chronicle - "The online tool, available at www.mapHIV.org, contains detailed information about HIV and AIDS in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The information becomes available to the public for the first time in a single location, according to the group, which helps track death and disease in minorities and other special populations."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Baucus, White House in deal with drug industry (includes video) - AP via Yahoo! - "The pharmaceutical industry agreed Saturday to spend $80 billion over the next decade improving drug benefits for seniors on Medicare and defraying the cost of President Barack Obama's health care legislation, capping secretive negotiations involving key lawmakers and the White House. 'This new coverage means affordable prices on prescription drugs when Medicare benefits don't cover the cost of prescriptions,' Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement announcing the accord."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Drugmaker Wyeth posts flat 1st-quarter profit, despite sales drop for several key products - Washington Examiner - "Prevnar, a blockbuster vaccine against pneumococcal diseases, posted a 7 percent jump in sales to $755 million, and Protonix, for severe heartburn, saw sales skyrocket 35 percent to $215 million. The latter number includes sales of both brand-name Protonix and Wyeth's own generic version. Meanwhile, Effexor, the world's top-selling antidepressant, saw revenue drop 20 percent to $819 million. Wyeth also reported double-digit sales declines for Premarin and related menopause treatments, for its hemophilia drugs and from its partnership revenue on sales outside North America for Enbrel. That's a biologic drug for rheumatoid arthritis that is the top-selling product in its class. But Wyeth's revenue from Enbrel in the U.S. and Canada edged up 3 percent to $627 million."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Fish deaths linked to agrisprays - The interim report into mass deaths, deformities and abnormalities of fish at a Noosa, Queensland, hatchery has direct implications for human health. - The Australian

* ►June 20, 2009 - Local parents launch provincial fight for autistic kids - Georgina Advocate - "As of December, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services says there were more than 1,400 children in Ontario waiting for subsidized autism treatment and almost 400 waiting to be assessed. Government officials insist they're not ignoring the issue; 10 years ago, there was no funding for autism in Ontario, says ministry spokesperson Anne Smith. McGuinty's government removed the previous government age 6 cut-off, more than tripled autism spending from $44 million to $158 million and more than doubled the number of kids getting IBI. But the parents say it's not enough. They point to the growing number of kids being diagnosed with autism and are threatening civil disobedience if the province doesn't take action by World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, 2010."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Autistic children in the cross hairs of state budget crisis - Fresno Bee - "Statewide the number of autism cases has grown faster than the combined number of cases of mental retardation, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Autism increased more than 1,100% over two decades, while the number of people with developmental disabilities increased 136%, according to a report made public this year by the California Department of Developmental Services. In June 2002, nonprofit groups tracked by the state helped 14,279 people with autism. By the end of 2007, the number had grown to 34,656. State experts expect it to surpass 50,000 by this September and reach 70,000 in June 2012."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Travelers to China risk 'random' quarantine - CNN

* ►June 19, 2009 - Death Toll Linked to Swine Flu Rises to 30 - City Room Blog via The New York Times

* ►June 19, 2009 - Vaccines: growth boosters (pdf) - BNP Paribas via Bionest Partners

* ►June 18, 2009 - Wisconsin joins suit against drug maker - WKOWTV.com - "Under the Protonix Performance Agreement, hospitals that placed both products on their formularies and attained certain market share requirements were entitled to up to a 94% discount off the list price of Protonix Oral and up to 80% off the list price of Protonix IV. Although Wyeth was required under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to determine the effective prices of the bundled drugs paid by hospitals under this arrangement, and to pass along the benefit of the lower prices to the state Medicaid programs, Wyeth allegedly failed to do so and therefore avoided paying hundreds of millions of dollars to Medicaid in quarterly rebates."

* ►June 18, 2009 - Swine flu vaccine will be costly to administer - The Journal Star - "The Peoria City/County Health Department expects a $5.5 million cost for administration of swine flu vaccine this fall to about 186,000 people."

* ►June 18, 2009 - Pharmaceutical Company Manager Sentenced for Off-Label Marketing - The United States Attorney's Office District of Massachusettes - "Bextra was a Cox-II inhibitor and had been approved in by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2001 for the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, adult rheumatoid arthritis, at 10 mgs and primary dysmennorhea at 20 mgs, twice a day as needed. In 2001, the FDA specifically denied the request of the pharmaceutical company to approve it for acute pain, including the pain of surgery. The FDA told the pharmaceutical company that it could not approve it for these other indications because the safety in these other uses had not been established. Specifically, the FDA was concerned about the results of a study in which there was an excess of cardiovascular events in patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery and used Bextra. Holloway was aware of the FDA’s safety concerns, but that she nonetheless had her sales staff of approximately 100 employees sell Bextra for precisely the uses that the FDA refused to approve."
 
* ►June 18, 2009 - More trial info would boost physician referrals, says CenterWatch - Physicians say a lack of information about candidate drugs often prevents them referring patients for clinical trials, according to a new survey by sector analysts CenterWatch. - Outsourcing-Pharma.com

* ►June 18, 2009 - Antibiotics Take Toll On Beneficial Microbes In Gut - It’s common knowledge that a protective navy of bacteria normally floats in our intestinal tracts. Antibiotics at least temporarily disturb the normal balance. But it’s unclear which antibiotics are the most disruptive, and if the full array of “good bacteria” return promptly or remain altered for some time. - University of Michigan Health System via ScienceDaily

* ►June 18, 2009 - Grand Jury Indicts Medical-Device Companies for Defying FDA Safeguards - The Legal Intelligencer via Law.com - "A Pennsylvania medical-device company, its Swiss parent corporation and four of its executives were indicted Tuesday on charges of defying Food and Drug Administration safeguards by conducting unauthorized tests of a bone cement used in spinal surgery on about 200 patients, three of whom died on the operating table."

* ►June 18, 2009 - Feds deny field hospital to flu-struck reserve: chiefs - Canwest News Service via National Post

* ►June 17, 2009 - Autism Course Added to HealthForumOnline's Continuing Education (CE) Website for Mental Health Professionals & Nurses - PRWeb via Yahoo!

* ►June 17, 2009 - Developmental Experiences May Explain 'Unexplained' Medical Symptoms? - A new theory on the role of developmental experiences is presented in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psycosomatics. - Journal of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics via AlphaGalileo via ScienceDaily

* ►June 16, 2009 - GAVI’s AMC hopes to stimulate vaccine dev - The GAVI Alliance has launched an advance market commitment (AMC), which is using a $1.5bn (€1.1bn) fund to ensure the supply of pneumococcal vaccine to developing countries at affordable prices. - Outsourcing-Pharma.com

* ►June 16, 2009 - State company will test swine flu vaccine in July - AP via The Hour - "A Connecticut company says it is producing tens of thousands of doses of a swine flu vaccine."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Protein Regulates Movement of Mitochondria in Brain Cells - University of Rochester Medical Center via Biocompare

* ►June 16, 2009 - Disorder Hard to Stomach: With 12 pills daily, Josh Bigham can finally indulge teen appetite - The Independent - "For 15 years, Josh, a Canal Fulton resident, lived without the typical teenage luxuries – pizza, burgers and the like – because his body could not properly process proteins found in meats, dairy products, aspartame and some vegetables. Not any more. Through Akron Children’s Hospital two years ago, Josh, now 17, enrolled in a clinical study for Kuvan, a drug developed by BioMarin Pharmaceuticals Inc. that helps him properly digest the proteins he eats. “Now,” Josh said with a broad grin, “I can eat anything I want.” “The medication,” Josh’s mother Marsha Bigham added, “has transformed his life.” As an infant, Josh was diagnosed with PKU – phenylketonuria – a metabolic disorder."

* ►June 15, 2009 - Notice: Notice of Availability of an Evaluation of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Subtype H5N1 Status of Hungary - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA via www.pharmcast.com

* ►June 12, 2009 - Bell's palsy preceding Parkinson's disease: A case-control study - journal article (Movement Disorders)

* ►June 10, 2009 - Gene links in criminal chain - The idea that a person's genes or hormones can lead to criminal behaviour has long been out of favour and provokes hostility among most criminologists. Yet startling discoveries in genetics and neurology that have prompted a biological turn in other social sciences also have led to the emergence of a subfield incriminology. - The Australian

* ►June 2, 2009 - Title: Nucleic acid vectors for immunization (patent) - Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics SRL (Siena, IT) via www.pharmcast.com

* ►June 2, 2009 - Title: Immunization with bacterial ghost-based vaccines (patent) - Applied NanoSystems, B.V. (Groningen, NL) via www.pharmcast.com

* ►June 2, 2009 - Title: Method and system for analyzing drug adverse effects (patent) - Gogolak; Victor (McLean, VA) via www.pharmcast.com

* ►June 2009 - An 11-month-old Girl with High Fever - Pediatric Annals via Pediatric Supersite

* ►May 30, 2009 - An overview of cow’s milk allergy in children (pdf) - journal article (Swiss Medical Weekly)

* ►Soon to be published by BioMed Central Molecular Autism - Simon Baron-Cohen, Director, Autism Research Centre, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom Joseph D Buxbaum, Director, Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, United States of America - MolecularAutism.com - "Molecular Autism is accepting submissions; please use the online submission system to submit your manuscript. For all enquiries about the journal, please contact: editorial@molecularautism.com."

* ►July 15, 2009 - The Shifting Dynamics of Pneumococcal Invasive Disease after the Introduction of the Pneumococcal 7‐Valent Conjugated Vaccine: Toward the New Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccines - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 15, 2009 - Immunogenicity and Reactogenicity of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide and Conjugate Vaccines in Alaska Native Adults 55–70 Years of Age - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 15, 2009 - A Quantitative Assessment of the Efficacy of Surgical and N95 Masks to Filter Influenza Virus in Patients with Acute Influenza Infection - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 15, 2009 - Invasive Pneumococcal Disease among Adults: Associations among Serotypes, Disease Characteristics, and Outcome (free full text) - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 15, 2009 - Human Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus: Review of Clinical Issues - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 15, 2009 - Changing Epidemiology of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Canada, 1998–2007: Update from the Calgary‐Area Streptococcus pneumoniae Research (CASPER) Study - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►June 21, 2009 - Swine Flu victim improving - The New Nation Bangladesh's Independent News Source

* ►June 21, 2009 - Nestlé Recall Leaves A Mystery in Its Wake - Officials Probe E. Coli Link to Cookie Dough (requires registration) - Washington Post

* ►June 21, 2009 - Intensive farming practices might be breeding more than pigs - Rosita Sweetman believes swine flu may be a wake-up call alerting us to the dangers of animal 'factories' - Irish Independent

* ►June 21, 2009 - Swine flu 'could infect up to half the population' - Health authorities told to set up testing and drug distribution centres in case of autumn outbreak - The Independent, UK

* ►June 21, 2009 - Another polio case confirmed in Sindh - Geo.tv - "The case is an eighteen-months-old child Dileep who had received three doses of anti-polio while four cases had been confirmed in Karachi, one in Kunbhar district earlier, taking the total number of confirmed polio cases to 6 in Sindh, sources said."

* ►June 21, 2009 - Luke deserves so much more - Luke Modra spends 20 hours a day locked in a spartan room. He's alone. His guards pass his food through the door. - Herald Sun via www.news.com.au - "Luke, 20, is considered one of Victoria's most severe autistic cases. So bad are his symptoms that his heartbroken parents have been unable to care for him at home for the past five years. Because of his violent tendencies, he now lives in a Department of Human Services residential property. He shuns human contact and even his carers are frightened to be in the same room with him."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Science vs. Mother's Emotion: Turn a Lion into a Vegetarian By Cynthia Cornoyer - Age of Autism

* ►June 20, 2009 - Rendell urges support of tax hike to preserve autism programs - Philadelphia Inquirer - "With the state's budget deadline rapidly approaching, Gov. Rendell Saturday warned that proposed Republican budget cuts would reverse years of progress in autism treatment, and he urged parents of autistic children to pressure lawmakers to vote for an income tax hike to preserve the programs."

* ►June 20, 2009 - A danger for doctors' bottom line - San Antonio Express-News - "An open letter to President Obama: I'm a pediatrician and writing to let you know, because not many people do seem to know, that small, private, primary care doctors' offices around the country, including mine — where the majority of people receive their immunizations — are being reimbursed chronically under cost for purchase and operating expenses when we administer vaccines. If we refuse to immunize at a loss, we put our patients at risk for disease and risk losing our insurance contracts (and therefore our ability to provide continuity of care) because not immunizing is bad medicine. The success of the national immunization program depends on the consistency with which immunizations are provided around the country, and it is in peril of becoming 'moth-eaten' and therefore ineffective in optimally preventing disease because practitioners increasingly have to choose between purchasing immunizations and having our offices survive."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Medtronic Paid the Surgeon Accused Of Falsifying Study Nearly $800,000 - Alliance for Human Research Protection

* ►June 20, 2009 - Sanofi, GSK Make Novartis Look Scrooge-Like on Swine Flu Vaccine Donations - BNET Pharma

* ►June 20, 2009 - The pandemic is here - Those who dismiss H1N1 as a panic-fest are profoundly wrong – even the mild version in a country like Canada could kill thousands. And the nightmare scenario? That would be really scary - The Globe and Mail

* ►June 20, 2009 - CHOP Reports Many Flu Deaths Actually Bacterial Infection Deaths - Age of Autism

* ►June 20, 2009 - Our View: H1N1 death brings flu back in focus - Wausau Daily Herald - "Emily had preexisting medical concerns that compromised her immune system, but a Milwaukee youth who died from swine flu this month appeared to be otherwise healthy."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Buffalo middle-schooler dies of swine flu - WCAX.com - "Buffalo school officials say a middle-schooler has died of swine flu, and a union leader says a second pupil is hospitalized in critical condition."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Three-month-old given Dettol instead of polio drops - IANS via Sindh Today - "Officials Saturday confirmed the incident but said the child’s father, and not the hospital, had made the mistake."

* ►June 20, 2009 - Brazil starts annual polio vaccination program - AFP via Yahoo! - "Brazil stamped out polio in the 1980s after repeated vaccination campaigns. 'Now, the importance of the vaccine is to keep the country free of the virus that causes this illness. The shots don't have side-effects,' the coordinator for the ministry's national immunization program, Maria Arindelita Arruda, said."

* ►June 19, 2009 - AACAP Applauds AMA's Support For Universal Vaccinations - American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry via Medical News Today - "Leadership at the AMA has agreed to continue its ongoing efforts to assist physicians and other health care professionals to effectively communicate to patients, parents, and policy makers that vaccines do not cause autism and that the decreasing immunization rates have resulted in a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Vical Progresses RapidResponse DNA Vaccine Platform - Designed to allow rapid and large-scale production of DNA vaccines with low capital requirements - Pharmacuetical Business-Review

* ►June 19, 2009 - The Who's Fabricated Pandemic - The World Health Organization is hoping the swine flu outbreak will offer it a chance to salvage its reputation - National Post

* ►June 19, 2009 - Swine Flu Economics - American Institute for Economic Research

* ►June 19, 2009 - Novartis Scores Big Hit on Small Market With Gene-Based Medicine - The Wall Street Journal

* ►June 19, 2009 - Ticked Off (requires registration) - Movie Review - The New York Times - “Under Our Skin” makes no bones about its advocacy for these patients and for the doctors willing to treat them. Although the Infectious Diseases Society’s position is crisply stated by Dr. Gary Wormser, the chief writer of its treatment guidelines, the movie portrays him as the mouthpiece for an organization riddled with conflicts of interest."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Novel H1N1 Flu Situation Update - CDC

* ►June 19, 2009 - Mumps outbreak 'shameful' - Irish Medical News - "The Director of the Health Pro­tection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has described the current outbreak of mumps as a 'shameful thing to happen' given the presence of the MMR vaccine. Speaking at the second Annual Scientific Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland, Dr Darina O’Flanagan stressed the need to boost uptake of vaccines to protect against preventable illnesses such as the mumps and measles."

* ►June 18, 2009 - More fuzzed up numbers being published by the CDC - Cryptome.org

* ►June 18, 2009 - Prita's Pain Continues In Court - The Jakarta Globe - "Prosecutors at the Tangerang District Court in Banten on Thursday maintained that Prita Mulyasari should be found guilty of defamation and of having violated the Electronic Information and Transaction Law. The 32-year-old mother of two is facing a criminal charge for allegedly defaming Omni International Hospital. Prita sent an e-mail message to friends saying she had received unprofessional treatment at the hospital last August, which the prosecution said violated the criminal code and the Electronic Information and Transaction Law (ITE). ... The case triggered massive public outrage after she was fined Rp 312 million ($31,000) in a civil trial and then jailed for three weeks ahead of her criminal trial that started this month."

* ►June 18, 2009 - Influenza-Like Symptoms Being Reported in Large Numbers in Affected Areas (requires registration) -MMWR via  Medscape

* ►June 18, 2009 - The Public Health Care Experiment in the 1950s - Daily Kos - "It became important because Franklin Delano Roosevelt made it his cause celebre. The March of Dimes was founded and school children around the nation gave their dimes to fight Polio. Dr. Jonas Salk created a vaccine in his laboratory with those dimes and the government sponsored a nation-wide inoculataion program. School children lined up in their schools and were administered the vaccine."

* ►June 18, 2009 - Health Care Workers Muffed H1N1 Flu Precautions - Small Study Suggests Doctors, Nurses May Not Be Following H1N1 Safety Measures - ABC News - "A snapshot of the health care workers who came down with the H1N1 flu in the first few weeks of the outbreak suggests that proper infection-control practices weren't uniformly followed, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today."

* ►June 18, 2009 - Transparency and Medtronic’s $800,000 Doctor - Wall Street Journal Health Blog

* ►June 17, 2009 - $788,000 Paid to Doctor Accused of Faking Study (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►June 17, 2009 - Clearing Pneumococcal Bacteria From The Upper Airways - The bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae can be found in the upper airways (the nose, mouth, and throat) of most children. When living in the upper airways, S. pneumoniae is harmless. However, if the bacteria are carried to other sites, they cause disease, for example ear infections and life-threatening pneumonia. - Journal of Clinical Investigation, via EurekAlert!

* ►June 13, 2009 - ON Question Time last week the rest of the panel - Mirror.co.uk - "On Question Time last week the rest of the panel unanimously endorsed the MMR vaccination. I did not. I have interviewed too many families with autistic children who are convinced their kids changed after the injection."

* ►June 11, 2009 - Italian healthcare workers' views on mandatory vaccination (pdf) - journal article (BMC Health Services Research)

* ►May 1, 2009 - Swine Flu Ancestor Born on U.S. Factory Farms - Wired Science

* ►June 20, 2009 - First Death From H1N1 Influenza Virus in SD County: Escondido Woman, 20, Dies at Palomar Medical Center - East County Magazine - "scondido resident Adela Chevalier, 20, has died of H1N1 influenza (previously known as swine flu) at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido. Previously young and healthy, her death leaves some health experts concerned over whether the disease could have mutated into a more virulent form, though County Health authorities urge people not to panic."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Rubella vaccination sends Sri Lankan school girls to hospital again - Colombo Page, Sri Lanka - "Hospital sources said that several students in Mahamaya Girls School in Matara have been admitted to the hospital experiencing severe headaches and other symptoms after the vaccination. However, they are not in a life threatening condition, the hospital confirmed. In mid March a 12-year-old school girl, Peshala Hansanai of the Matara St. Thomas Girls School died and 26 more students fell ill following administration of Rubella vaccine."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Autism, Cancer and AIDS By Jake Crosby - Age of Autism

* ►June 19, 2009 - What is the definition of a pandemic? By Cynthia A. Janak - Renew America

* ►June 19, 2009 - Next question in swine flu - who gets vaccinated? - Reuters

* ►June 19, 2009 - Clinicians criticised for ignoring flu jab - Irish Medical News - "Speaking at the second Annual Scientific Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland, Director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) Dr Darina O’Flanagan criticised doctors for not discussing the vaccine with patients and for having low levels of uptake themselves, putting patients at risk. 'People who are meeting patients need to talk to them about why they should get the flu vaccination. And you guys aren’t doing it. Hospital clinicians aren’t talking to patients about the flu vaccination.'"

* ►June 19, 2009 - US swine flu cases now exceed 21,000; 87 deaths - AP via Yahoo!

* ►June 19, 2009 - Influenza A(H1N1) - update 51 - Laboratory-confirmed cases of new influenza A(H1N1) as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the International Health Regulations (2005) - World Health Organization

* ►June 19, 2009 - More than quarter of new swine flu deaths are in NYS - Newsday - "Swine flu deaths almost doubled nationwide in the past week, with more than a quarter of the new deaths in New York, including seven in the city, officials announced Friday. The city Health Department reported the city's death toll rose to 30."

* ►June 19, 2009 - CMAJ: WHO to develop swine flu vaccine - Sun Media via London Free Press - "Canada should make available 10% of its supply of any vaccine it develops against the H1N1 swine flu for use in developing countries, says an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Variables exist in swine flu vaccine production: Adimmune - China Post

* ►June 19, 2009 - Influenza A vaccine to reach markets by September - Taiwan Journal - "The Adimmune Corp., which is gearing up to manufacture influenza A (H1N1) vaccines, opened its new production facility June 18. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Chan Chi-shean said that his company would work day and night to manufacture the vaccines. It expects to have 10 million vaccines ready by the end of September. If the vaccines do not meet international standards, they will not be released onto the market, and the company will absorb all the costs, Chan said."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Local woman's death from swine flu baffles experts - San Diego Union-Tribune

* ►June 19, 2009 - Union County man, 36, with swine flu has died, officials say - MyCentralJersey.com

* ►June 19, 2009 - US swine flu death toll nearly doubles from last week - Phoenix Business Journal - "The U.S. death toll from the H1N1 swine flu now stands at 87, up from 45 a week ago; and the number of cases in Arizona is up to 645, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported Friday. The CDC said there are more than 21,400 cases nationwide, up from 17,855 a week ago. There were 597 cases of H1N1 in Arizona a week ago."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Pitt scientists use novel biomedical technology to ramp up the production of swine flu vaccines - Examiner.com

* ►June 19, 2009 - Sanofi CEO Bets Outside U.S., Gears Up for Flu Pandemic, and Seeks To Learn From Biotech - Xconomy

* ►June 19, 2009 - Dutch goverment buys 34 mln H1N1 vaccines - Reuters via Forbes - "The Dutch government has decided to buy 34 million pandemic vaccines against the H1N1 flu virus, sufficient for two doses per person, and entered into contracts with vaccine producers this week."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Protect Us From Compulsory Vaccination, Drugging - Demand Protection from Mandatory Vaccination, Drugging or Sanctions, Including Internment and Support for the Right to Self-Quarantine In the Event of a Pandemic. - Natural Solutions Foundation

* ►June 19, 2009 - New swine flu cases bring Manitoba total to 295 - CBC

* ►June 19, 2009 - CDC sees "something different" with new flu - Reuters

* ►June 19, 2009 - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Forced to Pay for Autism Care In Landmark Case - press release - Mantese and Rossman, P.C. via PRNewswire - "The family of an autistic child filed a motion in federal court today to confirm settlement of a class action against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The family alleged in the suit that the insurer wrongfully refused to cover behavioral therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), on the baseless ground that the care was 'experimental.'"

* ►June 19, 2009 - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan settles class-action autism lawsuit - Crain's Detroit Business - "Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has settled a class-action lawsuit and will pay about 100 families whose children either were denied coverage for autism treatment under Blue Cross policies or paid for their care out pocket."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Autism bill in New Jersey gets unanimous Senate approval - IFAwebnews.com - "New Jersey is one step closer to becoming the 14th state in the nation to require health insurance companies to cover treatments for autism and other developmental disabilities."

* ►June 19, 2009 - A Genetic Link Between Anorexia and Autism? - TIME Magazine

* ►June 19, 2009 - How vinyl flooring is linked to autism - Examiner.com

* ►June 19, 2009 - MSU lands $2.1 million grant to take part in national autism study - MSU Today

* ►June 19, 2009 - Standard IQ Test May Undervalue People With Autism - Study shows they could solve problems faster than non-autistics on a different test - HealthDay via Forbes

* ►June 19, 2009 - Matrixx Expects Wave of New Zicam Lawsuits By Evelyn Pringle - Lawyers and Settlements

* ►June 19, 2009 - FDA warning stuns Scottsdale company Matrixx - Report said Zicam swabs, gels can cause loss of smell - Arizona Republic

* ►June 19, 2009 - Nestle Cookie Dough Tied to 66 Illnesses From E. Coli - Bloomberg

* ►June 19, 2009 - Legislation Sought To Increase FDA Oversight - redOrbit - "In order to provide patients with better protection from safety risks, experts say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval process for medical devices needs a major overhaul. Pallone, the Democrat who chairs a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee said, 'There is evidence of an approval system that is broken -- that its standards, its procedures and its rules don't meet modern needs of getting medical devices to those in need with confidence in their safety.'"

* ►June 19, 2009 - Crucell has lodged Quinvaxem vaccine tender * Did not tender for separate Indian contract for Quinvaxem * Would help make pandemic flu vaccine if called upon * Targeting independent growth, has acquisition targets - Reuters via The Guardian, UK - "Crucell posted its first-ever full-year profit last year based on continued growth in sales of its paediatric vaccine Quinvaxem, which prevents five childhood illnesses."

* ►June 19, 2009 - The Hidden Cost of Giving Away Vaccines - Financial Times via National Center for Policy Analysis

* ►June 19, 2009 - Measures boosted for scarlet fever, measles prevention - Viet Nam News - "The Ministry of Health is urging local governments to boost preventive measures against scarlet fever and measles due to a 40 per cent increase in the number of cases of scarlet fever compared to last year, according to Deputy Minister of Health Trinh Quan Huan."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Smallpox -- The Death of a Disease - Dr. D. A. Henderson shares the inside story of 'the greatest scientific and humanitarian achievement of the past century' - Prometheus Books via EurekAlert!

* ►June 19, 2009 - HIV Antibody Tests Unreliable for Early Infections in Teens - press release - Johns Hopkins Children's Center via AScribe Newswire

* ►June 19, 2009 - Minister proposes ban on chemicals used in kids' plastic products - CBC - "The federal government is proposing a ban on six types of phthalates used in common children's products because of concern they may affect reproductive development and have other adverse health effects."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Food expert warns of hormones in food - Some Australian produce contains dangerous levels of hormones and pesticides, an international food safety expert says. - Ninemsn.com.au

* ►June 19, 2009 - Digital Britain: Closing Down The Open Internet - The One Click Group

* ►June 18, 2009 - FDA Threatens to Seize All Natural Products that Dare to Mention H1N1 Swine Flu - NaturalNews.com

* ►June 18, 2009 - New Vaccination Strategy May Protect Against Both Lethal 1918 And H5N1 Influenza Viruses - A new study suggests that vaccination with 1918 H1N1 influenza virus-like particles not only protected mice and ferrets against the lethal 1918 influenza virus, but also displayed cross-reactive immunity against the potentially pandemic H5N1 influenza virus. - American Society for Microbiology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS via ScienceDaily

* ►June 18, 2009 - Swine flu patients in ICU tough to manage, 'just really, really sick': doctors - Canadian Press via Brandon Sun

* ►June 18, 2009 - Written Welsh Assembly Government Statement On Measles And MMR, Wales - Welsh Assembly Government via Medical News Today

* ►June 18, 2009 - Do you really want to improve healthcare? You do it as a doctor by not settling for anything but the best outcome - Anthrax Vaccine -- posts by Meryl Nass, M.D.

* ►June 18, 2009 - Rationing is Not a 4-Letter Word - Anthrax Vaccine -- posts by Meryl Nass, M.D.

* ►June 18, 2009 - Laboratory Says Security Is Tighter, but Earlier Count Missed Dangerous Vials/ Wash Post - Anthrax Vaccine -- posts by Meryl Nass, M.D.

* ►June 18, 2009 - Subsidized immunizations in Dallas may be cut (includes video) - WFAA.com - "A move to cut money from the Dallas city budget is expected to have a major impact for thousands of families. The amount of money we're talking about is $1 million."

* ►June 17, 2009 - Hepatitis B vaccine prices increase - Hernando Today - "The county pays the bill whenever its field and maintenance workers opt to take a hepatitis B shot. The school district wants to pay for everyone's vaccinations, even after the price increases three-fold next year. ... Last year, the district budgeted $5,000 for the shots. For the upcoming year, it will be $15,000, or $65 per shot. 'That's not a large sum of money,' said [board member Pat] Fagan."

* ►June 17, 2009 - Half of VA Health Centers Fail Surprise Inspections Before House Hearing - AboutLawsuits.com - "U.S. lawmakers railed against problems with the veteran health system after surprise inspections revealed that only 43% of Veterans Affairs facilities had adequate health safety procedures for endoscopic procedures. The inspections came following a discovery that thousands of veterans were exposed to unsanitary equipment, hepatitis and HIV due to unsafe medical procedures at VA health centers."

* ►June 17, 2009 - The hidden cost of giving away vaccines - Financial Times

* ►June 16, 2009 - School Kids To Get Swine Flu Shots First? - Louise Kuo Habakus via LifeHealth Choices

* ►June 16, 2009 - Anti-influenza vaccination of pregnant women: is the fetus effected? - Teresa Binstock, Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy via Generation Rescue

* ►June 15, 2009 - Health Freedom Advocates Condemn WHO "Swine Flu Pandemic Level 6" Vaccine Panic, Call for Laws to Protect the Right to Self-Quarantine (Self-Shield) - The Natural Solutions Foundation believes that the WHO has seriously erred in Declaring a Level 6 Pandemic for H1N1 Swine Flu since the disease causes no serious illness. The declaration of a Level 6 Pandemic means that countries are being stampeded into mandatory vaccination programs with potentially dangerous, untested and uninsurable vaccines. In the US, State and Federal laws mandate involuntary quarantine of indefinite length for those who refuse vaccination. The Natural Solutions Foundation advocates, instead, the right to self-quarantine. - press release - Natural Solutions Foundation via PRWeb via eMediaWire

* ►June 12, 2009 - PLos Biology: The Liza Gross diatribe against vaccinations-autism heresy - Teresa Binstock, Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy via Generation Rescue - "Los Biology recently published a Liza Gross essay entitled, 'A broken trust: lessons from the vaccine--autism wars' (1). Her essay - in a supposedly scientific journal - is a rant against individuals who dare suggest vaccinations may induce autism in some individuals. Her essay contains pejorative rhetoric and stands as diatribe, not science, because scientific reviews cite both sides of an issue yet undecided. Instead, Liza's presentation is judgmental, omits evidence contrary to her worldview, and relies on epidemiological studies whose design overlooks important subgroups (eg, fourteen studies critiqued in 2).  Overall, the Liza Gross essay is a monument to an Ideology of Vaccinationism. Within that ideology, a central tenet - declared true via a priori reasoning - is the safety of vaccinations. A mandated corollary is a priori acceptance that vaccinations can not and do not cause autism."

* ►June 7, 2009 - Gluten-free and casein-free diets for subgroups of autistic children - Teresa Binstock, Researcher in Developmental & Behavioral Neuroanatomy via Generation Rescue

* ►June 3, 2009 - Reportlinker Adds Vaccines 2009: World Market Analysis, Key Players, and Critical Trends in a Fast-Changing Industry - press release - Reportlinker via Business Wire - "The global market for human vaccines has experienced strong growth through 2008 and this is expected to continue through the forecast period. Growth will be fueled by new product introductions and rising usage in all regions."

* ►June 1, 2009 - Portland scientsts pursue West Nile virus vaccine - OregonLive.com - "OHSU, Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., and Najit Technologies, Inc., a Portland biotech firm, are readying a candidate vaccine for clinical trials within three years. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded the grant. Najit Technologies' approach uses a less damaging chemical to kill the viruses used to make vaccines. The goal is to leave viral proteins more intact so that the immune system can correctly recognize and mount a protective response to the live virus."

* ►Swine Flu Hype Center (includes videos and audio) - DrTenpenny.com

* ►IDEA Position on Genetically Modified Foods - Irish Doctors Environmental Association - "The Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association is opposed to the growing of genetically engineered plants and the use of substances derived from genetically engineered plants in food. IDEA calls for a complete moratorium on the growing and use of such foods. All such foods currently on the market should be withdrawn as they have been insufficiently tested."

* ►The Autism Clock - website

* ►July 2009 - Drug interactions at the blood-brain barrier: Fact or fantasy? - journal article (Pharmacology & Therapeutics)

* ►July 2009 - Strong IgG antibody responses to Borrelia burgdorferi glycolipids in patients with Lyme arthritis, a late manifestation of the infection - journal article (Clinical Immunology)

* ►June 19, 2009 - Publisher consulted drug firm on journal content - THE world's largest medical publisher asked the manufacturers of anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx which articles they wanted to include in a so-called medical journal on bone health. - The Australian - "Documents tendered to a Federal Court class action reveal staff at publishing company Elsevier, which produces The Lancet, emailed pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co about its "preferred content selection" for the Australasian Journal of Bone and Joint Medicine. The publisher also admits the journal is a "single sponsored publication" where most of the content is chosen by Merck with some "input from Elsevier". 

* ►June 19, 2009 - Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections Among Health-Care Personnel --- United States, April--May 2009 - MMWR/CDC - "CDC received 48 reports of confirmed or probable novel influenza A (H1N1) infection among HCP from 18 states. Detailed information on health-care exposures was obtained for 26 cases (18 confirmed and eight probable) reported from 11 states (Table 1).  ... Among the 16 HCP for whom such information was available, eight had been vaccinated for seasonal influenza since September 2008."

* ►June 19, 2009 - Doctors claiming to sell 'vaccine' for flu face ban - The Nation via AsiaOne

* ►June 19, 2009 - Polio: 475,000 Vitamin A doses for Ebonyi - BusinessDay, Nigeria

* ►June 18, 2009 - Selected UK MPs Launch Workers' Vaccine Damage Early Day Motion - The One Click Group - "PAYMENTS FOR WORKERS DAMAGED BY VACCINES 11.06.2009 Stewart, Ian [Eccles, Labour] - That this House notes with concern the serious adverse reactions that some adults have suffered following receipt of the hepatitis B and other vaccines, which they were required to have as a condition of their employment; further notes that such adults include doctors, nurses, paramedics, medical technicians and other health service personnel together with specialist civil servants, social workers, prison officers, refuse collectors and other public sector workers; recognises the devastating effect such adverse reactions can have on the long-term health of the individual, in some cases leading to debilitation and early retirement and a significant loss of income; further notes that there is no clear and transparent system of support for such adults as they are not eligible to make a claim under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979 and often have to fight for industrial disablement benefits: acknowledges that in the United States 146 hepatitis cases have been fully compensated out of 578 applicants; and calls on the Government to include all occupational vaccines on the approved list under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979, to provide for vaccine damage under the Industrial Injuries Scheme or establish a new scheme covering occupational vaccines for adults which includes all single and multiple vaccines and their component parts, and for the chosen scheme to protect all workers including those in training."

* ►June 18, 2009 - “Children to Die” – Latest Flu Scaremongering - Child Health Safety

* ►June 18, 2009 - Vaccinate kids to control H1N1 flu: researchers - Reuters - "Researchers from the University of Warwick said that vaccinating children rather than adults would not only help protect a group at greatest risk of exposure to the virus, but would also offer protection to unvaccinated adults."

* ►June 18, 2009 - 'Something different" happening with new flu - CDC - *Up to 7 percent of population sick in heavily hit areas *Flu season could last all year this year in US - Reuters

* ►June 18, 2009 - Third New Jersey resident dies with swine flu - The Star-Ledger via NJ.com - "A 10-year-old boy from the county is the third New Jersey resident with H1N1 influenza to die, the state health agency reported today. The child, who had underlying medical conditions, was hospitalized June 14 after developing a cough and fever, according to a statement from the state Department of Health and Senior Services."

* ►June 18, 2009 - Family of swine flu victim says boy had no health problems - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com - "The family thought the child had bronchitis, but a family doctor who examined Munoz sent him back home with some medication. Once back home, Munoz's condition worsened rapidly and the family rushed the boy to the emergency room at Baptist Hospital, where he died less than 24 hours later."

* ►June 18, 2009 - Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline Will Donate Influenza Vaccines To WHO - Kaiser Global Health

* ►June 18, 2009 - CDC says too soon to say if swine flu crowding out season strains in S. Hemisphere - Canadian Press via Winnipeg Free Press

* ►June 18, 2009 - Scientists race to finalise swine flu vaccine - The number of cases of swine flu continues to climb daily, the latest figures suggesting 2199 Australians have now contracted the virus, amidst concerns even that number may already be outdated and will rise rapidly. Researchers here and overseas continue to closely monitor the virus for fear it may mutate into a far more virulent strain of influenza, as the international race continues to finalise a vaccine to be made widely available by government in case that should occur. - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

* ►June 18, 2009 - Bearsden doc starts vital swine flu jab tests - Bearsden Herald, UK

* ►June 18, 2009 - 45 Percent of Global Swine Flu Cases Found in USA - CNSNews.com

* ►June 18, 2009 - Setting the Scene: Part 2 the Generation Rescue "Fourteen Studies" By Julie Obradovic - Age of Autism

* ►June 18, 2009 - Whatever Happened to Simon Baron-Cohen’s Study of Adult Prevalence? By John Stone - Age of Autism

* ►June 18, 2009 - Study Finds Autistics Better At Problem-Solving - University of Montreal via Medical News Today

* ►June 18, 2009 - Gene Theory for Depression Is Now Discredited - Alliance for Human Research Protection

* ►June 18, 2009 - USAMRIID finds 9,200 disease samples it didn't know it had - Frederick News Post - "The inventory process uncovered samples dating back several decades, and included vials of pathogens that cause anthrax, Ebola and Rift Valley fever. Most of the unrecorded samples discovered were small -- 1 milliliter or less -- Edwin said. Researchers determined about half of the 9,200 samples had no further scientific value and destroyed them after they were cataloged. Others, such as serum samples from individuals who contracted Korean hemorrhagic fever during the Korean War, were invaluable because they don't exist anywhere else, Kortepeter said."

* ►June 18, 2009 - Vical hits goals in pandemic vaccine development - AP via Forbes

* ►June 18, 2009 - Vaccinations - the fight against viruses - The Gleaner

* ►June 18, 2009 - Bird flu carcases remain infectious - MeatInfo.com

* ►June 18, 2009 - Worried Sick? How To Chill Out for Your Health - iVillage Total Health - “There’s an interaction between people’s natural fears and worries about their health and the media hysteria that directs our attention to things that could potentially harm our health,” says Gordon Asmundson, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Regina in Canada and co-author of It’s Not All In Your Head: How Worrying about Your Health Could Be Making You Sick—and What You Can Do about It. “But often, health anxiety goes beyond the facts or inherent risks associated with an illness.”

* ►June 18, 2009 - As swine flu marches on, be on guard for other bacterial bugs - Contemporary Pediatrics via Modern Medicine

* ►June 18, 2009 - New Website Links Food Pesticide Residue to Toxicology - Beyond Pesticides

* ►June 18, 2009 - Alpha-Linolenic Acid: An Underappreciated Omega-3 - Food Product Design

* ►June 18, 2009 - GeoVax Signs HIV/AIDS Vaccine Proposal With Health and Hospital System of Cook County, Illinois - press release - GeoVax Labs, Inc. via PRNewswire-FirstCall - "Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger said, 'We hope this ground-breaking proposal, which is dedicated to addressing the need to help eradicate the HIV/AIDS virus, will extend the opportunity for the residents of Cook County and the surrounding region to participate in clinical trials of vaccines with the potential to protect against HIV/AIDS disease.'"

* ►June 17, 2009 - Teenage Girls Develop Degenerative Muscle Diseases After HPV Vaccine Injections - NaturalNews.com

* ►June 17, 2009 - SSRIs Prescribed for Autistic Children Make Them Worse - NaturalNews.com

* ►June 17, 2009 - Household structure and infectious disease transmission - Targeting children may be an effective use of limited supplies of flu vaccine, according to research at the University of Warwick funded by the Wellcome Trust and the EU. The study suggests that, used to support other control measures, this could help control the spread of pandemics such as the current swine flu. - News-Medical.Net

* ►June 17, 2009 - H1N1 may be special threat to rural Alaska - The Cordova Times

* ►June 17, 2009 - Tests begin on swine flu vaccine - A Scottish biotech company has started testing a vaccine for swine flu. - BBC

* ►June 17, 2009 - Xcellerex Announces Sale of FlexFactory™ Bioproduction Line to Crucell for Vaccine, Monoclonal Antibody Manufacturing Facility - Bioproduction facility to be completed in First Quarter of 2010, demonstrating game-changing speed of FlexFactory technology - Centre Daily

* ►June 17, 2009 - Bill protects doctors who treat Lyme disease as 'chronic' - Republican American

* ►June 17, 2009 - Study Finds that Pesticides Linger in Homes - Environmental Health News via Beyond Pesticides

* ►June 16, 2009 - Preventing spread of infectious diseases is everyone's responsibility - Good hygiene starts within the family, but families need better guidance and advice, says new report - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine via EurekAlert!

* ►June 16, 2009 - Pesticide Exposure Increases Risk to Multiple Myeloma - Beyond Pesticides

* ►June 16, 2009 - UGA program will train more teachers for autistic students - A growing need in georgia - Athens Banner-Herald

* ►June 16, 2009 - Putting a Name to a Face May be Key to Brain's Facial Expertise - Our tendency to see people and faces as individuals may explain why we are such experts at recognizing them, new research indicates. This approach can be learned and applied to other objects as well. - Vanderbilt University via Newswise

* ►June 16, 2009 - What happens now? - Irish Times - "Disability groups have warned that hundreds of children and thousands of adults in residential care are vulnerable to abuse because of the Government’s refusal to introduce independent inspections or care standards in the sector."

* ►June 15, 2009 - Safety of neuraminidase inhibitors against novel influenza A (H1N1) in pregnant and breastfeeding women (free full text) - journal article (Canadian Medical Association Journal)

* ►June 15, 2009 - Kinetics and phenotype of vaccine-induced CD8+ T cell responses to Toxoplasma gondii - journal article (Infection and Immunity)

* ►June 15, 2009 - Influenza A virus neuraminidase enhances meningococcal adhesion to epithelial cells through interaction with sialic acid-containing meningococcal capsules - journal article (Infection and Immunity)

* ►June 15, 2009 - CBO: Healthcare bill exceeds $1 trillion - The Hill - "The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report late Monday estimating the cost of a leading healthcare reform proposal at more than $1 trillion, but that figure looked only at a portion of the bill."

* ►June 12, 2009 - U.S. hospitals rationing nuclear imaging tests - Reuters

* ►June 12, 2009 - Involuntary Movements During Vitamin B12 Treatment - journal article (Journal of Child Neurology)

* ►June 10, 2009 - emm and C-repeat region molecular typing of beta-hemolytic streptococci in a tropical country: implications for vaccine development - journal article (Journal of Clinical Microbiology)

* ►June 10, 2009 - Association between human herpesvirus 6 and occurrence of multiple sclerosis among Jordanian patients - journal article

* ►June 2009 - Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage among U.S. Adolescents, National Immunization Survey–Teen, 2006 - journal article (Journal of Adolescent Health)

* ►June 2009 - Pharmacotherapy of novel influenza A (H1N1) - pediatric supersite

* ►Volume 5, Number 1, 2009 - A Prospective Study of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Autistic Disorders (free full text) - journal article (E-Journal of Applied Psychology)

* ►Volume 5, Number 1, 2009 - PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disease Associated with Streptococcus) in Autism? A Case History (free full text) - journal article (E-Journal of Applied Psychology)

* ►Volume 5, Number 1, 2009 - Microwave Electromagnetic Radiation and Autism (free full text) - journal article (E-Journal of Applied Psychology)

* ►Volume 5, Number 1, 2009 - Dietary Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Why they work when they do, why they don’t when they don’t (free full text) (book review) - journal article (E-Journal of Applied Psychology)

* ►Volume 5, Number 1, 2009 - Commentary: Fatty Acids, Breastfeeding and Autism Spectrum Disorder (free full text) - journal article (E-Journal of Applied Psychology)

* ►July 15, 2009 - Immunogenicity Testing in Human Papillomavirus Virus‐Like‐Particle Vaccine Trials - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases) - "Potential conflicts of interest: J.T.S. and D.R.L. are listed as inventors on US government–owned patents covering the papillomavirus virus‐like‐particle–based vaccine technology. These patents have been licensed coexclusively to Merck and GlaxoSmithKline."

* ►July 15, 2009 - Randomized, Double‐Blind Controlled Phase 3 Trial Comparing the Immunogenicity of High‐Dose and Standard‐Dose Influenza Vaccine in Adults 65 Years of Age and Older - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases) - "Potential conflicts of interest: A.R.F. has consulted for Merck, Wyeth, and GlaxoSmithKline and is on the advisory board for Quidel. J.J.T. has received research support from Protein Sciences, Merck, Wyeth, GlaxoSmithKline, Antigen Express, Mercia Pharma, VaxInnate, Ligocyte, sanofi pasteur, and CSL Biotherapies; has served as a consultant and/or scientific advisory board member for AlphaVax, Epimmune, Dynavax, Immune Targeting Systems, Pulmatrix, Powdermed, PaxVax, and Toyama; and has served as a data safety monitoring board member for Medimmune and Novavax. N.T. and J.C. are employees of sanofi pasteur. G.J.G. reports no relevant conflicts."

* ►July 15, 2009 - The Imperative of Influenza Vaccines for Elderly Individuals—An Evolving Story - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases) - "Potential conflicts of interest: G.A.P. serves as an investigator for vaccine clinical studies funded by Wyeth and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). G.A.P. also serves as the chair of a safety evaluation committee for a novel influenza vaccine and other vaccines being developed by Merck Research Laboratories and offers consultative advice on new vaccine development to GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Novavax, Avianix, CSL Limited, and Spaldataq. M.J.M. directs NIH‐funded clinical trials of influenza vaccines and adjuvants produced by sanofi pasteur and Novartis. He is an investigator for non‐influenza vaccine trials funded by Merck and sanofi pasteur."

* ►July 15, 2009 - DNA Vaccination with a Single‐Plasmid Construct Coding for Viruslike Particles Protects Mice against Infection with a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A Virus - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 15, 2009 - A Live‐Attenuated Vaccine for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases)

* ►July 2009 - Medical Guide: Autoimmune Disorders 101 - Sacramento Magazine - "For instance, it seems clear there is a genetic predisposition to autoimmune disorders—there usually is a family history, risks are higher for identical twins, and it is common for people to develop more than one (someone with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis may also have rheumatoid arthritis or Addison’s disease). But here’s where the mystery comes in: What exactly triggers or sets off the disease process in some people and not in others? How does the immune system make such a mistake?"

* ►June 18, 2009 - The Signature Features of Influenza Pandemics — Implications for Policy (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 18, 2009 - Emergence of a Novel Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus in Humans (free full text) - Novel Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Investigation Team - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 18, 2009 - Triple-Reassortant Swine Influenza A (H1) in Humans in the United States, 2005–2009 (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 18, 2009 - Emergence and pandemic potential of swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus - journal article (Nature)

* ►June 18, 2009 - H1N1 Influenza A Disease — Information for Health Professionals (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 18, 2009 - Implications of the Emergence of a Novel H1 Influenza Virus (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►June 18, 2009 - WHO asked to review flu battle plan - Developing countries short of resources - Bangkok Post

* ►June 18, 2009 - Inventory Uncovers 9,200 More Pathogens - Laboratory Says Security Is Tighter, but Earlier Count Missed Dangerous Vials (requires registration) - Washington Post - "After four months of searching about 335 freezers and refrigerators at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Frederick, investigators found 9,220 samples that hadn't been included in a database of about 66,000 items listed as of February, according to Col. Mark Kortepeter, the institute's deputy commander."

* ►June 18, 2009 - All children should be offered swine flu vaccine this autumn to contain spread of pandemic, say researchers - Daily Mail, UK

* ►June 18, 2009 - Experts rethink tamiflu use as swine flu continues to spread - Birmingham Post

* ►June 18, 2009 - Swine drug 'wasted on mild virus' - The Age

* ►June 18, 2009 - Sambo Charges Religious Leaders on Utterances - ThisDay - "On the refusal of some families in the north to accept the polio vaccines, the governor told the religious leaders that included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and other top Emirs in the north that 'As our foremost leaders and fathers, you have a great role to play in enlightening and even enforcing the immunisation and treatment of those afflicted by the virus. 'We as Government, have provided the vaccines that will arrest the spread of the disease but our people have continuously defied all entreaties to compliment the efforts of government by being willing advocates of the vaccines and general immunisation efforts.'"

* ►June 17, 2009 - Global-health stars converge on Seattle - This week, Seattle is the "Davos" of global health, hosting four different gatherings of top scientists, government officials and private foundation leaders involved in improving the health of the world's poor. The most exclusive of all is the Health 8 — or H8 — meeting that brings together heads of seven international health organizations and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. - Seattle Times - "All of the events are invitation-only and press coverage is restricted. Journalists can attend the summit and research congress but must agree not to quote participants by name. Organizers say the rule allows for more open discussions."

* ►June 17, 2009 - Sudden Death from ADD Drugs OK. Treatable Chicken Pox and Measles Not. By Kim Stagliano - Age of Autism

* ►June 17, 2009 - HIV-positive speaker denied entry to Seattle health conference - Seattle Times - "As global health leaders from around the world met in Seattle for the first day of the Pacific Health Summit 2009, one speaker was notably absent. Paul Thorn, a British activist scheduled to speak today, said he was denied a U.S. visa because he is HIV positive. Thorn, project director of The Tuberculosis Survival Project, was scheduled as to participate in a discussion about the TB battle from the front lines."

* ►June 17, 2009 - Sanofi to donate 100 million flu shots to WHO - Reuters - "WHO can then send the vaccines to countries that need them most if it is decided to immunize people against the new strain of so-called swine flu, Sanofi Chief Executive Officer Christopher Viehbacher said. 'Exceptional times require exceptional responses. We need to act responsibly and we all have to play our part,' Viehbacher said in a statement released at the Pacific Health Summit in Seattle."

* ►June 17, 2009 - Two more deaths bring Utah's H1N1 death toll to 8 - Salt Lake Tribune - "Federal officials are still figuring out who should get the upcoming vaccine, which would be distributed through public clinics, not private doctors, to ensure the approved populations get it, [state epidemiologist Robert] Rolfs said. He said people will need two doses, in addition to a seasonal flu shot. And officials will have to maintain public confidence in the vaccine when those inoculated report side effects, he said. In 1976, a mass vaccination against a different swine flu led to reports of people being paralyzed, even as the outbreak never materialized."

* ►June 17, 2009 - Two more swine-flu deaths reported in NJ and Pa. - Philadelphia Inquirer

* ►June 17, 2009 - Calif. students stuck in China due to swine flu - AP via San Francisco Chronicle - "Each student is being held in a different room with a television and phone. Hotel employees make food runs for the students, who are not allowed to have personal contact with anyone — not even each other."

* ►June 17, 2009 - New Strain of Swine Flu Discovered in Brazil - A new strain of the swine flu virus has been discovered by Brazilian scientists. - AFP via FOX News - "The variant has been called A/Sao Paulo/1454/H1N1 by the Adolfo Lutz Bacteriological Institute, which compared it with samples of the H1N1 swine flu from California."

* ►June 17, 2009 - CDC rejects report of mutant H1N1 strain in Brazil - CIDRAP News

* ►June 17, 2009 - New Swine Flu Strain Found in Brazil: Report - HealthDay News via The Atlanta Journal Constituition

* ►June 17, 2009 - Risk factors for severe swine flu a wide umbrella under which many stand: experts - Canadian Press via CBC

* ►June 17, 2009 - Ministry says no need for Key to trigger special epidemic powers - New Zealand Herald

* ►June 17, 2009 - Barbados, Grenada turn away cruise over flu scare -  * Barbados, Grenada rebuff cruise ship over flu scare * No laboratory confirmation of H1N1 patients on board * Cruise industry economic mainstay for Caribbean states - Reuters

* ►June 17, 2009 - Medimmune Will Use Moral Sources for Swine Flu - Update on our press release June 16, 2009: New Swine Flu Vaccine Produced in Moral Cell Culture - Children of God for Life via Christian Newswire - "'This is great news for families worldwide,' stated Debi Vinnedge, Children of God for Life's Executive Director.  'Other companies such as Sanofi Pasteur and Medimmune are using aborted fetal cell line PER C6 as their cell culture.  Concerned families who may not have otherwise used the swine flu vaccine will now have a moral choice!'"

* ►June 17, 2009 - Schools to seek out students with insufficient immunizations - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

* ►June 17, 2009 - Children Rx ADHD Drugs 7.4 times increased risk of sudden death - Alliance for Human Research Protection

* ►June 17, 2009 - Children Suffer as States Cut Health Budgets - Wall Street Journal

* ►June 17, 2009 - Autism Mum Polly Tommey Meets PM Gordon Brown At Downing Street - Age of Autism

* ►June 17, 2009 - Continuous Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Needed to Adopt Timely Health Interventions: Presented at ESPID - Doctor's Guide

* ►June 17, 2009 - U.S. Attorney News Release: International Medical Device Maker and Four Executives Charged in Connection with Unlawful Clinical Trials - FDA

* ►June 17, 2009 - U.S. Attorney News Release: Business Owners Plead Guilty to Distributing Tainted Ingredient Used in Pet Food - FDA

►June 17, 2009 - What can we learn from past pandemics? - The World Health Organisation has declared swine flu a global pandemic. More than 1,300 people in the UK have been infected, and sadly we've recently seen this country's first death. What does pandemic flu mean, and what lessons can be learned from past pandemics? - BMJ Group via The Guardian, UK

* ►June 17, 2009 - Sanofi-Aventis to give pandemic flu vaccine to WHO - AP via Yahoo!

* ►June 17, 2009 - Swine Flu Vaccination Poses Serious Threat to Your Health - Prison Planet

* ►June 17, 2009 - Virus shuts Genzyme plant, holds up drugs for 8,000 - The Boston Globe - "The drugs are used by 8,000 people worldwide and cost about $200,000 per patient annually. While the virus has the ability to taint the drugs, it is not considered harmful to humans, officials said. The manufacturing plant will remain shut through July while it is decontaminated as a precaution."

* ►June 17, 2009 - Genzyme Production Delay Shows Problems in Making Biologics - The Wall Street Journal

* ►June 17, 2009 - Structures from the human immune system's oldest branch shed light on a range of diseases - Penn study has implications for treating bacterial infection and diseases of auto-immunity and inflammation - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine via EurekAlert!

* ►June 17, 2009 - New Therapies, Including Novel Biologic Agents from Elan/Wyeth and Eli Lilly, Will Drive Robust 11 Percent Annual Growth In the Alzheimer's Disease Market - Sales of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors, Which Currently Dominate the Market, Will Decline by $1 Billion from 2008 to 2018, According to a New Report from Decision Resources - PRNewswire

* ►June 17, 2009 - Upper Respiratory Infections - EmpowHer.com - "Recipe for the at-home cough syrup:"

* ►June 16, 2009 - Polio Vaccine Victim Wins Lawsuit Against Big Pharma - NaturalNews.com - "Shortly before the verdict came down, Lederle offered Tenuto a $10 million settlement agreement, which he rejected upon the advice of his lawyers. 'You need the money,' lead counsel Benedict Morelli told him, 'but before that, you need vindication.' After one day of deliberation, the jury ruled that Lederle had not only made a vaccine that was unreasonably dangerous, but that it had also failed to sufficiently warn doctors about the vaccine's risk. It ordered the company to pay Tenuto $5 million for medical and rehabilitation expenses and lost earnings, and $17.5 million for past and future pain and suffering."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Children’s Hospital study links deaths to post-flu issues - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via Philly.com

* ►June 16, 2009 - No compulsory MMR, minister says - The health minister has ruled out introducing compulsory MMR vaccinations saying it could make matters worse and damage trust in health professionals. - BBC

* ►June 16, 2009 - Report on Gene for Depression Is Now Faulted (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►June 16, 2009 - Report on risks to public criticized - Frederick News-Post - "The National Institutes of Health is proposing to transport laboratory personnel suspected of potentially having been occupationally exposed to infectious agents at the biodefense campus in Fort Detrick. They would be taken in a vehicle to a unit at the NIH Bethesda campus for observation and, if necessary, treatment, according to a copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement."

* ►June 16, 2009 - GM crops food security concern, says senior health regulator - Stock & Land - "Australia's long-term food security is being severely compromised by genetically modified crops and the use of pesticides, according to a former senior health regulator from Canada. Visiting Australia for the first time, Dr Shiv Chopra was in Canberra this week to launch his new book, Corrupt to the Core, about what he sees as the major threats to food safety from the use of 'genetically manipulated foods, pesticides and herbicides, hormones and antibiotics in animal production systems'. Far from being the answer to higher yields or a drought-proofing option, Dr Chopra told a forum in Parliament that genetically modified organisms and pesticides in particular were a serious threat to public health. He believes they are behind huge increases in cancer rates, neurological and reproductive disorders and breakdowns in immune systems. He said rather than being under the watch of the Minister for Agriculture, GM crops should be the responsibility of the Minister for Health."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Intervet/Schering-Plough launches new canine Lyme vaccine - DVM 360 - "The new vaccine calls for two doses, two to four weeks apart, with an annual booster thereafter. Data supporting one-year duration of immunity are on file with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Intervet reports. Safety studies demonstrated virtually no site reactions, the company adds."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine May Be Effective in Women 24 to 45 Years Old (requires registration) - The Lancet via Medscape Medical News

* ►June 15, 2009 - Sharing of patients’ data should not be based on implied consent, say GPs’ representatives - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 15, 2009 - Physician Confusion: Do Physicians "Sell" Prescription Drugs? - Drug and Device Law

* ►June 12, 2009 - WHO team rushes to Dibrugarh - The Hindu - "Dibrugarh District Joint Director (Health) P.C. Hazarika told The Hindu that this is the first time a VPDV [vaccine derived polio virus] strain has been reported in India. He said the child had been administered as many as 20 doses of polio vaccine including regular doses as well as under the pulse polio immunisation drive."

* ►June 12, 2009 - Real causes of autism - letter - Leader-Telegram

* ►June 12, 2009 - World Health Organization declares A (H1N1) influenza pandemic - journal article (BMJ)

* ►June 10, 2009 - An interview with Dr. Svetlana Kogan on vaccines - ChattahBox News Blog - "I think there is something very wrong with kids receiving a myriad of vaccinations from the moment they are born and through their childhood. How about the natural immunity I grew up with in Ukraine ? The delayed type IgG mediated immune response can be postulated to cause auto-immune diseases. Autism is considered, by some, to be a result of a some kid’s immune systems running a mock because of the vaccines, and turning against themselves."

* ►June 9, 2009 - Escondido: Kindergartener recovering from whooping cough - County: 27 cases so far this year - North County Times - "A 5-year-old kindergarten student at Pioneer Elementary School is recovering from pertussis, or whooping cough, health officials said Tuesday. The child developed the bacterial disease even after receiving the recommended five-part course of vaccinations, officials said. County Public Heath Officer Wilma Wooten explained that while the whooping cough vaccine greatly reduces the risk of developing the illness, no vaccine is 100 percent effective."

* ►2009 - Conflict of Interest Policies at Academic Medical Centers - AMSA

* ►Do Vaccines Work And Are They Safe? - Dr. Vernon Coleman

* ►August 2009 - Worksite policies related to influenza vaccination: A cross-sectional survey of US registered nurses. - journal article (Human Vaccines) - "Worksite policies supportive of HCP influenza vaccination were reported more frequently by vaccinated nurses and those in hospital-based settings. The majority of respondents supported the use of declination forms for influenza vaccination. Although many healthcare worksites have policies in place to support influenza vaccination among their employees, continued efforts to expand worksite policies and practices are important for increasing vaccination rates and may need to be targeted differently for hospital- and non-hospital-based settings."

* ►June 17, 2009 - H1N1 Vaccine - journal article (JAMA)

* ►June 17, 2009 - H1N1 Influenza Analysis - journal article (JAMA)

* ►June 17, 2009 - The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God, and Politics (book review) - journal article (JAMA)

* ►June 16, 2009 - Sebelius says kids may get swine flu shots first (includes video) - AP via Yahoo! - "Schoolchildren could be first in line for swine flu vaccine this fall — and schools are being put on notice that they might even be turned into shot clinics. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday she is urging school superintendents around the country to spend the summer preparing for that possibility, if the government goes ahead with mass vaccinations."

* ►June 16, 2009 - House passes $106 billion war funding bill (requires registration) - AP via Washington Post - "The $106 billion measure, in addition to about $80 billion for military operations, provides for an array of other spending priorities, including $7.7 billion to respond to the flu pandemic and more than $10 billion in development and security aid for Pakistan and Iraq as well as countries such as Mexico and the nation of Georgia."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Baby of British woman who died of swine flu also dies - CBC - "A Scottish government spokesman, who declined to be named in keeping with government policy, said the baby did not die from swine flu."

* ►June 16, 2009 - 2 die of swine flu in Manitoba as Canadian toll hits 11 - Manitoba cases now at 226 after 74 new ones confirmed Tuesday - CBC - "Two people in Manitoba have died after contracting swine flu virus, including a man who had no underlying medical conditions, provincial health officials said Tuesday. The man, who was in his 40s, was from the Winnipeg area, health officials said at a press conference. He had been admitted to hospital prior to his death."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Arsenic may play role in swine flu severity - Exposure via drinking water compromised immune response in mice; levels high in well water in Mexican areas affected by flu (requires registration) - Medical Post

* ►June 16, 2009 - H1N1-linked death toll rises - S.L. County » Six have died in region as hospitals report being inundated with patients with flu-like symptoms. - The Salt Lake Tribune

* ►June 16, 2009 - 7 More With Swine Flu Die, Raising the City's Total to 23 (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►June 16, 2009 - Analysis of the safety of using Tamiflu and Relenza in pregnant and breastfeeding women - Examiner.com

* ►June 16, 2009 - Swine flu cases 'expected' to hit 250 an hour across Barnet borough - Times Series, UK - "Stockpiles of antivirals have already been built up by Barnet PCT, and although there is currently no vaccine for the strain, plans for mass immunisation are being drawn up for when it is produced in about six months' time."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Children's Hospital study links deaths to post-flu issues - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via Philadelphia Inquirer - "Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, chief of allergy and immunology at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, published a study this month in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology showing that in many children who die from flu complications, the virus paralyzes the part of their immune systems designed to protect them against bacterial invaders. She estimated that in one-third of the children who die after flu infections, the virus immobilizes cells known as toll-like receptors, which are designed to alert the rest of the immune system to attack bacterial pathogens."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Pediatrician Dr. David Berger's Letter to Colleagues on Vaccination Safety Concerns By Dr. David Berger - Age of Autism

* ►June 16, 2009 - Father alleges police used excessive force against autistic son - Peoria Journal Star - "The father of a severely autistic man has sued the city and three police officers for Tasing his son 12 times when they arrested him last December after a disturbance at a Parc group home. 'They used excessive force against someone who was unable to respond to their commands or understand what they were saying,' said David Washington Jr., the father of David 'Davy' Washington III."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Evidence Based™ Architecture: When Other Professions Aspire to the Vaccine Industry's Rigorous Standards By Adriana Gamondes - Age of Autism

* ►June 16, 2009 - Synthes, 4 Executives Charges With Holding Trial Without FDA OK - Dow Jones via NASDAQ

* ►June 16, 2009 - 'FDA has a lot on its plate' as new chief takes over - USA Today

* ►June 16, 2009 - Hospital To Make Changes After Meningitis Cases - WBNS 10TV - "A Logan County hospital is implementing changes after two women contracted bacterial meningitis shortly after they gave birth last month. One woman died after contracting the disease. The other became gravely ill, 10TV News reported. Both women had undergone spinal anesthesia procedures in Mary Rutan Hospital's maternity ward. According to a report issued by the Ohio Department of Health, some hospital staff had not worn protective masks during the procedures, 10TV's Paul Aker reported. The state also said some expired drugs were found in circulation."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Report: VA Facilities Improperly Sterilized Colonoscopy Equipment - Federal Eye Blog via Washington Post - "An internal investigation out today finds that fewer than half of Veteran's Affairs facilities selected for random inspections had properly sterilized medical equipment used to perform colonoscopies, despite orders to comply with safety guidelines."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Germ Inventory Complete In Frederick - WBAL Radio - "The action at Fort Detrick was ordered in February after a spot check found 10 samples of Venezuelan equine encephalitis in a box of vials listed as containing 16."

* ►June 16, 2009 - Dundee family’s child checks claim - A Dundee couple claim there is a postcode lottery over the provision of child development checks (writes Marjory Inglis, medical reporter). - Evening Telegraph, UK - "“There is then a call made to attend for MMR immunisation at around one and further development checks at the following immunisation clinics. 'A national letter is sent around the age of two reminding parents of the child’s immunisation status and inviting them to contact their health visitor if they have any concerns. 'In the pre-school year, parents are again invited to bring their child for pre-school immunisations and further checks are carried out at this point if there are any concerns. There is also a programme of vision screening at pre-school."

* ►June 16, 2009 - 13-Valent Vaccine Expands Coverage Against Pneumococcal Disease, Safe With Routine Vaccination in Infants: Presented at ESPID - Doctor's Guide - "Concomitant administration of a 13-valent or 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13 and PCV7, respectively) with routine diphtheria tetanus and pertussis (DtaP), hepatitis B (HBV), polio (IPV), Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and meningococcal C (MnCC) vaccines does not interfere with the response to concomitantly administered vaccine antigens and elicits a likely effective antipneumococcal immune response in infants and toddlers. ... Three infants in the PCV13 group experienced severe adverse events (urinary tract infection, orchitis, pneumonia), as did 1 infant in the PCV7 group (gastroenteritis). All of these infants were hospitalised. None of the adverse events were considered related to vaccination."

* ►June 16, 2009 - The FDA vs. Science on Merck HPV Vaccine - Seeking Alpha - "Now ask yourself: If you line up a bunch of giddy 13-year-old girls for an injection that has something to do with sex, cancer and genital warts, would you expect more or fewer than 2 in 10,000 to faint during the process? A true cynic — employed by Merck! — might argue that the fainting rate is so low that Gardasil contains some sort of anti-fainting protection, based on these numbers."

* ►June 16, 2009 - GAVI’s AMC hopes to stimulate vaccine dev - The GAVI Alliance has launched an advance market commitment (AMC), which is using a $1.5bn (€1.1bn) fund to ensure the supply of pneumococcal vaccine to developing countries at affordable prices. - in-PharmaTechnologist.com

* ►June 16, 2009 - FDA Battles Swine Flu Swindlers - redOrbit

* ►June 16, 2009 - VA inspections show continued exam flaws - Study finds plan will still leave 36 million uninsured - The Washington Times

* ►June 16, 2009 - Red Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant Patients - journal article (Annals of Internal Medicine)

* ►June 16, 2009 - Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Products (Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size) - FDA - "FDA notified consumers and healthcare professionals to discontinue use of three Zicam Nasal Gel/Nasal Swab products sold over-the-counter as cold remedies because they are associated with the loss of sense of smell that may be long-lasting or permanent."

* ►June 15, 2009 - Vaccine market predicted to double by 2013 - The world vaccine market will more than double by 2013, according to a report by Kalorama Information, with growth driven by a strong pipeline and rising usage of current products. - in-PharmaTechnologist.com

* ►June 15, 2009 - China's Sinovac enters race for flu vaccine - CNBC

* ►June 15, 2009 - Holly Springs' fortunes rise - Pro-growth town finds itself well-positioned in hard times. - The News & Observer - "Holly Springs is one of three Wake towns eyeing budget increases for the coming fiscal year instead of deep cuts; the others are Apex and Wake Forest. In Holly Springs, more than half the increase in the town budget is the result of a single economic development project: a Novartis vaccine plant now under construction in the business park off N.C.55. When the factory opens later this year, Novartis is expected to add $213million to the town's property tax base and, eventually, 400 new jobs paying an average salary of $50,000 a year. To land the plant, the town pledged about $20million in road improvements, water and other infrastructure upgrades. Holly Springs also took out an $8million bank loan to pay for the land where the plant is being built."

* ►June 15, 2009 - Meriden Co. Manufactures 1st H1N1 Vaccine - Protein Sciences Corp. via WFSB Hartford

* ►June 15, 2009 - Fitch: H1N1 (Swine Flu) - A Reminder That Trade Bans Negatively Affect Cash Flow & Credit Profiles - Fitch Ratings via Business Wire

* ►June 15, 2009 - Stimulant Medications used in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - Communication about an Ongoing Safety Review - Products involved include: Focalin, Focalin XR (dexmethylphenidate HCl ); Dexedrine, Dexedrine Spansules, Dextroamphetamine ER, Dextrostat (dextroamphetamine sulfate); Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate); Desoxyn (methamphetamine); Concerta, Daytrana, Metadate CD, Metadate ER, Methylin, Methylin ER, Ritalin, Ritalin-LA, Ritalin-SR (methylphenidate); Adderall, Adderall XR (mixed salts amphetamine); Cylert (pemoline) and generics. - FDA

* ►June 15, 2009 - Sudden Death and Use of Stimulant Medications in Youths (full text) - journal article (The American Journal of Psychiatry)

* ►June 15, 2009 - Special Report: H1N1 Pandemic Is Here but Moderate in Severity - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

* ►June 15, 2009 - Pharma health means more jobs - China Daily

* ►June 15, 2009 - Donald Rumsfeld's Troubled Reign - The Washington Post - "Rumsfeld was instrumental in bringing the artificial sweetener aspartame (more commonly known as Nutrasweet) to market when he headed G.D. Searle and Company. His instrumental role in improving Searle's fortunes earned him his first millions when the company was sold in 1985. As for the flu vaccine, Rumsfeld maintained his stake in the pharmaceutical firm Gilead even after becoming defense secretary, and it was Gilead's influenza remedy, Tamiflu, that profited during the the bird flu scare in 2005."

* ►June 15, 2009 - Schering-Plough spent $600K lobbying gov't in 1Q - AP via Forbes

* ►June 15, 2009 - UAE makes big efforts to attract pharma - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is looking to establish itself as a prime location for pharmaceutical companies, with “massive amounts of money and huge incentives” being used to attract business. - Outsourcing-Pharma.com

* ►June 15, 2009 - Feds' new anti-fraud effort pressures doctors - A joint Justice Dept.-HHS program cracks down on fraud and abuse, while amendments to the False Claims Act expand the law's reach. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 15, 2009 - Practices feel financial pressure as patients ration their own care - Physicians say they have to consider cutting staff or reducing expenses in other ways as patients lose insurance and come in only when sick. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 15, 2009 - Doctors on Hill seek voice in reform debate - A recent upswing in the number of physicians in Congress has encouraged Republican doctors to organize their own health reform caucus. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 15, 2009 - AMA: Better care guidelines would slow health spending - Meanwhile, insurers suggest standardized transactions, and the Senate HELP Committee outlines a public health insurance plan that would pay doctors more than Medicare does. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►June 15, 2009 - Editor will quit over hoax paper - Computer-generated manuscript accepted for publication in open-access journal. - news (Nature)

* ►June 15, 2009 - Second Chance For Dangerous T-cells - The immune system's T-cells react to foreign protein fragments and therefore are crucial to combating viruses and bacteria. Errant cells that attack the body's own material are in most cases driven to cell death. Some of these autoreactive T-cells, however, undergo a kind of reeducation to become "regulatory T-cells" that keep other autoreactive T-cells under control. A group led by immunologist Professor Ludger Klein of LMU Munich has now shown that the developmental stage of an autoreactive T-cell is decisive to its ultimate destiny. - Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München via ScienceDaily

* ►June 15, 2009 - Thirteen hundred and twenty two families have won vaccine damage cases since 1988. by Christina England - American Chronicle

* ►June 15, 2009 - (the vaccine song) SAY NO TO THE VACCINE by trillion (feat. pataphysics & nRt) - video - Ztrillion via YouTube

* ►June 15, 2009 - FDA questions heart risk findings on ADHD drugs - Reuters - "'Because of the study's limitations, parents should not stop a child's stimulant medication based on the study,' an FDA statement said."

* ►June 15, 2009 - Readers respond to "Saving Juju" - letters - Minneapolis City Pages

* ►June 14, 2009 - Novartis won't give poor free H1N1 vaccines: report - Reuters - "Swiss drugs company Novartis will not give free vaccines against H1N1 flu to poor countries, though it will consider discounts, the Financial Times reported on Sunday."

* ►June 14, 2009 - How do people really feel about the drug industry? - World of DTC Marketing - "The eMails on Seroquel, and in the past having to due with Zyprexa, are both a violation of FDA policy and an attempt to put sales ahead of patients. When these mistakes happen th