Today's Top Stories (all those selected for the Home Page)

November 20, 2003 - Test May Predict Adverse Reaction to Smallpox Vaccinations - www.newswise.com

November 19, 2003 - Bill could require drug firms to test for children's dosages - AP via Houston Chronicle

November 19, 2003 - Clean Kids=Asthma? - WLNS Newscenter 6 - "It's been said "cleanliness is next to godliness," but it could also be giving kids asthma. There's a popular theory that eating a pound of dirt can strengthen a child's immune system. Now, some researchers say the hygiene hypothesis may be a clue to the recent rise in asthma."

November 19, 2003 - Remarks of U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. Before the National Summit on Autism - Press Release - www.house.gov

November 19, 2003 - Families Raise Concern Over Mercury In Vaccines - Debate Continues Over Past Use Of Thimerosal - Emmy nominated (regional) investigative report - WRAL - TV (aired 2002)

November 19, 2003 - Witnesses claim IBM feared chemical scare would cause 'mass hysteria' among workers - EE Times - "To prevent problems at the plant, each testified that they were directed by IBM managers to "contain" worker complaints of ailments that could have been related to overexposure to chemicals."

Influenza Vaccine - by Kris Gaublomme, MD - VRAN - "The most intriguing deception of the public, however, is the suggestion that the patient who gets an influenza-vaccination will not get the flu."

November 19, 2003 - CDC Director Denies Existence of U.S. Smallpox Immunization Program - Global Security Newswire - "In a sharp departure from previous public comments by senior U.S. officials, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that the United States never launched a smallpox vaccination program this year, but instead worked toward an overall preparedness campaign (see GSN, Oct. 28)."

Comment: No comment....

November 19, 2003 - US government teams with advocates against autism - Reuters - "The researchers also hinted that the new research may counter what they consider to be misleading ideas about autism, including fears that vaccines could cause the disorder."

November 19, 2003 - Natural Health Newsletter - Question of the Day - "Dr. Neustaedter:Might I respectfully suggest that you rewrite your article on whooping cough to encourage parents who choose not to vaccinate their children at least TELL others that fact - so that others can make informed judgments as to whether they want to expose their children to the increased risk of playing with unvaccinated children."

November 19, 2003 - Elimination of Acute Hepatitis B Among Adolescents After One Decade of an Immunization Program Targeting Grade 6 Students - journal article - "Conclusions: Acute HB has been eliminated in the immunized adolescent cohort. A higher carrier rate in urban regions most likely explains the apparent difference in program effectiveness between urban and rural regions."

For a different take on the alleged need for hepatitis B vaccination among adolescents and adults, go to Scandals: The CDC and “The New Math”, where 1 + 1  does not equal 2

November 19, 2003 - Soldier's Death Tied to Vaccines / Experimental Ebola vaccine attracts no volunteers - AHRP

U.S. Autism Clock - Fighting Autism

November 18, 2003 - Chickenpox Vaccine Okay for Nursing Mothers - Reuters Health via Medline - "The virus that is used in the chickenpox vaccine doesn't seem to enter a mother's breast milk or pass to feeding infants, new research shows. This means that nursing mothers who are susceptible to chickenpox do not need to wait to get the vaccine...Although chickenpox is often thought of as a childhood illness, adults can get it too and usually it is much more serious than in kids."

Comment:  But doesn't the vaccine make people more likely to get chickenpox as adults?

For other perspectives on the chickenpox vaccine go to: Rise in Shingles Cases Linked To Universal Chickenpox Vaccine Program by Gary S. Goldman, Ph.D. via Online Vaccines Conference at Redflagsdaily.com and Scandals: When is an oops not really an oops?  When you get to solve the problems you cause, and make money doing both!

November 18, 2003 - Early flu outbreaks have CDC worried - Abilene Reporter News - "But doctors are worried this year’s flu season could be brutal. Not only were the outbreaks early in Texas and Colorado, they involved a strain of influenza not targeted by the vaccine...Gerberding said the vaccine should still protect most people, because the strains are very similar. The changing flu strain is called a 'drift.'...'In the past, this has happened. It’s a very common thing,' she said. 'Whatever the drift is, the vaccine will still provide some cross-protection, so we’re optimistic that will be the case this year, but of course we’ll be watching it very carefully.'"

November 19, 2003 - MedImmune Says FluMist Sales Are Far Short of Target - Md. Firm Cites High Cost, Safety Concerns - The Washington Post

November 19, 2003 - Cases of West Nile Virus in Horses Drop - AP via www.ajc.com - "Cases of West Nile virus in horses have dropped off sharply across the country, and experts say a campaign of vaccinations is one reason why."

Comment:  Until and unless properly designed studies comparing vaccinated to never vaccinated horses are conducted, it will be impossible to know for sure what, if anything, is responsible for this apparent decline in West Nile Virus incidence.

November 19, 2003 - Hospital blasted for mishandling of biopsy tool - The Ottawa Citizen; With files from National Post via www.canada.com

November 19, 2003 - Message To Those Attending The Conference On Autism - from Viera Scheibner, Ph.D.

November 19, 2003 - Nasal Spray Mishaps - The New York Times - "It sounds like a marketer's dream - a flu vaccine that is given through a spray in the nose rather than an often painful shot in the arm. But attempts to sell such a vaccine this flu season have turned into a nightmare."

November 19, 2003 - Test of an Experimental Ebola Vaccine Begins - The New York Times

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