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

                                                         Vaccination News    

* ►November 20, 2008 - Govt seeks to buy bird flu vaccine - Qatar intends to purchase avian influenza vaccine and update its antiviral drug stocks as part of the ongoing preparedness against the disease which may become a pandemic. - Gulf Times

* ►November 20, 2008 - Pharmacists set for conference on drugs and their side effects - Daily Monitor, Uganda

* ►November 20, 2008 - Malaria Prevention in Short-Term Travelers (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►November 20, 2008 - GM canarypox vaccine gets green light - New Zealand Herald - "A live, genetically modified, canarypox virus vaccine has been given the green light to protect horses in New Zealand if there is a outbreak of equine influenza. If used, it will be the first time a genetically modified organism has been released into the environment."

* ►November 20, 2008 - Parents fight for vaccination choice - Conscientious objection option sought in New Jersey - Independent.gmnews.com

* ►November 20, 2008 - Vaccine hope in MS link to virus - Sydney Morning Herald - "Researchers from the University of Queensland yesterday confirmed a link between the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes glandular fever and is carried by more than 90 per cent of the world's population, and multiple sclerosis, saying the vaccine, developed to combat glandular fever, could save thousands of lives."

* ►November 20, 2008 - Researchers discover viral link to MS - transcript - AM via www.abc.net.au - "JOHN POLLARD: The evidence about Epstein-Barr virus is still circumstantial, as I say, it is not proven. So yes it is too far to go to say that anti-virals will cure MS or that vaccines will cure it. One can only go that far when this proposition is proven and it is by no means that at the moment."

* ►November 19, 2008 - First Report Linking Vaccine Aluminium With ME/CFS - Medical Hypothesis via The One Click Group

* ►November 19, 2008 - Vaccine Related Chronic Fatigue Syndrome In An Individual Demonstrating Aluminium Overload - Keele University via Medical News Today - "The result was a severe and ongoing immune response to elevated body stores of aluminium, which was initiated by a course of five aluminium adjuvant-based vaccinations within a short period of time. There are strong precedents for delayed hypersensitivity to aluminium in children receiving vaccinations which include aluminium-based adjuvants, with as many as 1% of recipients showing such a response."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Daschle Tapped for HHS Secretary - From Access to Health Care to Questions of Bioethics, Slew of Challenges Await  (includes video) - ABC News

* ►November 19, 2008 - David Kirby: Tom Daschle: Friend to Many Autism Families - The Huffington Post - "By nominating Tom Daschle to head up the agency, President Elect Obama has selected a man who has demonstrated an unflinching willingness to question vaccine safety, and to fight for the rights of those people who believe they have been, or may be, seriously injured by certain vaccinations."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Our Kids Somali or American - Age of Autism

* ►November 19, 2008 - An Open Letter to the Somali Parents of Minnesota By J.B. Handley - Age of Autism

* ►November 19, 2008 - All grown up — now where to go? - Autistic kids are quickly turning into autistic adults, and the growing population is straining social services and posing new challenges for parents who have to arrange care for them 24/7. - EastBayRI.com - "The Randall family’s journey into the world of autism began about two decades ago. Ms. Randall said things seemed normal when Andrew was an infant. He had met all his early milestones, such as taking a bottle, walking and talking. By the time he was 20 months old, however, his parents noticed that many of his skills were regressing. The doctors 'pooh-poohed' their concerns, according to Ms. Randall, and Andrew didn’t receive an official diagnosis of autism until age 4. 'He missed out on a lot of early therapy which could have really benefited him,' Ms. Randall said, who believes an earlier MMR vaccine — an immunization against measles, mumps and rubella — was the cause of Andrew’s condition."

* ►November 19, 2008 - The Only Thimerosal Free Vaccination Schedule By Julie Obradovic - Age of Autism

* ►November 19, 2008 - We Are All Somali! - Adventures in Autism

* ►November 19, 2008 - Autism needs more study - letter - Youngstown Vindicator

* ►November 19, 2008 - GWS Report: Funny How the Vaccine Message Changed - Anthrax Vaccine -- posts by Meryl Nass, M.D.

* ►November 19, 2008 - Refusing to Vaccinate - video - MyFox Boston

* ►November 19, 2008 - ME/CFS Charities Parliamentary Stitch Up Rolled Out - Campaigning for Research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis via The One Click Group

* ►November 19, 2008 - Are Vaccinations Causing Early Alzheimer's? By Byron J. Richards, CCN - www.newswithviews.com - "This past week the Wall Street Journal ran an article on a man getting Alzheimer’s in his 40s, one of 500,000 Americans with early onset. The notion that this problem is striking ever earlier sent shock waves through the country and left people wondering why this is happening. Clearly, there are many inflammatory factors in one’s life and gene-related weaknesses involved. However, theoretical data on the inflammatory nature of vaccines, especially in the large numbers given to children at an early age while their nerves are developing response patterns for future life, means that they cannot be ruled out as one main factor that primes the Alzheimer’s pump."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Wyeth claims no GCP lapse as India suspends vaccine trial (requires subscription for full article) - Scrip World Pharmaceutical News - "Wyeth says that there were no GCP (good clinical practice) lapses in its now-suspended Indian pneumococcal conjugate vaccine trial. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) halted the trial following the death of an infant, alleging that the company had flouted the inclusion-exclusion criteria for the study."

* ►November 19, 2008 - GM Maize Reduces Fertility & Deregulates Genes in Mice - Comprehensive long term studies commissioned by the Austrian government reveal that mice fed GM maize produced fewer and smaller litters with many genes affected compared to controls. Dr. Mae-Wan Ho - Institute of Science in Society

* ►November 19, 2008 - Glaxo rejected Maryland doctor's Avandia warning: report - MarketWatch - "GlaxoSmithKline ... rejected a warning from a Maryland doctor in 2000 that its Avandia drug was linked to congestive heart failure, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing the internist involved. The report also said the Food and Drug Administration was 'unresponsive.' A Glaxo spokeswoman told the paper the doctor's claim was unsubstantiated and acknowledged the firm asked the doctor's hospital not to publicize their view."

* ►November 19, 2008 - FDA: J&J’s Risperdal and Lilly’s Zyprexa Are Over-Used in Kids - BNET

* ►November 19, 2008 - Barton Asks GAO To Review FDA's Handling Of Heparin Scandal - Dow Jones via CNNMoney - "Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, on Thursday raised questions about the adequacy of the Food and Drug Administration's handling of a scandal involving a contaminated blood thinner amid concerns the agency misreported deaths tied to the product and didn't thoroughly investigate the problem."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Pro-vaccine columnist won't give her kids flu shots - The Douglass Report - "Kotz also points out that 'several of the children who died from the flu last year had been vaccinated against it.' It's hard to make the pro-vaccine argument with that little nugget of truth, right? And I'd find it difficult to be properly motivated to expose my children to the risks of flu shots when, as Kotz writes, "The vaccine is 75 percent effective at preventing flu." So for all that exposure to anaphylactic shock and paralysis, there's still a one in four chance that you'll still get the flu. And it could still kill you. Makes you want to keep your kids' sleeves rolled down, doesn't it?"

* ►November 19, 2008 - Shots All Around! - The case for immunizing everyone against the flu. - Slate Magazine

* ►November 19, 2008 - Experts weigh advisability of school-based flu shots - CIDRAP News

* ►November 19, 2008 - Egg Free Flu Vaccine (includes video) - KDRV.com - "A few flu seasons ago, Dr. Christine Hay's work followed her home when her young daughter got sick. 'And then the rest of us started getting sick one after another, all again with the flu, all of us having been vaccinated,' says Hay. Incredibly, the family's flu experience repeated itself the following year, when the shot didn't match the circulating strains, victims of the educated guessing that goes into the annual vaccine."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Merck's 2008: The Year That Wasn't - RTT News - "With regulatory setbacks and patent expiration of one of its blockbuster drugs, it cannot be disputed that Merck suffered some of the biggest blows in 2008. To top it all, the demise of potential blockbusters like Taranabant and Cordaptive has tossed a wrench into the company's efforts to boost its bottom line. However, it has not been all gloomy for Merck in 2008. Now that the FDA has expanded the usage of Gardasil vaccine to treat cancers of the vagina and vulva, which affect more than 5,000 women in the U.S. each year, Merck may see an uptick in Gardasil sales."

* ►November 19, 2008 - FDA Panel Slams Rising Antipsychotic Use In Kids - Pharmalot - "After a steady stream of reports that antipsychotics are increasingly prescribed to children, often for unapproved uses, such as treating attention deficit disorders (back story), an FDA advisory committee yesterday chastised the FDA for not doing more to discourage such prescribing."

* ►November 19, 2008 - A Heavy Heart: The FDA Weighs CV Side Effects - Pharmalot - "The rise of serious heart risks in drugs that treat chronic conditions has become one of the FDA’s top worries and is changing how the agency weighs new meds, according to John Jenkins, director of the agency’s Office of New Drugs. And so the FDA is thinking about how to weigh possible side effects as more drugs used to treat diabetes, pain and other conditions also appear linked to heart attacks."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Silence! Glaxo Intimidated Another Avandia Critic - Pharmalot

* ►November 19, 2008 - Wellness centers tapped for three high schools - Gaithersburg, Watkins Mill and Wheaton propsed for programs for uninsured - Bowie Star - "The centers are funded out of Health and Human Services and built as additions to the school, costing an average of $1.3 million to construct. In the health care half, they offer a range of services including prescriptions, on-going treatment and immunizations. That aspect of the center is staffed by health technicians and the school nurse. A nurse practitioner is on hand four days a week; a pediatrician is there once a week."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Whooping cough makes a comeback in Alexandria - Alexandria Echo Press - "Another reason Westby expected a breakout of pertussis is because the last time most people were immunized, they were 6 years old. And now, a new, better-tolerated vaccine, Tdap, has been developed and people should be getting it, she said. She hopes that next fall, the Minnesota Department of Health or the Centers for Disease Control will implement a requirement that all students either entering kindergarten or 7th grade receive the new pertussis vaccine."

* ►November 19, 2008 - FDA opens office in China - USA Today - "In China, eight American employees, with expertise in food, medicine and medical devices, will work with Chinese government agencies and producers to raise standards and guarantee quality before goods are bound for the United States."

* ►November 19, 2008 - What he loves likely sickened him - The State - "Though it’s hard to say with 100 percent medical certainty, Daniel DeCamps, Stone’s longtime doctor, said Stone’s symptoms are consistent with a classic case of mercury poisoning. 'I feel his high mercury levels are attributed to the fact he ate so much (local) fish,' said DeCamps of Lake City. Stone describes it this way: 'I just felt so bad, had hair loss, fatigued, just got to the point where I could hardly go. I couldn’t remember things.' He also had terrible joint pains. ... DeCamps says mercury can affect different people differently. Stone’s blood levels were four times higher than accepted safe levels, DeCamps said."

* ►November 19, 2008 - DHEC lowering mercury limits, but not far enough, some say - The State

* ►November 19, 2008 - GM horse flu vaccines gets go ahead - http://tvnz.co.nz - "GE Free New Zealand president Claire Bleakley says if one of the stable hands had the flu and the horse did as well, we could have a mutation worse than SARS. ERMA admits there is a potential risk but says it's highly improbable."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Feedback: People ‘On Gard’ Over Gardasil - WWNYtv.net

* ►November 18, 2008 - Feedback: Local Woman Says Gardasil Killed Her Daughter (includes video) - WWNYtv.net - "Lisa Ericzon isn’t alone in saying Gardasil killed her daughter. Christine Tarsell, a 21 year old from Maryland died suddenly in June of 2007 - three weeks after her third Gardasil shot. The cause of death was undetermined. Her mother, Emily, blames Gardasil. Amber Kaufmann, a 16 year old from Missouri, died in April of 2008 - three days after her second Gardasil shot. She had a seizure, stopped breathing and was taken off life support several days later. Her cause of death was listed as 'cardiac disturbance of undetermined etiology'. Her mother, Terri Collins, blames Gardasil. Together, Jessie Ericzon, Christine Tarsell and Amber Kaufmann are three of the 27 deaths that have been reported following a Gardasil injection."

* ►November 18, 2008 - Somali Gloves Come Off: Autism in Minnesota - SOMALI GLOVES COME OFF – A mother’s letters to the Minnesota Department of Health By David Kirby - Age of Autism

* ►November 18, 2008 - Autism Strikes 1 in 28 Somali Children in Minnesota By Nancy Hokkanen - Age of Autism

* ►November 18, 2008 - Minnesota Tracked Down Pig Brain Disease, Ignores Autism? By Kim Stagliano - Age of Autism

* ►November 18, 2008 - Paul Offit's Lies: I got me a lawyer. By J.B. Handley - Age of Autism

* ►November 18, 2008 - Gulf War Illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans: Scientific Findings and Recommendations - Anthrax Vaccine -- posts by Meryl Nass, M.D.

* ►November 18, 2008 - My Son Was Autistic. Is He Still? (requires registration) - Washington Post - "Leo, identified as No. C1059, underwent the scans as part of a research study at the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut. He was thrilled to earn $200 for taking part. I smiled along with him, because I could remember the days when he had a limited range of emotions, and pride was not one of them. The study is examining 35 children, ranging in age from 8 to 17, who once had an autism-spectrum diagnosis but no longer do."

* ►November 18, 2008 - Use of Antipsychotics in Children Is Criticized (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►November 18, 2008 - HIB Vaccine Shortage (includes video) - KIMA CBS 29, Yakima, WA - "Last December the maker of the vaccine recalled about a million H-I-B vaccine doses because of a possible contamination. That caused a shortage. Doctors are now relying on one manufacturer. "That has not happened at this point and it looks like the shortage will occur through the middle of 2009."..."Because the HIB vaccine has been around for a while, the health department says the risk of the disease is virtually wiped out here and in other countries strong on immunizations. Point is, don't get scared if your baby has to miss a booster. "

* ►November 18, 2008 - How Can I Provide Accelerated Hepatitis Vaccination for Last Minute Travellers? (requires registration) - Medscape Nurses

* ►November 18, 2008 - Leash Attached to Autistic Student (ABC) (video) - ABC News via newsclipper.org

* ►November 18, 2008 - State proposes a mandatory autism registry - Press of Atlantic City

* ►November 18, 2008 - 20 questions about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via St. Cloud Times

* ►November 15, 2008 - I-Team: Lawyers Question Medical Tests on Foster Kids (includes video) - KLAS-TV Las Vegas Now - "This is a story about an eight-year-old boy in foster care. A boy we've never met. He exists for us only as a name on a letter questioning his mental health treatment. But his lawyer Janice Wolf wants us to remember Nathaniel is real. 'Some of the things our kids have gone through, you and I could only imagine in our dreams, or nightmares.' Nathaniel described vivid nightmares according psychiatric records obtained by the I-Team. During his first of two hospitalizations at Montevista, Dr. Mark Collins ordered a procedure called a brain spect. It requires the injection of radioactive material to illuminate blood flow in the brain."

* ►November 2008 - A role for the body burden of aluminium in vaccine-associated macrophagic (pdf) - journal article (Medical Hypotheses)

* ►November 2008 - Autism spectrum disorder-associated biomarkers for case evaluation and management by clinical geneticists (full text) (pdf) - journal article (Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics) via www.usautism.org

* ►Volume 2 Number 4, 2008 - Catholic bioethical perspectives on Ontario’s HPV vaccination - journal article (Open Medicine)

* ►December 2008 - Prevalence of Markers for Hepatitis B Virus and Vaccination Compliance Among Medical School Students in Italy - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

* ►December 2008 - The long-term functional status in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome - journal article (European Journal of Neurology)

* ►December 2008 - Antiviral Therapy for Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) Infection at 2 Thai Medical Centers: Survey Findings and Implications for Pandemic Preparedness - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

* ►November 20, 2008 - Mercury Dental Amalgams Banned in 3 Countries - FDA, EPA, ADA Still Allow and Encourage Heavy-Metal Fillings - press release - Orthomolecular Medicine News Service - "Any science teacher encouraging students to put mercury in their mouths would be fired for gross negligence and likely prosecuted for endangering the health of a child. Yet dentists do it every day."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Groups Work to Boost Support for Vaccines - (JAMA)

* ►November 19, 2008 - Chelation Therapy Trials Halted - (JAMA)

* ►November 19, 2008 - DPT, hepatitis shots in short supply - Times of India

* ►November 19, 2008 - Pharmaceutical Industry Hustlers - Part II - Pushers of SSRI Antidepressants by Evelyn Pringle - Scoop.co.nz - "To gain approval for treating children, all a drug company has to do is submit two positive studies to the FDA to prove a medication is safe and effective for kids. However, after 20 years of feeding the new generation of antidepressants to tens of thousands of kids in clinical trials, the only one ever approved is Prozac."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Rickets returns to Birmingham - Birmingham Post - "Figures show there were 65 cases of rickets in children under five in Birmingham between 2001 and 2003."

* ►November 19, 2008 - Half of eligible women have jab - New Zealand Doctor Online

* ►November 18, 2008 - Give Gardasil cervical cancer vaccine to boys, says inventor - Giving the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil to boys will help wipe out the cancer-causing human papilloma virus, the vaccine's inventor says. - The Advertiser via AdelaineNow

* ►November 18, 2008 - Mandatory autism registry proposed - Press of Atlantic City

* ►November 18, 2008 - How Much Did Our Family Spend on Autism? - mom.notcalm

* ►November 18, 2008 - Raising an Autistic Child - transcript (requires registration) - Washington Post - "Can a child recover from autism? After receiving several different kinds of therapy, Jane Lytel's son may be one of the few children to do so. She was online Tuesday, Nov. 18 at noon ET to discuss her son's journey. She was joined by Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, one of the world's leading autism experts and the director of the Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine."

* ►November 18, 2008 - Lung Cancer Vaccine - News4Jax.com

* ►November 18, 2008 - County officials look to trim 20% from budget - East Valley Tribune - "For the past week, Maricopa County public health officials have been figuring out how to return federal money they've already spent on vaccines. The federal Centers for Disease Control cut the department's immunization funding for this year by 25 percent earlier this month, said Dr. Bob English, the county's public health director. Nearly all that cash has already been spent."

* ►November 18, 2008 - Vaccine Impresario, Todd Patrick, At it Again With Immunization Against Strep Throat - Xconomy Seattle - "'I can remember going on the road to meet with investors, and nobody wanted to talk to us,' Patrick says. Then came the hepatitis B vaccine, made through modern genetic engineering, which Merck and Glaxo offered at $150. Then came the haemophilus influenzae type B at $100 a dose. A new chickenpox vaccine at $150. Then the motherlode: Wyeth’s pneumococcal vaccine for infants (Prevnar) was approved by the FDA in 2000. At $230 for a four-dose course of therapy, it created a market that generated $2.4 billion in sales last year. 'It’s been about pricing,' Patrick says. 'If you can get good margins, capital will be attracted.'"

* ►November 18, 2008 - Gulf war syndrome is real, says US report - New Scientist

* ►November 18, 2008 - Ethics professor said HPV vaccine fits with Catholic values - Board reconsiders its ban Wednesday - The Sault Star

* ►November 18, 2008 - Gardasil Vaccination Results in Three Outbreaks of Genital Warts in Fiji School Children - LifeSiteNews.com

* ►November 18, 2008 - Case Strengthens For HPV Vaccination In Boys - Clinical Oncological Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting via Medical News Today

* ►November 18, 2008 - Gardasil for boys and girls - transcript - PM via www.abc.net.au - "MICHAEL TURTLE: Do you personally have a vested interest in this being expanded to boys? IAN FRAZER: I have had my male children vaccinated; I think that that's good thing to do because I don't want anybody to be at risk of a cancer they don't need to be. But I'm also a beneficiary of any vaccine sales though royalties and therefore it would be inappropriate for me to specifically advocate for increasing the amount of vaccine that gets sold."

* ►November 18, 2008 - School system gives 1,600 students FluMist - Asheville Citizen-Times - "The school district and department of public health were chosen by the North Carolina Immunization Branch to be one of four pilot counties to participate in the FluMist campaign."

* ►November 18, 2008 - Older people should have the flu jab this winter, warn experts - Editorial: Influenza vaccine in the over-65s - BMJ-British Medical Journal via EurekAlert!

* ►November 18, 2008 - OAPs told: Ignore flu-jab sceptics - The Scotsman

* ►November 18, 2008 - New Survey Finds Mothers See Influenza as a Serious Health Threat, but Often Don't Get Their Families Vaccinated - American Lung Association's 2008 Faces of Influenza survey underscores that mothers need to get families immunized against influenza; Mother and Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi joins initiative (includes video) - press release - American Lung Association via PRNewswire

* ►November 18, 2008 - UNICEF Inducted Into Polio Hall Of Fame - Medical News Today - "UNICEF was inducted into the Polio Hall of Fame today in recognition of its role as a founding partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The other three founding partners in the initiative-Rotary International, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-were also inducted."

* ►November 18, 2008 - Academy names midshipman who died from meningitis - 66 at academy get antibiotics, monitoring as precaution - Annapolis Capital - "The Naval Academy administers a meningococcal vaccine to all newly reporting midshipmen, including Naval Academy Preparatory School midshipmen candidates, in accordance with a Department of Defense policy, the news release states....The vaccine covers nearly 70 percent of the possible agents that can cause meningitis, but does not protect against Niesseria meningitis, subtype B, the news release states."

* ►November 18, 2008 - MRSA: Patients revolt against hospital secrecy - MRSA: Consumers have launched a battle against hospital secrecy and demanded aggressive steps to control infections like MRSA. But in Washington state, MRSA rates remain hidden and state initiatives to combat the drug-resistant germ have come up short. - Seattle Times

* ►November 18, 2008 - Inovio reports positive interim results from Phase I/II hepatitis study - Trading Markets - "ChronVac-C is a therapeutic DNA-based vaccine given to individuals already infected with the hepatitis C virus with the aim of clearing the infection from the liver by boosting the body's immune response against the virus. Inovio's electroporation technology is being used to deliver the vaccine and is intended to enhance the potency of the DNA vaccine."

* ►November 18, 2008 - Which Kills Smokers: "Camels" or Carrots? - Are Smokers Getting Lung Cancer From Beta-Carotene? - press release - Orthomolecular Medicine News Service

* ►November 18, 2008 - Half of primary-care doctors in survey would leave medicine (includes video) - CNN - "The survey, released this week by the Physicians' Foundation, which promotes better doctor-patient relationships, sought to find the reasons for an identified exodus among family doctors and internists, widely known as the backbone of the health industry."

* ►November 18, 2008 - UK Government Policy On Pesticides Ruled Unlawful - Georgina Downs statement outside High Court Friday 14th Nov. 2008 - The One Click Group

* ►November 18, 2008 - Iraq And Afghanistan Wars - New Gulf War Syndrome - The Guardian via The One Click Group

* ►November 18, 2008 - Gulf War Syndrome - Dark Psychiatric Malfeasance Exposed - Reuters via The One Click Group - "One Click Note: The professional death knell for UK psychiatrist Simon Wessely, who has been so much involved with this illness is sounding. For many years, Wessely et al have maintained that Gulf War Syndrome is a somatic disorder. Science from the United States now proves otherwise."

* ►November 18, 2008 - FDA Considers Zyprexa Warnings For Kids - Newsinferno.com

* ►November 18, 2008 - Fluorescence Used To Develop Method For Detecting Mercury In Fish - Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a simple and quick method for detecting mercury in fish and dental samples, two substances at the center of public concern about mercury contamination. The technique involves a fluorescent substance that glows bright green when it comes into contact with oxidized mercury. The intensity of the glow indicates the amount of mercury present. - University of Pittsburgh via ScienceDaily

* ►November 18, 2008 - Tainted meats point to superbug C. diff in food - Study finds gut germ in 40 percent of grocery meats; CDC says not to worry - MSNBC - "'With difficile, you can eat a nice, thick braunschweiger sandwich today, then two weeks from now you get strep throat, take antibiotics and develop difficile-related disease,' Songer explained. 'You're weeks separated from the event.'"

* ►November 18, 2008 - Drawbacks of a 'miracle' drug - Bradford Telegraph and Argus - "It was such an amazing invention that Dr Fleming used one chapter of the book to predict how it could be used to prevent, as well as cure, the diseases that afflicted mankind. One of his suggestions, for example, was that lumps of penicillin powder could be put in the air intakes of air-conditioning systems in factories, so that people would breathe in the magic drug as they worked. This, he said, would soon get rid of coughs, colds and flu and make the general population healthier. Of course, this sounds ridiculous now. Soon after his book was published, penicillin’s drawbacks started to worry doctors. People became allergic to it, something no-one had predicted. It was only useful against a proportion of the germs it was prescribed for, and even the germs that were initially susceptible to it started to show resistance to it. The factory intake idea was soon lost in a welter of criticism. Mass medication of the population was dropped as an idea, and it hasn’t been raised again."

* ►November 17, 2008 - Governments urged to take broader perspective when considering whether to fund vaccines - Including quality-of-life impacts in assessments of national vaccination programs would lead to many benefits, including improved productivity and less sick leave for parents, according to an editorial co-authored by a University of New South Wales (UNSW) researcher, that has appeared in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. - University of New South Wales News-Medical.Net

* ►November 17, 2008 - A Wolfe in Wolf’s Clothing - Consumer safety advocate Sidney Wolfe took Big Pharma to task over DTC advertising during his first appearance as a permanent member of the Drug Safety & Risk Management Advisory Committee. For sponsors with other pending products, it was just a taste of what can be expected. - The RPM Report

* ►November 17, 2008 - Infant Death Investigation - News Channel 5 TV - "Public health investigators got involved because the baby, only a few weeks old, died from whooping cough, an extremely contagious bacterial infection. The baby died at Edinburg regional hospital. Hospital administrators have not returned our phone calls, but we're told they immediately got the health department involved."

* ►November 17, 2008 - Young Children Now Being Targeted For Statin Drug Use - NaturalNews.com

* ►November 17, 2008 - Common Ear Disease Causes Deafness, Meningitis, Facial Paralysis - PressRelease NewsWire via EIN News - "Cholesteatomas can form as a cyst behind the eardrum. These cysts are made of skin cells which multiply. As the cholesteatoma grows, it can damage structures in the middle or inner ear. Bacteria can also grow inside or near the cyst. Hearing loss and dizziness can ensue."

* ►November 14, 2008 - Hepatitis B triple series vaccine and developmental disability in US children aged 1–9 years (pdf) - journal article (Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry) "This study found statistically significant evidence to suggest that boys vaccinated with the triple Hepatitis B vaccine, during the time period in which vaccines were manufactured with thimerosal, were at significantly greater odds to receive EIS (early intervention or special education services) than were unvaccinated boys. Boys were also at greater odds to receive EIS than were both vaccinated and unvaccinated girls. The finding of a significantly greater proportion of boys with developmental disability is consistent with reports in the literature (Bailey et al. 2004; Montes and Halterman 2006). However, the association between vaccination with the triple series Hepatitis B vaccination and receiving EIS is a new finding, and warrants discussion."

* ►November 14, 2008 - Invasive, paediatric, vaccine strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae: Are there differences in clinical characteristics? - journal article (Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases)

* ►November 14, 2008 - Report Reveals Pesticide Incidents At Oregon Schools - Beyond Pesticides

* ►November 14, 2008 - Hypoxic–ischemic changes in SIDS brains as demonstrated by a reduction in MAP2-reactive neurons - journal article (Acta Neuropathologica)

* ►November 14, 2008 - Battle of the X's (requires registration) - The Scientist - "In the course of human history, something wonky happened to the levels of genetic diversity on the X chromosome -- scientists just can't agree on what."

* ►November 13, 2008 - Lymph node injections offer fast allergy therapy - Reuters Health via Yahoo!

* ►October 31, 2008 - JANE DOE/23, Petitioner, v. SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. (pdf) - Office of Special Masters - U.S. Court of Federal Claims - "Each expert in the instant case agrees that optic neuritis is frequently a hallmark for MS. There is a logical sequence of cause and effect connecting petitioner’s exposure to hepatitis B vaccine and her onset of demyelinating disease. Petitioner has proved causation in fact."

* ►October 8, 2008 - CHRISTINE LEE, Petitioners, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. (pdf) - Office of Special Masters - U.S. Court of Federal Claims - "Stipulation; influenza vaccine; transverse myelitis."

* ►Vaccine Cases (PUBLISHED) - U.S. Court of Federal Claims
New published decisions will be added periodically, so continue to check this link

* ►Vaccine Cases (UNPUBLISHED) - U.S. Court of Federal Claims
New published decisions will be added periodically, so continue to check this link

* ►Omnibus Autism Proceeding - Vaccine Program/Office of Special Masters - U.S. Court of Federal Claims

* ►Dr Nagui MICKHAEL From : 29 November 2008   To : 30 November 2008 - Category : Fitness to Practise Hearings - General Medical Council Press Office, UK - "It is also alleged Dr Mickhael failed to adhere to a programme of immunisation in respect of a number of children and, in doing so, his conduct was not in the best interests of those children and not of the standard expected of a reasonably competent general practitioner. Further, it is alleged that, in doing so, Dr Mickhael gained a pecuniary advantage and that his conduct was financially motivated."

* ►Vaccine Reaction Report Form - Australian Vaccination Network via www.avn.org.au

* ►November 17, 2008 - Novartis to shift 100 jobs - Business Standard - "At a time when global pharmaceutical companies such as Merck and Pfizer are trimming their workforce to beat the economic blues, Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical major, has decided to shift 100 jobs to India."

* ►November 17, 2008 - Calls for Harney to resign over end to cancer vaccine scheme - The Irish Times - "Campaigners protesting over the scrapping of the cervical cancer vaccination programme for girls have called on Minister for Health Mary Harney to resign. About 100 people took part in a protest at the Spire on O'Connell Street in Dublin on Saturday afternoon during which the Government was urged to reverse its 'damaging' decision."

* ►November 17, 2008 - Nigeria’s Polio Cases Embarrassing, Says Sambo - ThisDay, Nigeria - "...Sambo said the north’s high cases of the virus is not helped by unscrupulous immunisation officers, who dig holes and bury the oral polio vaccines meant for  children and then come back to report that they have administered it."

* ►November 16, 2008 - NJ Vaccination Choice Rally On Autism One Radio - Age of Autism - "Managing Editor's Note:  From our friends at Autism One.  You'll see some familiar faces including Bob Krakow in Part 1 at 53 minutes, John Gilmore in Part 1 at 56 minutes, Kim Stagliano in Part 2 at 5 minutes, Sandy Gottstein of Vaccination News in Part 2 at 20 minutes and Kevin Barry in Part 2 at 10 minutes."

* ►November 16, 2008 - WSAV Savannah Georgia Allows Autism Vaccine Discussion By Kim Spencer - Age of Autism

* ►November 16, 2008 - Australian scientist to unveil skin cancer vaccine: reports - AFP via Google

* ►November 16, 2008 - S.D. gets windfall from drug lawsuits - Attorney general, others have ideas for best use of $3.23M - Argus Leader

* ►November 16, 2008 - Tween 80 ( Polysorbate 80) - Exploring Vaccines

* ►November 16, 2008 - 'Sexual politics' in vaccine move - Worry over 'promiscuity' stigma - Irish Independent - "Former Health Minister, Rory O'Hanlon, who is also a medical doctor, last week told the Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting, as well as the Dail, that there were 'several reasons to be cautious in regard to human papilloma virus vaccination'. He told the Dail: 'Side effects have been reported which require further investigation. The vaccine has not been introduced in at least seven European countries.'"

* ►November 16, 2008 - Proportion of unsafe injections more in rural areas: Study - ZEENews.com - "Rural India is more at risk as far as unsafe injections during vaccinations are concerned, according to a new study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)."

* ►November 16, 2008 - 10 major miscues - The State - "For years, DHEC tested fish in S.C. rivers and lakes for signs of mercury contamination and developed booklets describing the dangers of eating those fish. But the agency warned residents of the dangers only by notifying newspapers and radio and television outlets. Only this year, after media scrutiny, did DHEC post signs where the public could see them — at boat landings and fishing spots. Mercury poisoning can cause brain and nerve damage."

* ►November 16, 2008 - New lab on front line of next germ scare - Columbia Tribune - "Staying one step ahead of disease is the goal of the $18 million Regional Biocontainment Laboratory dedicated yesterday at the University of Missouri. There, scientists will study diseases including the plague, anthrax and "Q Fever" in a safe, contained environment."

* ►November 16, 2008 - China, America and melamine - International Herald Tribune - "A related area of agricultural concern is animal feed. Chinese eggs seized last month in Hong Kong, for instance, contained elevated levels of melamine because of the melamine-laden wheat gluten used in the feed for the chickens that produced the eggs. To think American consumers are immune to this unscrupulous behavior is to ignore the Byzantine reality of the global gluten trade. Tracking the flow of wheat gluten around the world is like trying to contain a drop of dye in a churning whirlpool. More ominous, the United States imports most of its wheat gluten. Last year, for instance, the FDA reported that millions of Americans had eaten chicken fattened on feed with melamine-tainted gluten imported from China. Around the same time, Tyson Foods slaughtered and processed hogs that had eaten melamine-contaminated feed. The government decided not to recall the meat."

* ►November 16, 2008 - Canada mad cow case blamed on feed manufacturer - The Canada Food Inspection Agency says a British Columbia feed manufacturer is the most likely source of the country's 13th case of mad cow disease. - Merco Press

* ►November 15, 2008 - Cervical Cancer Strikes Poor Women Hardest - Of the 490,000 women worldwide who are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, 80 percent live in the developing world. Every year, 55,000 women in sub-Saharan Africa alone develop this disease, which is ten times more likely to affect women living with HIV. - Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS)

* ►November 15, 2008 - Science makes 'good bugs' to fight 'bad bugs' - McClatchy Newspapers via TwinCities.com

* ►November 15, 2008 - Crop sprays a risk to health, rules High Court - People living in the countryside are at risk from crop sprays and must be given better protection, the High Court has ruled. - Telegraph, UK

* ►November 15, 2008 - St. Luke's Partially Shut Down Due to Mercury (includes video) - Fox 12 Boise - "A mercury contamination scare at St. Luke's Medical Center Friday night. It all started when a baby bit off the end of thermometer exposing the child and family to mercury. The mom and grandma brought the baby to the emergency department. Hazmat teams and the Meridian Fire Department were called in to assess the area and test it for mercury exposure. They didn't find any. Still, St. Luke's took the necessary precautions. 'Mercury's a toxic substance,' said Beth Toal, spokesperson for St. Luke's, 'So anytime we realize there's exposure we're going to react to that and take appropriate precautions to make sure the area is safe.'"

* ►November 15, 2008 - Bay County Immunizations Suspended - WMBB News 13 - "The County Health Department is putting a stop on all immunizations. A mechanical failure in the refrigerator system is to blame."

* ►November 13, 2008 - Dead veteran's kin demand inquiry (includes video) - After death of son, dad takes cases to Capitol Hill - The Washington Times - "So far, he has identified nine veterans across the country - including four in West Virginia - who have died in their sleep after taking antidepressant and antipsychotic medications. Mr. White has met with members of Congress and asked for Capitol Hill hearings to investigate the deaths. His research prompted a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) investigation into Andrew's and one other death, which were found to have been caused by "combined drug intoxication." But the investigation could not determine whether the prescribed medications were at fault."

* ►November 13, 2008 - Gulf War vet health research lacking - Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses via AP via Yahoo!

* ►November 13, 2008 - New Technique Reveals Genetic Copy Number Variations With SIDS (requires registration) - Reuters Health via Medscape

* ►November 13, 2008 - Alternative medicine professions 'need statutory regulation' - The Independent, UK

* ►November 13, 2008 - Ban on food additives 'supported by ministers' - A ban on six food additives linked to hyperactivity in children has reportedly been backed by the Government, signalling the end of the road for green mushy peas. - Telegraph, UK

* ►November 13, 2008 - The additives which could be banned - The additives which the Food Standards Agency wants removed from British foods - Telegraph, UK

* ►November 13, 2008 - More countries make spreading HIV a crime - International Planned Parenthood Federation via AP via Yahoo! - "Health officials fear the trend could undermine gains made in fighting the AIDS pandemic and provoke a surge in cases. Globally, about 33 million people are thought to have HIV and nearly 3 million people are newly infected every year."

* ►November 13, 2008 - New Evidence Indicates Kawasaki Syndrome Likely Triggered by an Infectious Agent (requires registration) - The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal via Reuters Health via Medscape Pediatrics

* ►November 13, 2008 - Should I get a 'non-needle' flu shot? Even homeopaths don't agree - Ottawa Citizen via Canada.com

* ►November 12, 2008 - Female fetuses are sensitive to hormone disrupters - Exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds during a vulnerable window of development can lead to many reproductive disorders in adulthood." - Environmental Science & Technology via pubs.acs.org

* ►November 11, 2008 - New melanic pigments in the human brain that accumulate in aging and block environmental toxic metals - journal article (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

* ►November 11, 2008 - The New Gulf War Syndrome - Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are in danger from toxic chemicals, yet most don't know what they've been exposed to or where to get help. - AlterNet

* ►November 11, 2008 - Nurses' Role in Children's Environmental Health Protection (requires registration) (full text) - Pediatric Nursing via Medscape

* ►November 10, 2008 - A role for the body burden of aluminium in vaccine-associated macrophagic myofasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. - journal article (Medical Hypotheses) - "This case has highlighted potential dangers associated with aluminium-containing adjuvants and we have elucidated a possible mechanism whereby vaccination involving aluminium-containing adjuvants could trigger the cascade of immunological events which are associated with autoimmune conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome and macrophagic myofasciitis."

* ►November 10, 2008 - Prolonged Breast-Feeding May Improve Subsequent Lung Function CME/CE (requires registration) - Thorax via Medscape Medical News

* ►November 8, 2008 - Could Vitamin D Save Us From Radiation? - Radiological health expert Daniel Hayes, Ph.D., of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene suggests that a form of vitamin D could be one of our body's main protections against damage from low levels of radiation. Writing in the International Journal of Low Radiation, Hayes explains that calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, may protect us from background radiation and could be used as a safe protective agent before or after a low-level nuclear incident. - Inderscience Publishers, via EurekAlert! via ScienceDaily

* ►November 7, 2008 - Pregnant Women and the Flu Vaccine: Medicine Matters From Sandra Fryhofer, MD (requires registration) (video) - Medscape

* ►November 6, 2008 - Small Shift in Infant Vaccine Schedule Could Reduce Pertussis Burden (requires registration) - Pediatrics via Medscape Pediatrics - "Starting the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) series at 6 weeks of age rather than at 2 months could markedly reduce the number of pertussis cases seen each year in the US and help prevent serious complications, new research suggests."

* ►November 6, 2008 - Tangible evidence, trust and power: Public perceptions of community environmental health studies. - journal article (Social Science & Medicine)

* ►November 6, 2008 - New Trials of Antipsychotics in Children Published (requires registration) - American Journal of Psychiatry via Medscape Medical News

* ►November 4, 2008 - Breast-Fed Children Have Fewer Learning Problems, Mental Health Diagnoses (requires registration) - The American Public Health Association 136th Annual Meeting via Medscape Medical News

* ►November 2008 - Educate before you Vaccinate - educateb4uvaccinate

* ►November 2008 - Improving flu vaccination rates among adolescents remains a challenge (requires registration) - Infectious Diseases in Children

* ►November 2008 - The ABCs of DTaP, Hib, HBV and IPV - (requires registration) - Infectious Diseases in Children

* ►November 2008 - ACIP clarifies pediatric pneumococcal vaccine recommendations (requires registration) - Concerns regarding combined vaccine schedules and revaccination intervals were discussed. - Infectious Diseases in Children

* ►November 2008 - Drug names – catchy but dangerous? (requires registration) - The United States Pharmacopeia has errors for more than 3,170 pairs of generic and brand drug names. - Infectious Diseases in Children

* ►October 28, 2008 - Syringe Scare Sparks Search for Canadian Patients (requires registration) - Reuters via Medscape Medical News

* ►October 16, 2008 - Rally For Vaccination Choice - Thursday, October 16, 2008 - State House in Trenton, NJ, outside Gov. Corzine's office - video - AutismOne Radio

* ►Fall 2008 - Neuropsychiatric symptoms, omega-3, and mercury exposure in freshwater fish-eaters. - journal article (Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health) - "They observed a positive relation between hair mercury and neuropsychiatric symptoms solely for women, suggesting that men may respond differently to mercury."

* ►November 17, 2008 - 'Eleventh Hour's' smallpox outbreak: How accurately does it portray the disease? (requires registration) - Los Angeles Times

* ►November 16, 2008 - Cancer jab scandal - News of the World investigation reveals British girls get cheap cervical drug - Girls receiving vaccinations against deadly cervical cancer may be missing out on proper protection — after ministers chose to give them a cheaper drug. - News of the World, UK

* ►November 16, 2008 - Ministers under fire for lack of detail on jab risks - Conflict of interest claim hits Cervarix maker - Sunday Herald, UK - "Ministers have been accused of misleading schoolgirls over the anti-cervical cancer jab. Leaflets tell pupils it is safe to take oral contraceptives and also receive the Cervarix injections, but the literature fails to mention that long-term use of the pill has been shown to quadruple the risk of contracting the disease. Critics are now pointing to a conflict of interest involving Cervarix's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)."

* ►November 16, 2008 - Skin cancer vaccine breakthrough - The pioneering Australian scientist who discovered the cure for cervical cancer is on the verge of creating the world's first vaccine for skin cancer. - The Daily Telegraph via www.news.com.au - "As with the jab now given to millions of young girls each year to prevent cervical cancer, children aged between 10 and 12 would be given the vaccine to prevent skin cancer later in life, Professor Frazer envisages. Testing on animals has shown the vaccine to be successful and human trials will start next year."

* ►November 16, 2008 - Professor Ian Frazer leads cancer fight: editorial - Queensland's Professor Ian Frazer is leading science towards another great victory in the war against cancer. - The Courier-Mail via www.news.com.au - "Professor Frazer, who developed the Gardasil vaccine that has done so much to remove the fear of cervical cancer for millions of young women, is on the verge of creating the world's first vaccine for skin cancer. ... Hopefully, within five to 10 years, Prof Frazer's breakthrough will provide protection for whole a generation of children and generations unborn."

* ►November 16, 2008 - Nigeria records 12,400 cases of measles – WHO - The Punch, Nigeria

* ►November 16, 2008 - 'Labs spreading AIDS, hepatitis' - The News International, Pakistan

* ►November 15, 2008 - Where are the FDA & AAP on Food Dyes? Commerce Before Calm. - Age of Autism

* ►November 15, 2008 - Child Warrior: Gianna By Kim Stagliano - Age of Autism

* ►November 15, 2008 - More parents choose to delay vaccinations - Appleton Post-Crescent

* ►November 15, 2008 - Gardasil -- a different way of looking at the reactions By Cynthia A. Janak - Renew America

* ►November 15, 2008 - More on the human trials of a "universal" flu vaccine - Effect Measure via ScienceBlogs

* ►November 15, 2008 - The Truth About the Flu Shot (includes video) - Outlaw Journalism

* ►November 15, 2008 - Vaccines contain mercury - Sioux Falls Argus Leader - "You have the right to ask for thimerosal-free vaccines. Check the package insert to make sure it is thimerosal-free and does not contain traces."

* ►November 15, 2008 - The jab that protects (requires registration) - Jerusalem Post - "Ter Meulen is chairman of the European Academy of Science's advisory council. It has published a recommendation to the EU Council to guarantee a certain level of income to pharmaceutical companies if they develop new vaccines, such as one against malaria. The lack of new vaccines is a big problem, as they are especially needed in developing countries."

* ►November 15, 2008 - New theory says autism and schizophrenia same disease - The New York Times via The Chronicle Herald, Canada

* ►November 15, 2008 - Sugar Sickness Alternatives - Headworth & Associates - "Sugar depresses the immune system by slowing the ability of white blood cells to kill infection. Think of a group of kids just after a sugary cereal breakfast; they’re very susceptible to passing around viruses and bacteria. “Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent of about two cans of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by forty percent.  The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours.”

* ►November 15, 2008 - EPA's Database on Mercury-Containing Products and Alternatives - EPA's Database on Mercury-Containing Products and Alternatives Latest Version: 08-18-2008 - http://foodconsumer.org

* ►November 15, 2008 - Rabies Vaccination - The Big Scam By: Dr. John Fudens, D.V.M. - NaturalRearing.com via Aimee's Law

* ►November 15, 2008 - City seeking vets' input on rabies - The Wichita Eagle via Kansas.com - "The survey asks whether individual veterinarians should be 'legally allowed individual discretion' in determining how often the vaccine is given, and whether the vets think administering the vaccine on a multiyear basis, rather than annually, would harm human health or improve dogs' health. It also asks veterinarians how many instances they have seen in which their canine patients experienced adverse reactions to the rabies vaccine, and whether vets are concerned that people will not bring their pets in for routine exams if the vaccines are no longer required annually."

* ►November 14, 2008 - Meningitis baby sent home with Calpol by doctors - Burnley Express, UK

* ►November 14, 2008 - Fighting Shingles: Whether to Take the Only Vaccine - Wall Street Journal - "Still, some doctors are cautious. C. Bernie Good, a physician with the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Pittsburgh, thinks that patients should be clearly advised of the potential risk for side effects, and that they may want to wait a few years for more information about the safety profile. Merck is conducting additional studies to assess the vaccine's safety, though it isn't known when results will be available."

* ►November 14, 2008 - Rotavirus Vaccine Dramatically Reduces Hospital Visits For Rotavirus Gastroenteritis - Sanofi Pasteur via Medical News Today

* ►November 14, 2008 - Melanoma vaccine to go on trial - Trials of a cutting-edge melanoma vaccine will begin in New Zealand next year as new research shows the country has the highest rate of the cancer in the world. - The Press via Stuff.co.nz

* ►November 14, 2008 - Minnesota officials expect whooping cough outbreak - Booster shots advised for teens, adults - TwinCities.com - "So far this year, the state has reported 275 cases of the bacterial infection that doctors know as pertussis. Of particular concern is the number of infections involving high school students and adults, whose childhood immunizations may be wearing off. 'When you get to three to four years after your last dose, you start to see waning immunity,' said Kris Ehresmann, who directs the vaccine programs for the Health Department."

* ►November 14, 2008 - Get whooping cough shots, state says after Chatham hit - News & Observer

* ►November 14, 2008 - Students at Pinecrest are sharing; unfortunately it’s pertussis - The Hastings Star-Gazette - "The problem is that as the kids near the age for the middle school, the immunizations they received as babies are beginning to wear off. The protection is a variable, diminishing in some faster than in others. That will be rectified in the booster the students will have before they start middle school. 'It’s a little unusual to see this in elementary school,' Miller said. 'That’s a little young.'"

* ►November 14, 2008 - Four added to Polio Hall of Fame at Warm Springs - The Times-Herald - "The Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation celebrated the near eradication of polio on Friday with ceremonies inducting four organizations into the Polio Hall of Fame."

* ►November 14, 2008 - Meningitis lessons haven’t been heeded, says victim's father - Western Mail via WalesOnline - "A father whose son died from meningitis 16 years ago today says the medical profession has not learned from its mistakes and misdiagnoses. Vernon Jones’s son Trystan died from meningococcal septicaemia when he was 16 – he was not admitted to hospital for vital treatment until it was too late."

* ►November 14, 2008 - US places ban on Chinese food imports - The Times, UK - "Some Chinese media knew about the scandal involving baby formula produced by the huge Sanlu Group as early as March but were unable to write about the case because of government constraints on reporting food problems during the Beijing Olympic Games....At least four babies have died and some 54,000 fell ill after being fed the formula laced with melamine, which can cause kidney problems and renal failure."

* ►November 14, 2008 - Drugmaker ads to target Obama idea - Lobbyist readies for prescription price fight - The Washington Times - "Drug manufacturers also gave more than $1.6 million to Mr. Obama's presidential election campaign - almost triple the amount the industry gave to the Democrat's Republican rival, Mr. McCain. "We've been moving the pieces on the chess board around for some time now getting ready for next year, and we've got a great game plan in place," Mr. Johnson said. "We think we've earned a right at the table, and we're optimistic that at the end of the day, the majority of members of Congress will recognize the importance of the pharmaceutical industry to health care."

* ►November 14, 2008 - India Halts Wyeth Vaccine Trial Over Infant Death - Pharmalot

* ►November 14, 2008 - Children's Mental Health - WSOC Charlotte - "According to SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center, one in five American children has some type of mental health disorder. One in ten is believed to have serious emotional disturbance. Here's a rundown of some of the more common types of mental health disorders affecting children in the U.S.:"

* ►November 14, 2008 - Build Your Own Cell: Local Scientists Work to Engineer Life - Mercury News via Contra Costa Times - "The conference will also feature debates on nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and longevity. But opponents are organizing their own movement, as well. In an invitation-only meeting in San Francisco on Thursday , 80 activists discussed strategies to contain the research. They fear it could accidentally escape from the labs of well-intentioned scientists into the environment — or be used by terrorists to make deadly diseases."

* ►November 14, 2008 - A Path for Autism Spectrum Disorder - The Jeffersonian

* ►November 14, 2008 - Immune System And Intestinal Bacteria: The Key To Balanced Cohabitation - Researchers from the Institut Pasteur, CNRS and Inserm have just discovered a key mechanism that maintains the essential balance between bacteria living in our intestine and the immune system controlling them. - Nature via ScienceDaily

* ►November 13, 2008 - Notice: Interim Safety and Risk Assessment of Melamine and Its Analogues in Food for Humans; Availability - Food and Drug Administration, HHS via www.pharmcast.com

* ►November 13, 2008 - F.D.A. Detains Chinese Imports for Testing (requires registration) - The New York Times - "F.D.A. analyses have detected melamine and cyanuric acid, another contaminant, in 'a number of products that contain milk or milk-derived ingredients, including candy and beverages,' according to an alert that the agency sent to field personnel. The alert also noted that inspectors in more than 13 other countries had discovered melamine in Chinese products including milk, yogurt, frozen desserts, biscuits, chocolates and cookies."

* ►November 13, 2008 - Risky formula - Powdered infant milk linked to deadly form of meningitis in preemies - Beacon News via SuburbanChicagoNews.com

* ►November 13, 2008 - Prescription pill deaths soar - National trend is even more pronounced in Washington - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

* ►November 13, 2008 - Pennsylvania whooping cough outbreak - Examiner.com

* ►November 13, 2008 - Government acts to contain smallpox outbreak in goat herds in Mongolia - Mongolia Web News - "To date, 365 goats have been destroyed due to contracting smallpox while 11,000 have been vaccinated."

* ►November 12, 2008 - Children misdiagnosed with autism - transcript (includes podcast) - PM via www.abc.net.au - "ANNIE GUEST: But there's hope that a new Federal Government program will force practitioners to adopt the internationally accepted criteria for diagnosis. The $190-million package is currently being rolled out and Autism Spectrum Australia says children will not be able to access the early intervention programs unless they have been diagnosed in this way."

* ►November 12, 2008 - Integration of immunization services with other health interventions in the developing world: what works and why? Systematic literature review - journal article (Tropical Medicine & International Health)

* ►November 11, 2008 - Kevin P. Miller's Film "Generation RX" Reveals Widespread Ethical Conflicts, Risks of Psychiatric Drugs to Children- "Generation RX" documents how an entire era of children have been caught in the middle of an unprecedented change in Western culture: that of drugging children with psychiatric medications earlier--and more often than ever before, according to the producers. This dynamic film has already garnered the support of some of the most respected names in Hollywood, including writer/director Paul Haggis, who won back-to-back Academy Awards® for "Million Dollar Baby", and "Crash." "Generation RX is a powerful and often chilling eye-opener. Weeks after viewing, the stories continue to haunt me," said Haggis. - press release - Common Radius Films via PRWeb - "International award-winning filmmaker Kevin P. Miller announced today that his new film, 'Generation RX' will be released on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 through the film's website at www.GenerationRxFilm.com."

* ►October 28, 2008 - Title: Protective antigen of epstein barr virus (patent) - The Rockefeller University (New York, NY) via www.pharmcast.com

* ►October 28, 2008 - Title: Treatment of diseases caused by viral infection (patent) - Apodemus AB (SE) via www.pharmcast.com - "A method of prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of a mammal for a disease that is caused by a Ljungan virus infection, such as Myocarditis, Cardiomyopathia, Guillain Barre Syndrome, and Diabetes Mellitus, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, Amyothrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis, Spontaneous Abortion, Intrauterine Death, Preeclampsia, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Bell's (facial) paralysis, Addison's disease, and Pernicious anemia, is described."

* ►Extend Statute of Limitations for Vaccine Injury Claims - PetitionOnline.com