MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'immunization'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:54:17 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107651&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Flynn%2F2011%2F08%2F01%2Fpublic-health-measures-meet-exclude-or-defer-%25e2%2580%2593-meaningful-use-monday%2F Lynn Scheps is Vice President, Government Affairs at EHR vendor SRSsoft. In this role, Lynn has been a Voice of Physicians and SRSsoft users in Washington during the formulation of the meaningful use criteria. Lynn is currently working to assist SRSsoft users interested in showing meaningful use and receiving the EHR incentive money. Check out Lynn’s previous Meaningful Use Monday posts. Last week’s Meaningful Use Monday identified the two meaningful use public health measures—electronic reporting of immunizations and electronic reporting of syndromic surveillance data—at least one of which EPs must include among their 5 menu measures. So, what do you do if you can’t meet one or both of the public health measures?  The requirement: EPs must accomplish at least one of these m... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107651 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:15:34 +0100 5107651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077827&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fbilingual-staff-valuable-healthcare-lack-training-liability This is the third post in a multi-part series about the new Joint Commission standards on language access requirements for limited English proficient patients.   read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077827 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:56:24 +0100 5077827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069569&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2Fb5hGRxrAh3o%2F Lynn Scheps is Vice President, Government Affairs at EHR vendor SRSsoft. In this role, Lynn has been a Voice of Physicians and SRSsoft users in Washington during the formulation of the meaningful use criteria. Lynn is currently working to assist SRSsoft users interested in showing meaningful use and receiving the EHR incentive money. Check out Lynn’s previous Meaningful Use Monday posts. When selecting the 5 meaningful use menu measures on which to report—from the list of 10 possibilities—the only constraint is that the EP must include at least one of the two measures from the “public health” category: Perform a test of the EHR’s capacity to submit electronic data to immunization registries Perform a test of the EHR’s capacity to report electronic syndromic surveillance ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069569 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:46:09 +0100 5069569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4575246&cid=t_107656_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FDiD_H2Gzp3I%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that MCS Healthcare Public Relations promoted Brian Thompson to senior vp, which means he will also join the agency’s executive committee. For the past five years, he has worked with several drugmakers to promote meds in various therapeutic areas,... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4575246 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:39:14 +0100 4575246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489672&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fadult-vaccines-most-doctors-dont-stock-all-of-them%2F2011.02.17 Less than one in three primary care practices offer all 10 recommended adult vaccines, citing a variety of financial and logistical reasons. Researchers sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sampled 993 family physicians and 997 general internists. Of the respondents, 27 percent (31 percent of family practitioners and 20 percent of internists) stocked all 10. Results appear in the Feb. 17 issue of the journal Vaccine. The 10 vaccines were hepatitis A; hepatitis B; human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV); combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4); pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23); tetanus diphtheria (Td); combined tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap); varicella; and zoster. Of the responding practices, two percent plan... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489672 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:00:00 +0100 4489672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4478161&cid=t_107656_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FE4YxlSrSI60%2F The use of language is a subtle art. Ask any regulator. And the regulators at the FDA have determined that Novartis was a bit too subtle, perhaps, in trying to promote its Fluvirin vaccine for the flu. The agency recently issued a warning letter that chastised the drugmaker for distributing a sales aid and print advertisement that were deemed misleading. Specifically, the promotional materials incorrectly characterized a published recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and implied the Novartis vaccine can be used in all age ranges covered by the ACIP recommendations, according to the FDA letter, which was issued on February 4. For the current flu season, the ACIP recommended annual vaccination including infants who ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4478161 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:22:30 +0100 4478161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450296&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F02%2F08%2Fmultiple-vaccines-may-have-triggered-disease-and-death-of-soldier%2F March 2, 2003 Army Specialist Rachel Lacy was given five vaccinations at once: anthrax, hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella, smallpox, and typhoid. She also was given a tuberculin skin test on the day that. She died on April 4, 2003. The Smallpox Vaccine Safety Working Group (SVSWG) and also the Clinical Expert Immunization Committee (CEIC) researched the situation. Each one stated it was not able scientifically to distinguish a particular vaccination as being the possible cause due to the fact a number of vaccines had been given at once. One interesting line in the Q and A document noted, “Administration of simultaneous vaccinations is a generally accepted practice and has been for many decades. One of the vaccines widely used in the United States to protect against Streptococcal infecti... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450296 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:20:27 +0100 4450296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4445801&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fimmunization-recommendations-the-2011-update%2F2011.02.07 [Last] week, Pediatrics published their yearly update to the recommended immunization schedule. Each year, the immunization schedule is reviewed, and when necessary, guidelines are changed to improve protection for children. Changes stem from new studies that provide insight into immunization spacing, infectious disease experts’ analysis of data from new trends in infection, or epidemics like that from H1N1 or whooping xough. All of this data changes our understanding of how and who we need to protect as time unfolds. Some of the new recommendations announced may require your child to get an additional shot when at the office next. Often we think our kids are up to date when they aren’t. We’re often wrong because of changes made to the recommendations or because our child has missed ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4445801 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 23:00:07 +0100 4445801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419137&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbook-review-deadly-choices-how-the-anti-vaccine-movement-threatens-us-all%2F2011.01.31 A friend suggested she was tired of hearing about vaccines. Her comment and our subsequent conversation seemed to reflect an important shift in parent sentiment: The conversation about vaccines is beginning to get somewhere. While much of this was born of the mainstream media’s newfound realization that the vaccine-autism connection was cooked, some of this is due to the tireless work of those like the Children’s Hospital of Philedelphia’s Dr. Paul Offit who get the story right. As part of his passionate agenda to expose vaccine truths, he’s published “Deadly Choices: How the Anti-vaccine Movement Threatens Us All” (Basic Books, 2011). For those looking to understand the origins of anti-vaccine sentiment, read this book. What struck me is the deep history beh... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419137 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:00:50 +0100 4419137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419141&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-cocaine-vaccine%2F2011.01.30 Although cocaine use has declined steadily since its peak in the early 1980s, public health officials estimate that about 7 million Americans used the drug at least once last year. Many of these folks are addicted to the drug, and its intense, short-lived euphoric effects mean the addiction is terribly difficult to overcome. Addiction specialists believe existing treatment paradigms for cocaine addiction can be enhanced by a vaccine that prevents the drug from crossing the blood-brain barrier, thus blunting its euphoric effects. Scientists have worked hard to develop such a vaccine, but have had limited success so far.  About a year ago for example, Thomas Kosten and colleagues at Baylor reported partial success in a human trial of a cocaine vaccine. In that trial, 38 percent of subjects... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419141 Sun, 30 Jan 2011 23:00:04 +0100 4419141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314010&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F01%2F05%2Fwill-there-be-more-chronically-ill-and-developmentally-challenged-children-in-pennsylvania%2F Back on May 28, 2010 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania made changes to its immunization code to be effective August 1, 2011.  What children in Pennsylvania will be required to have in vaccinations in order to attend school is taken directly from the code: (http://www.pacode.com/secure…) 23.83. Immunization requirements. (a)  Duties of a school director, superintendent, principal or other person in charge of a public, private, parochial or nonpublic school. Each school director, superintendent, principal, or other person in charge of a public, private, parochial or nonpublic school in this Commonwealth, including vocational schools, intermediate units, and special education and home education programs, cyber and charter schools, shall ascertain that a child has been immunized in ac... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314010 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:34:50 +0100 4314010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125008&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fvaccines-top-10-reasons-to-get-your-shots%2F2010.11.01 Vaccines have saved more lives than any other medical intervention in history. They are incredibly safe and effective and are well-tolerated by most people. In the US, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carefully reviews all reports of adverse reactions that could be associated with vaccines. Over decades of review, they have found that the rate of potential severe reactions is so low that they cannot even calculate a risk. There are many vaccines available for babies, children, and adults. Please check these vaccine schedules to make sure that you and your family are fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. (Or you can ask your doctor/nurse to review your vaccine needs with you in person.) Vaccines for ages 0-6 click here. Vaccines for ages 7-18 click here. Vac... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125008 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:32 +0100 4125008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074069&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F10%2F15%2Fare-federal-grants-being-used-for-state-government-slush-funds-to-track-immunizations%2F Conclusion The purchase of a new immunization-tracking registry with H1N1 pandemic emergency funds doesn’t appear to meet the intended purpose originally stated in the national emergency declaration. Therefore the money should have been returned and not spent. However, we know that governments – whether state or federal – are not good stewards of money. Let this be yet another lesson learned on a common “bait-and-switch” tactic used by governments to spend money that they don’t have. Governments have learned when they have “free money” they either use it or lose it. How do governments use you like an ATM spitting out free cash? Easy… Just declare a national emergency. CIIS Replacement Memo to CIIS Users (Source: vactruth.com) vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074069 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 05:47:45 +0100 4074069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031235&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F5NaPpheDPVw%2F By Glenna Crooks. Sorry, this blog is not about sexy new vaccines – you know, ones that will prevent smoking, cure all cancers, stop obesity or eliminate wrinkles. This is about more ‘here and now’ matters. It addresses vaccines, vaccinators and non-vaccinators, contains a proposal for moving forward on immunizations and some folks – including my friends – are not going to like it. But then, they don’t call this a ‘disruptive’ site for nothin’. It comes from my attendance at a CME course on vaccines held by Philly’s Children’s Hospital last weekend. I was privileged to hear great presentations and meet fantasic folks. Despite my work in vaccines over several decades in both government and industry, some information was ‘new’ for me, crystal... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031235 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:18:55 +0100 4031235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976557&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fgoogle-hits-reset-button-google-health Google Health has seemingly been stuck in neutral almost from the start. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976557 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:58:28 +0100 3976557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729876&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-study-shingles-vaccine-is-safe-and-effective%2F2010.07.06 Shingles (herpes zoster) is no fun. It usually begins with a couple of days of pain, then a painful rash breaks out and lasts a couple of weeks. The rash consists of blisters that eventually break open, crust over, and consolidate into an ugly plaque. It is localized to one side of the body and to a stripe of skin corresponding to the dermatomal distribution of a sensory nerve. Very rarely a shingles infection can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis) or death. More commonly, patients develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the area where the rash was. The overall incidence of PHN is 20%; after the age of 60 this rises to 40%, and after age 70 it rises to 50%. It can be excruciatingly painful, resistant to treatment, and can last for years or eve... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729876 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:00:19 +0100 3729876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714187&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpreventive-health-tip-get-vaccinated-for-whooping-cough%2F2010.06.30 California recently declared an epidemic of whooping cough (pertussis) which resulted in the death of five infants under the age of 3 months. The pertussis vaccine, which is already given routinely to infants, is first given at 2 months of age, then 4 months and 6 months of age, with an additional booster at 15 to 18 months of age, and then again at 4 to 6 years old. The vaccines for Bortella pertussis bacteria, which causes whooping cough, does not confer lifelong immunity. In other words, fully-vaccinated children who then become teenagers and then adults lose immunity, can acquire the infection and then spread it. Should babies acquire pertussis, as the public has discovered, it can be deadly. The persistent cough tires the baby, causes difficulty breathing, and can make them turn blue ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714187 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3714187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3621626&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F180454%2F Possible Breast Cancer Vaccine Discovered: A scientist at Cleveland Clinic has found a vaccine that prevents breast cancer in mice. If all goes well in human testing, the vaccine could be available in ten years. (via USA Today) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3621626 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:16:28 +0100 3621626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542703&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fbeacon-communities-lead-charge-improve-health-outcomes Across the nation, in communities large and small, health information technology (health IT) innovators are boldly leading the way toward the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). Tuesday, we awarded $220 million in Beacon Community cooperative agreements to 15 trailblazing community consortiums that will demonstrate how the meaningful use of electronic health records can serve as a critical foundation for achieving measurable improvement in the quality and efficiency of health care in the United States. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542703 Fri, 07 May 2010 13:05:27 +0100 3542703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3412434&cid=t_107656_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FyTaqGXiY5aY%2Ffda-rotarix-rotavirus-vaccine-contains.html GlaxoSmithKline confirmed that the pig virus, porcine circovirus type 1 or PCV-1, has been in the vaccine since it was developed.75% of U.S. doctors prescribe the three-dose RotaTeq vaccine, made by Merck, which was approved in 2006. RotaTeq vaccine is made using a different process and is not contaminated with PCV-1.Electron micrograph of Rotaviruses. Image source: Wikipedia, Environmental Protection Agency, public domain.Rotavirus-related diarrhea used to cause 70,000 hospitalizations per year in the U.S. before the introduction of the vaccines. The first vaccine against the virus called RotaShield was withdrawn from the market due to reports of an intestinal blockage (intussusception) associated with its use.References:Pig Virus DNA Found in Rotavirus Vaccine. WebMD.Image source: GSKsou... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3412434 Sun, 28 Mar 2010 14:48:00 +0100 3412434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262713&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=34933&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpalmdoc.net%2F%3Fp%3D2826 PDA/Smartphone users - if you want a quick-reference guide to the Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedules, you now can visit the Shots 2010 mobile website. This mobile Web application is compatible with iPhone and iTouch devices, the Blackberry Storm and the Palm Pre. Users can access additional details (adverse reactions, administration, contraindications etc. ) about the vaccines by clicking on the vaccine name. PalmOS and WebOS users can download versions for their devices - the WM version is available for free now but the PalmOS one will appear a few weeks late - via AAFP News from the Palmdoc Chronicles Shots 2010 Webapp (Source: The Palmdoc Chronicles) The Palmdoc Chronicles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262713 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3262713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3185327&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FRvNuXS_xZxo%2F My mother’s generation lived in fear of diseases we have the privilege to forget.  She graduated from nursing school 60 years ago, in an era when people died each day from diseases that today are physicians have never seen. Like many from her generation, she is haunted by a sound she will never forget, the sound of an iron lung pushing life into patients crippled from polio who could not breathe on their own. It was a time when polio could not be prevented and the fear of paralysis and death haunted the country. On April 12, 1955, church bells rang out, kids were let out of school, people danced in the streets. It was great news: Salk’s polio vaccine worked! Fifty years later, as my mother strolled through the National Museum of American History’s polio exhibit, she shared with me ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3185327 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:00:41 +0100 3185327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3163728&cid=t_107656_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F11%2Farchives-of-pediatrics-and-adolescent-medicine-2009-vol-164-no-1%2F content page Fade Fave: Health Care Worker Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Regarding Mandatory Influenza Vaccination Fade Skinny: Influenza is responsible for an estimated 36 000 deaths and 226 000 hospitalizations every year in the United States. Children and the elderly are at particularly high risk of influenza infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all health care workers (HCWs) receive an annual influenza immunization to protect themselves and their patients. Nevertheless, only 40% of HCWs in the United States get immunized every year. While immunization rates at hospitals caring for children have generally exceeded the national rate, a 2004 study of 19 children’s hospitals revealed very low rates of immunization in some hospitals and among... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3163728 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:58:18 +0100 3163728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3159665&cid=t_107656_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F11%2Farchives-of-pediatrics-and-adolescent-medicine-2009-vol-164-no-1%2F content page Fade Fave: Health Care Worker Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Regarding Mandatory Influenza Vaccination Fade Skinny: Influenza is responsible for an estimated 36 000 deaths and 226 000 hospitalizations every year in the United States. Children and the elderly are at particularly high risk of influenza infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all health care workers (HCWs) receive an annual influenza immunization to protect themselves and their patients. Nevertheless, only 40% of HCWs in the United States get immunized every year. While immunization rates at hospitals caring for children have generally exceeded the national rate, a 2004 study of 19 children’s hospitals revealed very low rates of immunization in some hospitals and among... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3159665 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:58:18 +0100 3159665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3139111&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fachieving-meaningful-use Now that the Interim Final Rule (Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology) and the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Medicare and Medicaid Programs Electronic Health Record Incentive Program) have been published, we can all finalize our policy and technology strategies for achieving Certification and Meaningful Use in our organizations and communities (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3139111 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:10:46 +0100 3139111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089288&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsabin.org%2Ffiles%2Fattachment%2Fvalue_vaccination_bloom_canning_weston.pdf The following post by Lois Privor-Dumm, IMBA, Director of Alliances and Information for the PneumoADIP at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is part of Disruptive Women’s “The Value of Health: Creating Economic Security in the Developing World” series. Lois heads up several vaccine projects related to advocacy and communications as well as access and implementation. She is currently working as Director, Large Country Introduction for the Accelerated Vaccine Introduction Technical Assistance Consortium (AVI TAC), a GAVI-funded project with an aim to accelerate introduction of pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines in low-income countries. Lois has been at Johns Hopkins since 2005 helping guide strategies and accelerated uptake on both the Hib Initiative and Pneu... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089288 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:03:19 +0100 3089288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3084865&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fbidmc-progress-report-interoperability Like many complex healthcare systems, BIDMC does not have a one size fits all solution for ambulatory records. Although we favor integrated systems, we need to achieve interoperability via interfaces between two EHRs - a home built web-based product called webOMR and a commercial hosted version of eClinicalWorks. Prioritizing our interoperability efforts to improve clinician workflow, enhance the quality of care delivered, and adhere to multiple federal and state initiatives requires extensive planning with many stakeholders. Here is our vision: (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3084865 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:17:58 +0100 3084865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059722&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FzdjxjhQuOS8%2F Why is it that you can buy a Coke or mobile phone refill cards in a remote African village but in these same villages, you cannot consistently get basic lifesaving medicines? Why are pneumonia and diarrhea still the biggest infectious disease threats for children when effective and affordable solutions to prevent and treat a large portion of deaths already exist?  What is the contribution of vaccines in creating a more productive society and wealth of nations?  These are just a few of the questions asked at the new International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), launching on Monday December 7th at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. IVAC seeks to translate evidence into policy, and policy into access to life-saving vaccines for all children. Indeed, access is a hot topic. Wh... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059722 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:04:50 +0100 3059722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3039735&cid=t_107656_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F30%2Fthe-swine-flu-vaccines-their-preparation-and-administration-a-practical-guide-for-health-professionals%2F Title: The swine flu vaccines, their preparation and administration: a practical guide for health professionals Skinny: Frequently asked questions about swine flu vaccine, updated 24/11/09. Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 4p Published: 28/11/2009 Posted in Grey Literature, NHS Tagged: FAQs, Grey Literature, H1N1, Immunization (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3039735 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:54:22 +0100 3039735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977386&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fcertification-versus-meaningful-use Recently, clinicians have asked me "why should I implement my organization's preferred EHR when I've found a less expensive vendor that promises meaningful use?" This illustrates a basic misunderstanding of the difference between Certification and Meaningful Use. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977386 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:24:05 +0100 2977386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3016938&cid=t_107656_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FNyB9oyXmaoI%2F All the evidence I’ve seen so far points to a poor uptake of the influenza 2009 H1N1 vaccine in the United States. This is not good news – inadequate immunization means more infections and more deaths. A few weeks ago I asked a class of about 50 students in a course on Emerging Infections whether they would receive the 2009 influenza H1N1 vaccine. None of them raised their hands. Yesterday, I taught seven high school biology classes about viruses; I asked each group (about 30 students) if they were going to get immunized. About 5 out of over 200 students said they would. My informal poll may not be indicative of the mood of the entire nation, but there is no doubt that the vaccine is in trouble. You would have to be living in a cave to realize that fear about the 2009 H1N1 vacc... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3016938 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:53:08 +0100 3016938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2876042&cid=t_107656_88_f&fid=36536&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftrismus1.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F09%2Fsome-h1n1-vaccine-mercury-info%2F I don’t want to talk about vaccines and autism for the same reason I don’t feel like standing up and repeatedly smacking my head against the wall.  I would, however, like to pass along the following information about the H1N1 flu vaccine and mercury. There are three different companies that make H1N1 (swine flu) flu shots.  Of those only one, Sanofi Pasteur, has a shot FDA approved for kids less than 4 years old.  Sanofi Pasteur makes three different H1N1 flu shots, one of which is FDA approved for kids older than 3, the other two are approved for kids all the way down to 6 months. Of the 2 Sanofi Pasteur shots approved for kids older than 6 months: -one is 0.25 mL prefilled syringe (an individually packaged shot) which contains no mercury -one is 5.0 mL multidose vial (a b... Ten out of Ten blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2876042 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:23:43 +0100 2876042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3016942&cid=t_107656_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2F9putlidlfbI%2F Here at Columbia University Medical Center, all employees and students may receive, at no charge, influenza vaccine every year. I just went to the lobby of the Milstein Hospital, showed my ID, and received the seasonal influenza vaccine. Here is the proof: As I’ve written before, vaccine records provide interesting information. The medical center administration has clearly printed many of these slips to accommodate those who will be receiving the pandemic H1N1 vaccine in a few weeks. Below ‘Seasonal Influenza Vaccine’, which is checked, is ‘H1N1 Vaccine #1 DOSE’. They have left open the possibility that more than one dose will be required, despite a published study – using CSL vaccine -  that one dose induces protective immunity. The nurse who administ... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3016942 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:27:28 +0100 3016942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2834339&cid=t_107656_117_f&fid=38158&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drneedles.comhttp%3A%2F%2Famericanacupuncture.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fmandatory-immunization.html As a medical physician for over 50 years, I strive to give you the best medical information on controversial medical subjects and let you, the reader, come to your own conclusions. I have no ties to any organization, pharmaceutical, or lobby group. As an practicing medical acupuncturist since 1982, I find western medicine and medical acupuncture are very complimentary that results in astounding healing in pain management, addictions to cigarettes and food, and a host of other maladies. Let me know how we are doing. Your constructive comments are always appreciated. Click the RSS post button on the upper right hand corner if you would like to receive by email our future medical blogs. Visit http://www.americanacupuncture.com/ for more detailed information on healing.MANDATORY IMMUNIZATION V... Dr. Needles Medical Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2834339 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:08:00 +0100 2834339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2832255&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fmedical-data-internet-%25E2%2580%259Ccloud%25E2%2580%259D-data-privacy The concepts of “security” and “privacy” of medical information (Protected Health Information, or PHI) are closely intertwined. “Security,” as described in the second part of this series, has to do with breaking into medical data (either data at rest, or data in transit) and committing an act of theft. “Privacy,” on the other hand, has to do with permissions, and making sure that only the intended people can have access to PHI. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2832255 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:41:07 +0100 2832255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782128&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Ftime-kill-phr-term-part-1 Chilmark Research is becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the PHR acronym for Personal Health Record.  There are a couple of reasons for this: 1) The term is a hold-over from the physician-centric term EMR and thereby firmly attached to that conceptual framework.  But does the average consumer really need to adopt an EMR architectural construct for their PHR?  Unlikely.  The consumer needs their own unique and self-empowering “system” to more effectively manage their health and interact with the healthcare establishment. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782128 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:06:08 +0100 2782128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741079&cid=t_107656_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twiv.tv%2Fnoagenda%2520every%2520flu%2520comes%2520out%2520of%2520asia%2520copy.mp3 Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dick Despommier, Alan Dove, and Jennifer Drahos In episode #44 of the podcast “This Week in Virology”, Vincent, Dick, Alan, and Jennifer Drahos consider Marburg virus in Egyptian fruit bats, bacterial citrus pathogen found in shipping facility, canine parvovirus in Michigan, Relenza-resistant influenza virus, new HIV from gorillas, and public engagement on H1N1 immunization program. Download TWiV #44 (54 MB .mp3, 78 minutes) Subscribe to TWiV in iTunes, by the RSS feed, or by email Links for this episode: Isolation of Marburg virus from Egyptian fruit bats Inspectors find bacterial citrus pathogen in California Parvovirus killing hundreds of dogs in Michigan Relenza-resistant H1N1 identified in Australia (press and journal article) New HIV from go... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741079 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:09:53 +0100 2741079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741082&cid=t_107656_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FLvYl3XSE39M%2F The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would like to know what the public feels about the impending H1N1 influenza vaccination program this fall. The agency plans to conduct ten meetings in different parts of the United States to learn if the public would like a massive vaccination campaign, or a reduced effort. The meetings will take place throughout August in Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama, California, Indiana, Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York. You must make an online reservation to attend one of these meetings. Do you think this is a good idea? Does the CDC care what the public thinks about what the size of the vaccine campaign should be, or is this a tactic to calm down a confused and concerned public? I’m interested in learning what the re... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741082 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:38:02 +0100 2741082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2662550&cid=t_107656_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FHtinE4wClFI%2F With the H1N1 and the upcoming seasonal influenza season, this is interesting timing for National Immunization Awareness Month. National Immunization Awareness Month is brought to the public’s awareness by the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) in an effort to educate people about the importance of immunizations, whether for infants or seniors, and what immunizations are given in what order. Vaccines are given for illnesses that are preventable. The ones most people know about are for the childhood illnesses, like measles, or accidental illnesses, like tetanus, but there are many more vaccines available. Not all North Americans need all vaccines, but some may need special ones, as with yellow fever, if they travel to countries that have those types of diseases. There has been a lot of ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2662550 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:27:07 +0100 2662550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2637793&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fthe-one-year-mark%2F Last week my family celebrated my daughter’s first birthday and this week my husband and I celebrated 15 years of marriage (nearly 21 years together since our days as high school sweethearts!) So let’s talk numbers! My one-year-old on her birthday! My nursling now joins the 21.4% of American babies that are breastfeeding at the one-year mark according to the National Immunization Survey breastfeeding statistics. She falls at the 75th and 80th percentiles for height and weight, which puts her right in between her oldest sister who always topped out at the 95th and her other sister who hovered around the 50th. If I add up all the months I have been breastfeeding — from this precious moment with my first born, through this funny moment with my second nursing toddler, up to m... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2637793 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:09:18 +0100 2637793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511374&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fmeaningful-use-has-arrived After months of anticipation, the definition of Meaningful Use has arrived. Today at the meeting of the HIT Policy Committee, the Workgroup on Meaningful Use presented its work, as a preamble and a matrix. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511374 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:28:59 +0100 2511374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2307452&cid=t_107656_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F04%2Fgoogle-runs-anti-vaccination-ads%2F 6minutes.com.au’s Jared Reed recently highlighted the questionable nature of some the Google-sponsored health ads that have proliferated all over the Internet. In the comments section raged a slightly over-the-top arm wrestle between some anti-vaccinationists and a GP from Nowra… I chimed in with a comment: I generally try to avoid having battles of wits with unarmed opponents [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2307452 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:05:07 +0100 2307452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160406&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=34933&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpalmdoc.net%2F%3Fp%3D2178 The Group on Immunization Education has released new versions of their useful immunization software, Shots, now updated with the CDC’s January 2009 childhood and adult immunization schedules for the United States. You can download freeware versions for PalmOS and PocketPC Even if you don’t use a Palm or PocketPC (yup I am talking about you iPhone users) you could surf over to the Shots Online site which has also been updated with 2009 data. from the Palmdoc Chronicles Shots 2009 software now available (Source: The Palmdoc Chronicles) The Palmdoc Chronicles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160406 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2160406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2153824&cid=t_107656_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Ftruth-about-health-it-standards-theres-no-good-reason-delay-data-liquidity-and-information-shar This blog first appeared at The Health Care Blog. -Ed. Now that the Obama administration and Congress have committed to spending billions of tax payers’ money on health IT as part of the economic stimulus package,  it’s important to be clear about what consumers and patients ought to expect in return -- better decision-making by doctors and patients.  (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2153824 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:10:33 +0100 2153824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996397&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F_DHjvzBCogs%2F Earlier this year, reports that the US Federal Court of Claims had conceded that vaccines had contributed to the onset of autistic symptoms in the case of Hannah Poling led to much speculation and debate about (1) if mitochondrial disorders could be linked to autism and (2) how common mitochondrial disorders might be among autistic children. A number of experts on mitonchondrial disorders met in June to discuss the “controversial case” of Hannah Poling. An article in the November 26th PLoS One entitled Mitochondrial Disease in Autism Spectrum Disorder Patients: A Cohort Analysis investigates the medical records of 25 patients with a primary diagnosis of ASD by DSM-IV-TR criteria. These children were later determined to have “enzyme- or mutation-defined mitochondrial electron tran... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996397 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:32:19 +0100 1996397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996400&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FdKUtaOBqYn8%2F 1049 cases of measles have been reported in England and Wales so far this year, the highest number in 13 years and exceeding the number on 2007, when there were 990 case. Today’s Guardian reports that health officials are seriously concerned about a possible epidemic of measles of between 30,000 - 100,000 cases. Measles has been spreading more easily because of the “relatively low uptake” of the MMR vaccine in the past decade: The fall in uptake of MMR was triggered by now-discredited research claiming there was a link between the jab and autism. Health officials in the UK are planning a mass vaccination program in some areas. The Daily Mail quotes Guy Hayhurst, consultant in public health at a local Primary Care Trust, as saying that they have identified 10,534 children ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996400 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:31:22 +0100 1996400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984958&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FPUQEWVOuJHI%2F Is the “warrior mother” not—as proclaimed in the Warrior Mothers book put together by Jenny McCarthy—the opposite of the “refrigerator mother” of the previous generation, but rather her “distorted mirror image”? So argues Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, author of another new book, Defeating Autism: A Damaging Delusion, argues in yesterday’s Spiked. As Fitzpatrick writes in his essay, The ghost of the ‘refrigerator mother’, The ‘warrior mom’ is yet another reflection of the culture of mother-blaming and a manifestation of the burden of guilt carried by parents as a result of the influence of pseudoscientific speculations about the causes of autism…… ……. A number of common themes link McCarthy’s ‘warri... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984958 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:38:57 +0100 1984958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947288&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fovgra80paXM%2F Well, here’s a headline that hasn’t been heard so much of late, it seems: Immunization rate among children rising (from MSNBC via WTHR TV) According to a recent CDC survey, 77 percent of children have been fully vaccinated in the schedule of recommended vaccines, while less than 1 percent of children had received no vaccines by age 19 to 35 months. Vaccination rates among children are “at or near record levels, with at least 90 percent coverage for all but one of the individual vaccines in the recommended series for young children.” In Indiana, 94 percent of public schools and 68 percent of private schools have complete immunization data for the 2006-07 school year, an increase from last year. Sue Goebel, a nurse with the Delaware County Health Department, notes tha... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947288 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:15:34 +0100 1947288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1943843&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fautism-gene-isolated%2F Reuters is reporting today that a gene known as Contactin 4 may be the cause of many peoples Autism.  Dr. Eli Hatchwell of Stony Brook University Medical Center in New York recently led a study that found people with Autism have a higher rate of duplicate or deletions of DNA that disrupted Contactin [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1943843 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:37:33 +0100 1943843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1921028&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FvOyqCjUlVa0%2F Regarding yesterday’s Today show piece on vaccines, autism, and Dr. Paul Offit: Kudos to Dr. Nancy Synderman, especially at the end of the piece when she made it very clear to Matt Lauer, there’s no controversy about vaccines and autism. Vaccines don’t cause autism. [ABC News has a story on Dr. Offit that emphasizes how “ugly” the discussion about vaccines and autism has become: It’s entitled “Death Threats, Hate Mail: Autism Debate Turns Ugly: Vaccine Researchers, Autism Community React to Account of Death Threats and it seems to me that we really ought rather to keep discussion focused on autistic persons.] When a cameraman filmed Charlie a couple of weeks ago for the Today show, Charlie rode his bike in circles back and fort, back and forth. Jim... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1921028 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:01:47 +0100 1921028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1918056&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F9rAl2BkbBJE%2F The Today Show website has posted an excerpt from the beginning of Dr. Paul Offit’s Autism False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure. At the Parengs Bloggers Network, some parents describe a “feeling of betrayal” in regard to the “overwhelming fears and sadness surrounding autism and the still hotly-debated autism-vaccine link” discussed in Dr. Offit’s book. Excerpts from some parents’ reviews of the book are here And if you’re watching the Today Show in the 8:00 half-hour tomorrow (Thursday, October 30th) morning, there’s a segment on vaccines and autism. I was interviewed for it, and I think there should be some footage of a certain boy riding his bike. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, bikes, Book... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1918056 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:19:21 +0100 1918056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1914717&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FGFwipG2UYFU%2F So thimerosal’s not the “‘smoking gun‘” linking vaccines to autism, according to David Kirby, whose 2005 book, Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy argued that thimerosal—-a mercury-based preservative—-was the culprit behind what he calls the “autism epidemic.” From an article in today’s Star-Ledger (New Jersey) about an October 23rd forum on infant and child vaccines at the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology at Hackensack University Medical Center: [Kirby]…..said he believed that thimerosal, which still exists in trace amounts in some childhood vaccines, was no longer the “smoking gun.” Several national studies have found no connection, and a ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914717 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:06:18 +0100 1914717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1914719&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FEJPiVH7UjvA%2F For the past two weeks something’s been up with Charlie’s teeth, or so we think. He’s been chewing the string on his sweatshirt and his shirt and poking a finger into his mouth (on the upper right side, I think) and just dabbing at some parts of his teeth with his toothbrush (still brushing the fronts). This has certainly been the Year of Losing Teeth; there’ve been more than a few times when, after a fretful, unsettled day, Charlie has been found with a bloody tooth in his fingers. After a check-up in August, Charlie’s dentist noted that he was right on schedule to be losing so many teeth. This latest instance of possible-pain-in-the-mouth has been going on for awhile so Monday afternoon I found myself calling the dentist’s office and felt most fortunat... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914719 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:00:19 +0100 1914719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907709&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%3A80%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FYRx4Q-gsMs4%2F On Newsweek: Three videos with interviews with Dr. Paul Offit, chief of the division of infectious diseases at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania medical school; Robert Krakow, a New York attorney who’s the father of an autistic son and who is representing more than 75 families who believe a vaccine caused autism in their child; and myself. The videos are below or go here to Newsweek.—— And here’s a profile of Dr. Offit by Claudia Kalb in Newsweek. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Books, disabilities blog, disability, healing, Health, immunization, measles, mercury, mmr, Myth, newsweek, Parenting, paul offit, pdd-nos, robert krakow, Science, shots, vaccine court, Vacci... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907709 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:38:08 +0100 1907709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1905987&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FoIyTir6r5Rw%2F There’s plenty to debate about regarding autism and the speech about special needs children that Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin is to give today in Pittsburgh —-her first about public policy—-should set off more. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, she’s to deliver the speech this morning at the morning at the Airport Marriott in Pittsburgh before an invited crowd of 350. Update 13:00 EST: Here’s the text of Palin’s speech.Palin talks about “these beautiful children” and these are her three policy proposals: more choices for parents, fully funding IDEA, and efforts to reform and refocus. I just heard about some budget issues in my own school district that have reminded me of the need to fully fund IDEA and Palin’s noting... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1905987 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:18:06 +0100 1905987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895057&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fewfi1V_3iZk%2F As you’ve probably heard by now, Every Child By Two has been sending an email out requesting people  ask Oprah to “dedicate a show to the science behind the question of whether vaccines cause autism.” Some (”an excellent idea”—Kev at Left Brain/Right Brain) are in favor of calling for such. Others are not (”It’s highly unlikely that, even if Oprah did give a platform to ECBT, it would end up promoting vaccination in the way that ECBT desires”—-Orac at Respectful Insolence). I kind of suspect that a TV show like Oprah might try to frame the purported (not-supported-by-the-science) vaccine-autism link as a “debate”—-between, for instance, scientists vs. parents—-when there is no debate about the science. The... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895057 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:37:31 +0100 1895057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1888282&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FIGeyGtJ7jfk%2F Stop Jenny! Jenny McCarthy and her campaign (if you can call her new McCarthyism that) of vaccine and public health misinformation. More details here—–Jenny, we hardly knew ye, indeed. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Books, disabilities blog, disability, healing, Health, immunization, jenny mccarthy, measles, mercury, mmr, Myth, Parenting, pdd-nos, Science, shots, Vaccines, warrior motherShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1888282 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 08:01:21 +0100 1888282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1888285&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fq8hE_HRLDr8%2F Jim shows me the New Jersey section of yesterday’s New Jersey Star-Ledger and a headline: A shot against vaccines: At the Statehouse, hundred protest new new requirements. There’s a big photo of a mother and her 20-month-old son; the rally’s purpose was to push for a bill to allow parents to skip some, or all, of the four new required vaccines in NJ. The article describes the rally and the bills mandating the vaccines. Jim turns to page 22 and points to a paragraph which, out of the blue, mentions……you guessed it. “Families have been paid out $910 million for vaccine-damaged children,” [Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk (R-Bergen)] said. “There have been 988 deaths on file. What other product that causes the deaths of so many children is sti... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1888285 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:11:01 +0100 1888285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1879950&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FRbXr5m2pLdA%2F “For families struggling with autism finding the latest treatments is a top priority,” begins an October 14th WCBStv story about “a controversial approach” that “is making headlines” (which, of course, has nothing to do with the actual efficacy of said approach). The approach is hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the doctor is Dr. James Neubrander, whose website refers to autism as the “treatable untreatable disorder!.” A hyperbaric chamber will set you back $21,000, WCBStv notes. Dr. Neubrander says that HBOT treats “decreases inflammation” and somehow altars the brain chemistry of autistic children and, while there’s no studies to back it up, he says: “No, the studies are not there, but it doesn’t invalidate what we... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1879950 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:00:45 +0100 1879950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1870901&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FE3ZiGXn9FN0%2F If you haven’t already read Measles not worth the risk, an October 6th op-ed by epidemiologist John Laurence Kiely, go here. Kiely recalls having the measles and then pneumonia, and being hospitalized, and under an oxygen tent, and his mother’s distraught face. But, as he notes: Most Americans don’t remember those days. Why? Because four years after I got sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began a mass measles immunization program. By 2000, the number of reported cases of measles had decreased to 86 and the number of deaths to one. So it is distressing to see that this year measles is on the upswing. As of July, there were 131 measles cases reported to CDC, the highest number since any comparable period since 1996. Most pediatricians and public health offici... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1870901 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:34:04 +0100 1870901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1870902&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FMpaBxAGe_fM%2F No, we don’t “got milk” here; my small family all got sick this week; we’ve always got hope. Got Autism? (asks PETA) PETA puts up a billboard in Newark NJ and takes it down. Is That a Tattoo With……Your Mom’s Cell Number? Of Safety Tats and other ways to keep a child safe. McCarthy’s, Er, “Autism” Pole Jenny McCarthy puts a stripper pole in her son’s room. What! No Hoodies?!!!!?!!!?! Imagine life without a hoodie for warmth and to block out noise—no thanks. Beware Jenny McCarthy and Her Angry Mob She’s got a mob (of “mother warriors,” presumably”—quite an image. Autism Genes, Math, and Music The genes that are thought to cause autism may also give mathematical, musical and other skills to those without Me... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1870902 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:41:31 +0100 1870902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1862834&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FRjhqW8uCQTU%2F Three more days to go of the Science Blogs Book Club. Much talk of framing vaccines, framing autism, and more responses from Dr. Offit about his book. And today, I talk about myth, religion, and Jenny McCarthy as a, and perhaps the, false prophet of autism. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Books, disabilities blog, disability, healing, Health, immunization, jenny mccarthy, measles, mercury, mmr, Myth, Parenting, paul offit, pdd-nos, Science, shots, Vaccines, warrior motherShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1862834 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:03:10 +0100 1862834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859606&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FDWxgovRR8-o%2F That’s the request that showed up Tuesday night in my email inbox from Stan Kurtz, president of Generation Rescue. Photos of “kids who have improved from biomedical interventions (they do not have to be recovered, just improved)” are sought—–so “recovery” is not the thing, but rather “improvement”? If that’s the case, then it shouldn’t be too hard to find “a child that would look good on the cover of Jenny McCarthy’s to-appear-in-April-aka-Autism-Awareness-Month autism book.” It’s been awhile, but in the days when we did a lot of biomedical treatments—supplements, anti-fungal therapy (with nystatin), complete gluten-free casein-free diet, more supplements, I was looking very hard for results and... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859606 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:12:33 +0100 1859606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856123&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FIB5UZ-lFssw%2F In the midst of an extensive discussion about vaccines and autism and how the two have come to be linked in the public consciousness, as noted by Dr. Paul Offit in his recently published book Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure, here comes a court decision from the Georgia Supreme Court. The decision allows Marcelo and Carolyn Ferrari to proceed with a civil lawsuit against vaccine maker American Home Products Corp. As noted in today’s Athens Banner-Herald, this is a “first-of-a-kind ruling by an appellate court that had drawn fierce opposition from the vaccine industry.” Namely, the Georgia Court of Appeals is the first appellate court in the nation to hold that the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Act (VICP... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856123 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:22:31 +0100 1856123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1853663&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FYRqdUrI3RKQ%2F Over at the Science Blogs Book Club I put up a post asking about framing autism. (On framing, see this post on framing vaccines by Orac.) Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Books, disabilities blog, disability, framing, Health, immunization, jenny mccarthy, measles, mercury, mmr, Myth, Parenting, paul offit, pdd-nos, Science, shots, Vaccines, warrior motherShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1853663 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:41:23 +0100 1853663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1852670&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fm9k8Bf0s07I%2F “Stem cells. Gene therapy. Immune protection.” This is the first line of an article about…….what do you think? The latest treatments for autism? The article’s about skin care products. Products that claim to provide “‘cellular level cleansing’” (shades of autism detox) and that have “medical-sounding” names starting with “bio-, micro- and pro-”: There’s: “biomolecular” eye cream; “microtechnology bio active” foundation; “pro-collagen” serum; “microsmoothing” face serum; and a “bio-stimulating” night cream with “microlift. The article appeared in the October 1st New York Times and certainly it’s nothing new that cosmetics company have used “multisyllabic pharmacological-soun... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852670 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:16:52 +0100 1852670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1852673&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FLf2mTLC7NHo%2F While the evidence refuting a vaccine/mercury link to autism continues to pile up, a connection between them seems to have become lodged in the public consciousness, as the recent survey on attitudes about autism from Florida of Institute of Technology suggests. One case that has attracted a particular lot of attention was that of a girl from Georgia, Hannah Poling. Back in March, it was reported that the government had conceded that Hannah’s “pre-existing mitochondrial disorder…. was ‘aggravated’ by her shots.” This decision was widely, widely discussed and the question repeatedly raised about how common mitochondrial disorders are in autistic children. One study cited was a 2007 article, Epidemiology of autism spectrum disorder in Portugal: prevalence, clinical charac... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852673 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:28:52 +0100 1852673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1851056&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrDAgYQYOjQM%2F The quote of the day on Time.com by Jenny “Mother Warrior” McCarthy is here and refers to actress Amanda Peet being on one “side” of views about vaccination, and to a certain part of the male anatomy. On the “side” of McCarthy is (per her quote) “an angry mob” of anti-vaccinationists who say that vaccines or something in vaccines cause autism. An angry mob? Yikes! Seeing as I (a confessed former warrior mom) don’t think vaccines or something in vaccines can be linked to autism, I ought to be typing this with fingers a-trembling. But why? Because study after study shows that there is no link between vaccines or something in vaccines and autism? Well yes. But actually because there’s too many friends (including my two best guys and ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1851056 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:24:12 +0100 1851056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1851057&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F9d2FwrvtijA%2F Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) has commissioned what is described as the “first national survey of attitudes toward autism.” Today’s Physorg notes some highlights of the report; more results of the survey will be revealed at an autism conference to be held at FIT this weekend. The Scott Center for Autism Treatment is located at FIT. Its College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, which commissioned the survey, offers a graduate program in Applied Behavior Analysis. Looking at what Physorg reports about the survey’s result, there’s a lot of confusion out there about what causes autism and what it is. 1000 men and women who were 21 years old or older were randomly selected from throughout the nation and information was gathered via telephone interviews conduc... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1851057 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:03:22 +0100 1851057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1851058&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FtilxUiiWrWI%2F It’s Day 3 of the Science Blogs Book Club on Dr. Paul Offit’s Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure. Dr. Offit has been posting and responding to questions (yesterday he noted that “anti-vaccine forces have taken the autism story hostage,” and I agree). Kev of Left Brain/Right Brain writes about how autism has become a secondary concern, Orac posts about framing vaccines, and I have a post up about mercury rising and falling and Lyn Redwood. You can also read other reviews of Dr. Offit’s book in the Kansas City Star and on the LA Times Booster Shots blog. The Rocky Mountain News gives the book an A- and notes that “Offit’s sarcasm and brow-beating of those he disagrees with is grating - this book will... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1851058 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:26:56 +0100 1851058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1847987&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fl6p7i7M-uFI%2F As the October 1st issue of Scientific American Mind reminds us, words have power. I know this even more whenever I hear my son Charlie speak. He was very, very late to talk and he first didn’t talk at all, but used sign language. Today he speaks in short phrases and sentences, and almost-sentences. A lot of words get thrown around about autism on the Internet, on blogs and newspaper and media websites and who knows where else. Too often, even most often, it seems that the vast percentage of those words are in the realm of misinformation, as the numerous mentions of notions about what causes autism, from power plants in Texas to the quite infamous hypotheses about vaccines and/or mercury. As Dr. Paul Offit noted on his Science Blogs Book Club post today: A couple of bloggers praised ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1847987 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:29:28 +0100 1847987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1844805&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FUz9b9PsIcUY%2F I really don’t know where to start with the various contradictions and more in this October 1st post about how Jenny McCarthy has interior-decorated her son Evan’s room, according to Contact Music: Thrifty actress JENNY MCCARTHY installed a stripper pole in her Los Angeles home at the height of her son EVAN’s autism battle - because a real fireman’s pole was so expensive. The actress/model opened the doors to her germ-free retreat, where her son is home schooled by teachers who understand his condition, to U.S. TV show Access Hollywood recently - and admitted there’s a naughty secret in his playroom. As well as a climbing rope attached to the ceiling, there’s also a metal pole that MCCarthy revealed is not exactly what it seems. She explains, “The ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1844805 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:38:39 +0100 1844805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841095&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FvHL1XkWftDw%2F Today’s New York Times’ Science Times section looks at the “explosion of information about health and medicine — on the Web, in medical journals, in the doctor’s office, over the air” and offers some suggestions for sorting it all out: three principles to follow regarding clinical trials; how to swim rather than drown in so much health information; why not consult Dr. Google (calling on Jenny McCarthy with her Google U Ph.D.?). Yes, lots to sort through! Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Books, disabilities blog, disability, google, Health, immunization, jenny mccarthy, measles, mercury, mmr, Myth, new york times, Parenting, pdd-nos, Science, shots, VaccinesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841095 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:32:54 +0100 1841095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1837285&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FIyNu9sRXw1k%2F In conclusion, the study presents some compelling evidence regarding differences in urinary porphyrin metabolites between kids with mild and severe autism symptoms, as well as differences in plasma sulfates between kids with autism when compared to neurotypical kids. This is consistent with the author’s theory that mercury exposure plays a role in autism. However, given the controversy regarding the mercury-autism association, I would like to clarify that these results do not indicate that mercury causes autism. Yes, it is possible that mercury toxicity and reduced detoxification capacity plays a role in autism, both, in the onset and severity. However, it is also possible that Autism itself results in reduced detoxification capacity and mercury toxicity via other mechanisms, but that su... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837285 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:10:07 +0100 1837285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1837289&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FNOT-s9BZL8E%2F Read Gina Tembenis about her son Elias, who is no longer with us, here via ABC News. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Books, disabilities blog, disability, healing, Health, immunization, jenny mccarthy, measles, mercury, mmr, Myth, Parenting, paul offit, pdd-nos, Science, shots, Vaccines, warrior motherShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837289 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:54:52 +0100 1837289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1834749&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FDK-ZKpnQHXE%2F Over at Salon on his blog sWell blog, physician Rahul K. Parikh deconstructs David Kirby’s September 24th presentation to Congressional staffers. The presentation’s title was “The Vaccine-Autism Debate: New Developments from Science and Policy” and the PowerPoint slides and a write-up are posted on the Age of Autism weblog. Sullivan has been posting about the hearing as Vaccines on the Hill III, Vaccines on the Hill II, and Vaccines on the Hill. Liz at I Speak of Dream noted that this latest attempt to “indoctrinate congressional staffers” by the usual suspects in the anti-vaccine/pro-vaccine safety annals—-Davis Kirby, Mark Blaxill (VP of Safe Minds)—-gets a fail. Dr. Parikh explains why after assessing the claims of each of Kirby’s sl... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1834749 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:53 +0100 1834749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1834750&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fet1M5kZ6e2o%2F No, not referring to what gets written about at the likes of this blog or this one, but to the popstars and celebrities who’ve (per the September 28th Times) helped “scandal-hit medic” Andrew Wakefield relaunch himself in the US and specifically in Austin, Texas. Juicy, or maybe just more commentary on America as the home of the self-(re)-made man? Tags: andrew wakefield, asd, asperger, austin, autism, autism blog, celebrities, celebrities blog, disabilities blog, disability, healing, Health, immunization, jenny mccarthy, measles, mercury, mmr, Myth, Parenting, pdd-nos, scandal, Science, self-made man, VaccinesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1834750 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:44:04 +0100 1834750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1833269&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FaNPs5AQs-7I%2F A September 25th press release announces that parents make donations for cutting-edge research. Specifically, some parents have made contributions totaling $30,000 to the National Autism Association (NAA), whose website proclaims “think autism think cure. Some of the research to be funded will be conducted by gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield, the British doctor whose article in the journal Lancet set off a scare about an autism-MMR link, and who currently faces misconduct charges in the UK and may not be allowed to practice medicine there again. Parents funding research, however “cutting edge,” is less than new news. While not many parents can give $10,000, many of us have at one time or another written a cheque to an autism organization whose agenda includes funding &... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833269 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:35:34 +0100 1833269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829211&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FGQ93m7dSHEo%2F My office in Jersey City is in an old house, on the left-hand side of a one-way street going down a steep hill. Several of the buildings and some of the other houses belong to my college, but many (including a very large apartment building across the street with aging cement steps) do not. Parking is at a premium; there’s no garages to speak of for the residents of the apartments so the street is constantly lined with rows of cars, a beat-up yellow school bus with the windows painted white, delivery trucks. Students try to park on the street and the whole situation is compounded because our parking garage has been closed for repairs. I’m extremely fortunate to be able to park in the front of the house housing (yes, that was intentionally written) my office. Sometimes someone un... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829211 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:22:32 +0100 1829211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829214&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Ff0YWZJT9Vk8%2F Vaccination rates for children in the UK are still not at a high enough rate to offer maximum protection against infectious diseases such as the measles and mumps, today’s Telegraph reports. According to the NHS, 85% of children have received the MMR shot this year, the same rate as last year: experts warn that to achieve so-called “herd immunity”, where so many children are immunised that it is extremely difficult for an outbreak of measles to take hold, 95 per cent need to be vaccinated. Professor David Salisbury, the Government’s director of immunisation, warned “MMR uptake is still not sufficient to remove the serious threat of measles outbreaks. “Parents who have not had their children vaccinated with the MMR vaccine should do so now.” He adde... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829214 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:52:53 +0100 1829214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825832&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FO1rMdZv02hg%2F Yes, these words were said by Mother Warrior Jenny McCarthy on Oprah. McCarthy appeared today with a mother named Monica, who after delivering a daughter via C-section, was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating bacteria. Doctors told Monica that both of her arms and legs had to be amputated. Says McCarthy of her story: “I had a big aha! moment after spending six hours with her. … Monica accepted what is. She looked down and said ‘Okay, this is the situation. I can’t change this, so I might as well surrender to it……When she does that, she is able to move forward in peace.” …… At Monica’s house, she and Jenny had a mom-to-mom chat about the issues that mother warriors face. “Within the autism community, ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825832 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:29:25 +0100 1825832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825833&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FLLkBppw04jA%2F Yes, another autistic child gets handcuffed and, as reported by WSMV (Nashville) today, put into the back seat of a police car. 10-year-old Heath Burk had “acted up at school”: Felicia Burk adopted Heath and his sister Scarlett two years ago. Both of them have autism. She said Heath can get out of control, but he isn’t supposed to be restrained, as that only makes him act worse. Tuesday when he acted up, the Murfreesboro City school called the police. “I didn’t like it,” said Heath of the hand-cuffing. “The special-ed supervisor told me he was in a police car because I had complained last week that he was physically restrained and had bruises on his arm,” said Burk. School officials do not have a comment at this time. A police representative said the boy was... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825833 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:00:45 +0100 1825833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825834&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FuviPYkswCb0%2F Of “qualified physical and occupational therapists” in particular, in southern Illinois via the The Southern—sadly, it’s a familiar story to me, and I suspect to many (if not all) of us. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825834 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:00:14 +0100 1825834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825835&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FbCgs4hoYjTY%2F So with Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds, Jenny McCarthy’s new autism book out, I decided I need to fess up. I am a retired Warrior Mom. “Warrior Mom” is the term that Jim used to use when I got into a certain “those administrators haven’t heard the last of us” “did that doctor listen to one word we were saying” “if we don’t do it this way he’ll never get it” “I know best because I’m the mom” state of mind—-that kind of defiant, mother-bear-out-to-protect her cubs mode. I was determined, I’d read everything book and article and stared at websites on my computer screen for so many hours and I was the person who spent the most time with Charlie—&#821... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825835 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:27:14 +0100 1825835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825836&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FIBhIQKxDr1s%2F ‘Tis September and, it seems, the season for autism books: Started off the month with Dr. Paul Offit’s Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine and the Search for a Cure and now here comes Jenny McCarthy’s autism book #2, Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds , and accompanying appearances on Oprah, video clips, and the like. So there you have it. The Vaccine Doctor and the Autism Mom Heroine. In this script, Jenny and her following of David(a)s are poised, too-good non-toxicness products in their hands, to take on the evil Goliath of the Medical Establishment, Big Pharma, the dreaded CDC. I guess we should look out for flying stilettos (or maybe Crocs; warrior moms have to take their kids to the pool for sensory relief) wh... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825836 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:01:43 +0100 1825836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825837&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FjFP5u3z9uU8%2F An article in today’s Morning News of northwest Arkansas describes a multi-sensory room for adults with “severe intellectual disabilities.” The room is equipped with a “clear plastic, 5-foot-tall column of illuminated bubbles, an aroma generator and a projector that throws a variety of soothing images on the wall,” along with a giant vibrating pillow, a “vibro-acoustic mattress.” Specialty stuff indeed—-though the article begins by noting that some of these devices borrow a page from the likes of aromatherapy devices, recordings of rainforest sounds, beanbag chairs, and other 1980s trends, and got me thinking about how Charlie tends to address many sensory needs with the stuff around us: Polar fleece blankets and hooded jackets of course, but... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825837 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:39:24 +0100 1825837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1815382&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FRL0jZPmRoK0%2F Another review of Dr. Paul Offit’s Autism False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure, in the September 23rd Wall Street Journal, by Linda Seebach, a Minnesota writer whose 30-something-ish son only sought a formal evaluation for Asperger’s Syndrome a year ago. (Yes, I know what you see to the left is not the cover for Dr. Offit’s book—–keep reading.) I wanted to highlight this point made by Seebach, whose Wall Street Journal review is entitled Charlatans to the Rescue: Just as autism is being found more often, so, it seems, are dubious explanations for the source of an illness that so far has defied medicine’s attempts to find its origins. The parade of “false prophets” began lining up soon after the disorder was d... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815382 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:37:43 +0100 1815382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1815385&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F78ie9ynEdCE%2F As reported today by ABC15-Scripps Howard News Service : More than 135,000 kindergarten students nationwide are attending school without being vaccinated for potentially deadly diseases like measles, mumps and rubella. In a review of the recently published book, Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure, Rahul Parikh, a physician who writes the sWell blog for Salon, starts by noting that the hate mail and, indeed, death threats, the book’s author, Dr. Paul Offit, has received are reminiscent of “pro-choice physicians on the front lines of the abortion debate.” Dr. Parikh—-who has also written about junk science and autism and mitochondrial disorders—lauds Autism’s False Prophets for its cogent “examinati... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815385 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:27:07 +0100 1815385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1802769&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fd08bkAJD2is%2F Back in July, a study on chelation as a treatment for autistic children was put on hold due to safety concerns. Now the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has called off the study, as reported in today’s Associated Press. The statement says the agency decided the money would be better used testing other potential therapies for autism and related disorders. The study had been on hold because of safety concerns . A study published last year linked a chemical used in the treatment to lasting brain problems in rats. Chelation is based on the unproven notion that mercury in vaccines can be linked to autism. It’s also noted that a study on chelation—–in which heavy metal are removed from the body—-would be tantamount to an “unethical experiment on chil... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1802769 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:03:16 +0100 1802769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1802771&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FsemFXbBeAO0%2F No, not that kind of shot. I mean “shot” in the sense of taking a photo—a snapshot—of a moment, of something you wanted to remember. 3 autism shots from Tuesday, September 16th, in reverse chronological order. First shot. Pulling out of the parking lot of Target after the purchase of overly mundane items with a Target card from my sister and making our way through more parking lots to the actual exit of a mega-suburban shopping complex, a car putts, pauses, and zooms by us on the right. I see a wall of white stuffed animals in the back window and two autism magnets like this. Shot the second. Charlie and I go for a walk down the condo-lined boulevard that we live off of. He’s scrunching up his shirt and running ahead and humming; cooler day; we’re happy.... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1802771 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:28:05 +0100 1802771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1798227&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrCtVxnhyduE%2F “Fear of autism is perfectly reasonable.” Well, I guess it could be construed as such. But not really. The above sentence is from a September 15th article on Babble—”the magazine and community for a new generation of parents”—by Kate Tuttle, with the title of Compulsory Vaccination. The article presents a capsule history of vaccines and resistance to them since their invention in the late 18th century: Some of these early objectors believed that vaccination was itself an affront to the God who had sent disease to punish sinners, while others, like today’s anti-vaccination activists, feared that the shots meant to protect the public good would inflict harm on individuals. The numerous scientific studies refuting a vaccine-autism link are cited, and ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798227 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:09:16 +0100 1798227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1794450&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FErZeMKMRlsQ%2F A simile, as my students are quick to tell me, is when you’re comparing something to something else and you use “as” or “like.” It’s a comparison of something by way of mentioning something else, and the “‘as’ or ‘like’” makes it very clear what you’re up to. “Simile” is the title of one of my favorite poems from Line Dance (Word Press 2008) by Barbara Crooker: My son showd me his paper from remedial English; he was supposed to fill in the blanks. Cool as a __________. Smooth as a __________. Neat as a _____. He came up with: angry as a teakettle and when I asked, “Why?” said, “Because it was boiling mad.” Of course, it was marked wrong, one more red mark in his life’s lo... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1794450 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:06:55 +0100 1794450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1790351&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F0aCsYQ5c2cI%2F It’s possible (possible) that Sarah Palin was a bigger topic around here than the usual suspects (vaccines……). The Nation and Foreign Policy have listed some questions for her: What’s yours? Questions about disability policy and legislation for supports, services, and research preferred. About the Two Babies in the Palin Family As the mother of a special needs son, it’s not what choices about vaccines that Sarah Palin and her husband make that is my main concern, but how to make sure that Trig gets the right, and the very best, therapies and services for his medical and educational needs. (Special Needs) Mommy Wars Update on the Mommy Wars: Special Campaign Edition. Something(s) To Comment About I respond to a commenter’s thought experiment about prenat... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1790351 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:33:24 +0100 1790351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1788759&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FDMhwDk2cltA%2F Coming your way………Causecast, “a powerful online social medium that connects nonprofits, leaders, brands and individuals to those who want to make a positive impact on the world,” according to a press release. Already a Featured Leader is Generation Rescue board member Jenny McCarthy who has “long been a vigilant fighter in the search for a cure for autism”: A year or so is a “long” time?—sorry, being a teacher and translator of Latin and ancient Greek who is married to an American historian, I have a slightly different definition of “long.” I do know, I’m in it for the long run with Charlie, and autism. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1788759 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:25:36 +0100 1788759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779308&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F9Ap8p0qbpXQ%2F Seems a band called Elbow has won the Nationwide Mercury Prize—-a “staple of UK music accolade-giving since 1992“—-for its album The Seldom Seen Kid. Considering the attention devoted by some “autism activists” (Safe Minds etc.) to the belief that vaccines or something in vaccines, like the mercury-based preservative thimerosal, can be linked to autism, there would indeed be some competition for, I don’t know, “most mad about mercury” and “best talking about detoxing autism.” Jenny McCarthy—now starting up a lifestyle line of non-toxic products—would be a fair contender, as would Evidence of Harm author David Kirby who has again and again “rebranded autism”—-renaming it vaccine-transmitted mercu... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779308 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:35:41 +0100 1779308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779311&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FExWmw26GgtM%2F The September 9th New York Times has an editorial on the new study refuting an MMR-autism link: The new study adds weight to a growing body of epidemiological studies and reviews that have debunked the notion that childhood vaccines cause autism. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the C.D.C. and the World Health Organization have found no evidence of a causal link between vaccines and autism. Meanwhile, the original paper’s publisher — The Lancet — complained in 2004 that the lead author had concealed a conflict of interest. Ten of his co-authors retracted the paper’s implication that the vaccine might be linked to autism. Three of the authors are now defending themselves before a fitness-to-practice panel in London on charges related to their autism res... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779311 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:34:12 +0100 1779311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1775594&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FbsqluauMiFM%2F Bedding, apparel, feeding products, toys/activity sets, cleaning products, bathroom textiles, gluten-free food and beverages, and all non-toxic, and all at affordable prices: Did someone say too good? Sorry, “autism mother” and pro-vaccine-safety/anti-vaccine activist Jenny McCarthy already did. According to Technology Marketing, McCarthy has just signed a deal with Los Angeles licensing agency Brand Sense Partners, to “develop a lifestyle brand called Too Good by Jenny, which will be positioned as providing safe, non-toxic surroundings for children.” Sounds very “green”—-will “non-toxic vaccines” be on the list of future “Too Good” products? Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1775594 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:01:38 +0100 1775594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770620&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F_yuautKfH1E%2F Here’s what readers have been saying in a very busy week in which we learned, or learned again, that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism: Norah on whether the term “mild autism” is still in use and Larry on the “pop psychology typical of wired [magazine].” Ongoing discussion about stem cell therapy as an autism treatment, and about the death of Shirley Meade at a camp after being given the wrong medication. Jaz on what it’s been like in Illinois on a 49-year-old younger brother who was “on a waiting list for a home for 20 years after contacting an advocate he got one of the two places that 52 people were waiting for.” Regan adds to a discussion on the MMR controversy and notes an interview with Ben Goldacre. Bonnie Sayers on school security... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770620 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:36:32 +0100 1770620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1763983&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fk7gJECunBBg%2F It’s not unfitting that a week in which a new study further disputing the MMR vaccine-autism link appeared would end with the publication of a book with no less a title than Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure, and by no less an author than Dr. Paul Offit, chief of Infectious Diseases, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In the words of Orac of Respectful Insolence, Dr. Offit is the “Dark Lord of Vaccination” himself, and the special target, now for some time, of the ire, rage, and general hatred of proponents of a vaccine-or-something-in-vaccines-autism link. One of those proponents, Generation Rescue founder and Editor At Large for Age of Autism J.B. Handley, has exp... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1763983 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:21:22 +0100 1763983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1763986&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FiZtg5S10cvU%2F This study is posted as a PDF file via the NAA’s library webapge; the 2004 Hornig study is also posted as a PDF file on the website of Safe Minds. The NAA states in a press release that the new study by Hornig et al. is “‘flawed’” and that it “‘fell far short of what the public needs to prove safety of the MMR vaccine.’” The NAA also needs, perhaps, to note that its use of Hornig’s 2004 study as providing a sort of “sweeping conclusion” for an MMR-vaccine link also falls “far short.” (The relevance of research on mice who have “signs of autism” is difficult to assess; what such “symptoms” are in mice and how they are arise, is different from what occurs in humans.) The press release ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1763986 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:00:30 +0100 1763986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1759945&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F9iJJ6lHZHxY%2F This study has often been cited by advocates of a vaccine-autism link (such as Safe Minds) as evidence for the theory that vaccines or something in vaccines causes autism. Go here to read the new study. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1759945 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:45:25 +0100 1759945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1759946&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FSrwIGesSAuI%2F Professor Marion Leboyer, University of Paris, France, recently presented on the compelling neurobiological story of discovering the first autism genes (some of them, so far), as noted in today’s Science Daily. And the story (the book) of how another prominent (if unproven) theory of autism causation—-vaccines—arose is coming soon to bookstores near you…… Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1759946 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:41:55 +0100 1759946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1746381&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FgIjonmZDlo0%2F Sometimes I think this blog is in danger of becoming a vaccine blog, as vaccines are so frequently a topic here. There’s what some refer to as their right to vaccinate or not. There’ve been recent outbreaks of measles and mumps, with many cases among unvaccinated persons. There’s the fear that vaccines or something in vaccines might be connected to autism. Indeed, it’s “fear of autism” that is the reason for the continued talk about vaccines and autism. Anti-vaccine/pro-vaccine-safety advocates say that they want to “change the schedule” and to “make vaccines safer” to ensure that future generations of children do not get autism. But, while it seems hard to mention autism these days without vaccines being brought up, the number of... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1746381 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:32:25 +0100 1746381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1742807&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FsON0TXjotjo%2F In a letter in today’s Chicago Tribune—in response to an August 25th story, Kids’ vaccinations face risky resistance, Alexander Anderson—who notes that he’s worked with autistic children for more than six years—writes: I know I’d rather have a child with autism than have a child who runs the risk of carrying, dying from or transmitting a potentially fatal disease. Another thought to consider along with the luxury of choice about vaccinating, or not vaccinating. Measles is an infectious diseases; autism is not. Once again, the comments box in the sidebar is not updating so I’ll be noting some recent comments in posts (and hope the problem is fixed, soon): Jamie has some great news on Freedom of Movement: The Importance of Riding a Bike. Lola ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1742807 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:44:43 +0100 1742807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739252&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fw8Uu0rsEbBQ%2F Measles and mumps are back. There are literally billions of parents all over the world that would literally give their lives for the opportunity to have their children vaccinated against measles. Perhaps it is yet another symptom of our wealth in this country that we have the luxury of wondering whether it is necessary to vaccinate. Writes Matthew N. Parker, M.D., in the August 21st Southern Doctor Diaries. It’s an observation that puts recent discussions about the parental right to vaccinate or not in perspective. Dr. Parker writes about the recently reported measles outbreak—131 cases as of this July in the US, and describes a child who’s contracted measles and encephalitis. Parents want so much to be in control of what might happen to their children; worry, he writes, ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739252 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:00:55 +0100 1739252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739258&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FqMX8QkbCVDI%2F 131 cases of measles in the US so far this year—–and now, as Discovering Biology in a Digital World reports, there’s an outbreak of mumps—116 confirmed cases and 74 suspected since February—in Vancouver. On average, there are ten cases a year. From CBSnews.ca: Two people from Alberta carried the mumps to a religious community near Agassiz that has a low rate of vaccinations, said Dr. Elizabeth Brodkin of the Fraser Health Authority. “My understanding is their interpretation of scripture is that to immunize would be to show a lack of faith in God’s ability to protect them, and therefore they choose not to do that,” said Brodkin. Brodkin wouldn’t identify the closely knit faith-based community but said the mumps outbreak since spread well... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739258 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:36:14 +0100 1739258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734063&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F_F7lEZYNxP4%2F Why is the rate of autism in Somali children in Minnesota so high? A few weeks ago, the Minnesota Post addressed this question. The August 24th Star-Tribune also reported on this “cluster of affected kids”; state and federal officials are investigating. In Minneapolis, fears have been fueled by some puzzling statistics. Last year, Somali children made up just under 6 percent of the school population, but 17 percent of those in the early childhood autism programs (14 of 81 children). The numbers have been creeping up for several years, especially among young children. “People are worried,” said Saeed Fahia, who heads a Somali community group. “Nobody remembers any autistic children in Somalia. I’m sure there must have been some, but there were not that ma... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734063 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:39 +0100 1734063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734066&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FZwXHaYaG9ZA%2F “I can spot an autistic child anywhere in a minute.” How often have you heard someone say this; how often you thought it yourself? In contrast, a quote from Jane Seward, deputy director of the division of viral diseases at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in reference to the reported 131 cases of measles so far in the US this year. “People have forgotten what measles looks like and have forgotten how infectious it is.” On an August 25th Scientific American blog, Seward discusses measles and vaccines in other countries and notes that measles is “the most highly infectious virus there is. If you have 100 unvaccinated people in a room and a person with measles walks in and coughs, 90 people or more will get measles.” On August 22nd, Sewa... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734066 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:55:17 +0100 1734066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1730716&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FIaxqy4tAvxQ%2F On the one hand, you have to give the “anti-vaccine/pro-vaccine-safety” folks some credit for, it seems, disseminating their belief that autism can be linked to vaccines or something in vaccines. As noted in numerous news sources last week, it seems that many parents are opting out of vaccinating their children. The result has been hardly surprising: Measles has returned, as an August 24th New York Times editorial states. According to a CDC report, 131 cases of measles have been reported from January-July of this year. Noting that health officials had declared measles eliminated in the US in 2000, the New York Times continues: Nearly all of the outbreaks this year were triggered by a mere 17 travelers or foreign visitors who contracted the virus abroad. The alarming wrinkle thi... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1730716 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:00:51 +0100 1730716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1726413&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FBIMZmyoNBaI%2F Pathophilia succinctly describes the CDC’s MMWR report and takes a closer look at the 131 cases of measles reported from January-July of this year. Writes Pathophilia: The overwhelming majority of these cases were imported* (13%) or linked to imported disease (76%). (It is important to note that the number of imported measles cases in the United States has not changed appreciably over the years, but that the number of importation-associated cases accounts for this year’s dubious record.) A large percentage (81%) of measles cases were related to 7 outbreaks (≥3 cases). Fifteen individuals, including 4 children younger than 15 months, were hospitalized for disease; however, there have been no deaths—yet. Most important, however, is the fact that a whopping 91% of cases occurr... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1726413 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:00:29 +0100 1726413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723505&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FlrNkIfRAqqQ%2F Measles cases are at their highest level in a decade, and is looming dread of autism at least partially responsible for this? There is a myth about vaccines and autism out there; the myth arose after a certain British doctor published a certain study linking the MMR vaccine to autism. A number of the authors of this study have since signed a formal retraction about the results of the study and the doctor is now accused of alleged ethical violations regarding his research and faces being struck off the registry to practice medicine in the UK. It was also found that the doctor (yes, it’s Andrew Wakefield) had been paid £400,000 by lawyers trying to prove that the vaccine was unsafe. Vaccines don’t cause autism and are not behind the rise in autism cases. Study after study disput... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723505 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:29:44 +0100 1723505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717246&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F_kT-OVgZAqc%2F Yes, we’ve been on vacation; meanwhile, the usual back and forth about vaccines and autism rages: CBS news say they’ve unearthed “details of a third case of vaccine injury in a child born in 1974″—as Kev’s noted, Kathleen Seidel described this same case five months ago on the Neurodiversity blog, CBS news is catching up in these dog days of summer. No mention of autism and vaccines is complete without a nod to mercury: Translating Autism reviews a recent study in Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, entitled An Investigation of Porphyrinuria in Australian Children with Autism. Here’s his summary: The study examined urinary porphyrins as a measure of mercury exposure in children with autism. Porphyrinuria, or the excess urinary ex... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717246 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:48:26 +0100 1717246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1711779&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F7zfGPOhZCHQ%2F Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the figure at the center of the controversy over the MMR vaccine and autism, was a “man in a hurry,” according to Professor John Walker-Smith in a hearing before the General Medical Council (GMC). The hearing is about “alleged irregularities in research methods.” Dr. Wakefield was the primary author of the 1998 Lancet paper that linked the MMR vaccine to an increased risk of autism. The Lancet has since disowned the paper, but not before fears of the MMR vaccine became widespread and led to many parents choosing not to vaccinate their children, and a serious increase in measles in the UK. According to the August 14th Hampstead and Highgate Express, Dr. Wakefield, Prof. Walker-Smith and another colleague, Professor Simon Murch, are accused of &#8230... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1711779 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:38:27 +0100 1711779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709274&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FqlrUzL4EemQ%2F So having previously rebranded autism as “Environmentally-acquired Neuroimmune Disorder” or “E.N.D.” (that was over a year ago) and then dubbed autism “vaccine aggravated mitochondrial disorder (in February of this year), and then referred to it as “autistic encephalopathy“—all meant to suggest that what autistic children “have” is some disease caused by an environmental trigger such as a vaccine—–in his latest (August 14th) Huffington Post post, Kirby quite vastly expands the population of those he refers to as “seriously injured” by vaccines: The military. (Further mounting evidence that Kirby’s main concern is vaccines, or vaccine safety, or public health, or…..) In any event, back to autism. Tags: asd, aspe... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709274 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:55:48 +0100 1709274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1700792&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F1XY7bQPuvD0%2F Is the media addicted to controversy—as in the notion that the MMR vaccine could be linked to autism—and is this potentially seriously damaging to people’s health? So Peter Wilby asks in today’s Guardian: Nearly all journalists aspire to emulate two stories: the Watergate scandal, which brought down a US president; and the thalidomide scandal, which, after years of campaigning and legal battles, forced a multinational giant to eat humble pie… In regard to autism, one might speak of: Vaccinegate? MMRgate? CDC/Big Pharma/name your government agency or large drug company gate? Or, simply, Autismgate? Wilby notes some familiar topoi in discussions about autism and vaccines, and parent accounts about how vaccines affected their children: For the press……... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1700792 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:32:25 +0100 1700792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1686315&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FHRN9YTOznOo%2F In light of this discussion, consider statement from Bad Astronomy (a blog for Discover Magazine): …….antivaxxers are potentially the Number One health hazard in America ????!????!!!?!?????! Or maybe Bad Astronomy’s statement could just be punctuated with a plain old, definitive, period. Tags: amanda peet, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Baby, bettelheim, child rearing, disabilities blog, disability, Health, immunization, infant, measles, mercury, mmr, Parenting, paul offit, pdd-nos, prophet, Science, shots, VaccinesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1686315 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:20:46 +0100 1686315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1683092&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FVG5xFg66GA8%2F Discussions about vaccines and autism are mostly about children, and even children who are yet in utero and have yet to be conceived, who don’t have autism; as proponents of a vaccine-autism link claim, they want to get the thimerosal out and the schedule changed so that no more children will become autistic due to a vaccine. This is one reason why anti-vaccine/pro-vaccine safety advocates seems to be so (at the very least) hesitant and (as often stated) disdainful of evidence for genetic causes of autism. Autism is “preventable” (just say no to those shots, or at least that schedule and green ‘em in the process) and “treatable” (by unproven and potentially dangerous treatments like chelation that stem from also-nproven theories of what causes autism). A... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1683092 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:59:05 +0100 1683092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1683095&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F0BSQaLf0z5o%2F Couple of weeks ago the Minnesota Post did an article on rates of autism in Somali children in Minneapolis, with the suggestion that “something” about being in the US was causing higher rates of autism. Today’s Raleigh News-Observer also reports on autism in the children of recent immigrants to the US, but with an emphasis on the additional difficulties of getting services for a disabled child when you’re new to a country, a culture, a language. It’s pointed out that the more “open-minded mentality” here can lead to immigrant parents to seek a diagnosis, services, and education for their children: Esmeralda Garcia feels more supported and informed about autism in Charlotte than she ever felt in her native Mexico. When her 6-year-old daughter, Maria... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1683095 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:53:57 +0100 1683095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1671585&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F352303035%2F This week my summer school class on Psychology and Literature read Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. On Thursday morning the students had a quiz in which they had to “diagnose” Christopher, the novel’s main character, with autism or Asperger Syndrome, based on the DSM criteria. We also talked about the book in terms of development (looking at Erik Erikson’s stages) and also in regard to theories of social psychology, such as moral exclusion and dehumanization; its concrete, visual language; its plot that’s set into motion when Christopher finds Wellington, a neighbor’s black dog, impaled with a gardening stake and determines to find out whodunnit and so starts (as he says) “detecting.” In his detecting, Ch... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1671585 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:57:51 +0100 1671585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1668489&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F351189107%2F The truth, as Mulder and Scully would put it, is out there. I’ll confess to never having watched The X-Files—we did have a TV then (Charlie, and I, had to watch all those videos of Barney, the Teletubbies, and the Wiggles on something)—but the years The X-Files were on (1993-2002) overlapped with the years in which I was writing my dissertation, getting married, getting my first teaching job, and having Charlie, who was diagnosed with autism in 1999. In those years, I wasn’t thinking too much about truth; I was just trying to figure out how to help Charlie learn to talk and sit at a desk so he could, we so hoped, go to school. Talk of treatments and causes swirled around me and while we found out as much as we could about what we might do for Charlie—especiall... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1668489 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:59:34 +0100 1668489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655529&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F346042517%2F This is perhaps an example of medicine acting despite an absence of what we’d recognize as science, a case of peoples’ fears getting the better of them. This statement was made in reference to a “well-respected senior scientist” issuing a warning about cell phones being linked to cancer, as discussed in Ars Technica today. Other examples of “medicine acting despite an absence of what we’d recognize as science” noted are “(unfounded) concerns over WiFi and vaccinations“—both of which have also been linked to autism—and the (now put on hold) federal study on the possible use of chelation therapy as a treatment for autism. For worse or for better, outrage over Michael Savage’s remarks about autism–which exhibit an a... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655529 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:36:35 +0100 1655529 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652392&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F344894044%2F Today’s MinnPost.com reports that “First generation U.S.-born Somali-speaking children in Minneapolis schools are disproportionately identified as having autism.” There are 15,000 to 40,000 Somalis living in Minnesota, a 2001 state health department study reports. According to the Minnesota Department of Education: in the Minneapolis’ early childhood and kindergarten programs, more than 12 percent of the students with autism reported speaking Somali at home. According to Minneapolis school officials, more than 17 percent of the children in the district’s early childhood special education autism program are Somali speaking. Almost 6 percent of the district’s total enrollment is made up of Somali-speaking students, and about 6 percent of the children in th... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652392 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:00:42 +0100 1652392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1646056&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F342832548%2F As the July 28th American Medical News notes, Vaccine-autism link unsupported by science, but theory lives on. Victoria Stagg Elliott reports on the Autism One conference that was held last May in Chicago; not only were many of the conference sessions about immunization issues, but, even when these were not the main focus, “the notion that some aspect of vaccines may play a role in autism was evident.” The American Medical News article includes a table of 2-year-olds in England who received at least one dose of MMR, and the number of cases of measles and mumps reported. Measles, it is noted, is now considered “endemic,” though the number of children being vaccinated is rising again: In 1995-96, 92% of children received the vaccine and there were 112 measles cases an... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646056 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:26:58 +0100 1646056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1642720&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F341653338%2F So the BBC news reports that I, parent of an autistic child, am an “infection risk,” from a study in the July 1st Brain, Behavior and Immunity on Parental caregivers of children with developmental disabilities mount a poor antibody response to pneumococcal vaccination.” (Does that mean autism parents are parasites?) 30 parents of children with developmental disabilities and 29 parents of typically developing children completed “standard measures of depression, perceived stress, social support, caregiver burden, and child problem behaviours,” as well as providing a blood sample and being vaccinated with a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Blood samples were also taken at 1- and 6-month follow-ups and parents of children with developmental disabilities &#8220... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642720 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:59:38 +0100 1642720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1640312&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F340812818%2F So I come home to a sandy car and sand all over the couch (good signs of a fun trip to the beach) and this headline in the New Jersey Star-Ledger: Rise in number of children diagnosed with autism makes parents wary Reporter Kathleen O’Brien interviewed a number of doctors and, in particular, pediatricians, as well as parents of young children who have one particular fear, a “looming dread of autism” in any child who is not meeting those developmental milestones and might be lining up the trains (though, of course, what else does one do with those wooden Brio trains that have the magnets?): With autism spectrum disorders now diagnosed in 1 out of 150 children nationally and 1 in 94 in New Jersey, rare is the parent who isn’t aware of autism. And with that awareness c... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1640312 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:04:55 +0100 1640312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1639273&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F340199846%2F David Kirby’s latest Huffington Post post is entitled Amanda Peet vs. the Medical Establishment. Towards the end, he writes: I am not a parent, and I am not anti-vaccine. But if I were going to listen to experts on this subject, I would be more likely to consult some of these people, rather than a well-meaning but grossly misinformed actress who is guided by a doctor who will likely make money from his own work helping to develop a childhood vaccine. In his post, Kirby names Amanda Peet as the “well-meaning but grossly misinformed actress” and Paul Offit, M.D. as the misinformation-spreading doctor. It seems he has the names wrong—-didn’t he mean this actress and this doctor (the author of the preface to said actress’ book)? Tags: asd, asperger, autism, ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1639273 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:54:30 +0100 1639273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1637832&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F339524275%2F Will there be a run on this in the wake of this sort of testimony: “This is the stuff that really made Evan excrete yeast and start talking more.” This is “the stuff”: Threelac Original Defense Probiotic. This is the source. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, detox, disabilities blog, disability, Health, immunization, measles, mercury, mmr, Parenting, pdd-nos, probiotics, Science, Vaccines, yeastShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1637832 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:08:10 +0100 1637832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1634976&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F338366203%2F Amanda Peet says a sorta sorry. While writing “”I believe in my heart that my use of the word ‘parasites’ was mean and divisive’” in a letter on the Cookie magazine website, she also says: “[T]here is no association between autism and vaccines. How many more studies do we need to conduct on vaccines, before we start re-channeling our efforts and money towards research on autism?” Of course, just saying “[t]here is no association between autism and vaccines” is enough to draw a lot of ire, depending on who you talk to. Tags: actress, amanda peet, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, celebrity, disabilities blog, disability, Health, immunization, jenny mccarthy, measles, mercury, mmr, Movies, Parenting, patient, pdd-nos, Science, sho... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1634976 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:29:27 +0100 1634976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1631151&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F337330474%2F About a year and a half ago, two reporters debated about thimerosal, vaccines and autism. This was back in January of 2007; the reporters were David Kirby and Arthur Allen. In the past two months, two actresses—Amanda Peet and Jenny McCarthy have made statements to various media sources about vaccines and what they do and what they don’t. Peet has (no surprise here) aroused quite a bit of scorn, anger, fury, from proponents of the hypothesis that vaccines or something in vaccines can be linked to autism. So there you have it. Journalists and actresses weigh in on a scientific question that no scientist thinks is a good question; discussion rages; misinformation is cast. Or on second thought: Maybe the latest incarnation of debate about a purported vaccine-autism link is (with a... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631151 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:05:06 +0100 1631151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1625673&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F336726237%2F In the July 14th Nature is an article about the NIMH chelation study that was put on hold due to safety concerns. NIMH director, Thomas Insel, M.D., says that, due to children being involved, and because the study “carries more than minimal risk and offers no demonstrable benefit to the participants,” it has been referred to the US Department of Health and Human Services panel for ethics approval. Nature also points out that the very premise of the study rests on an unproven hypothesis about autism being caused by mercury poisoning. While more and more scientific evidence disputes a link between mercury and autism, a tour ’round the Internet suggests that many believe in a link, whatever the science says: Others argue that the study doesn’t make scientific sense because... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625673 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:06:51 +0100 1625673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1616173&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F333949345%2F Fear of Autism May Be the Cause of the Recent Measles Outbreak says the headline for a July 12th Associated Content article. Maybe more like, “fear of autism is the cause [or at least a major cause] of the recent measles outbreak“? Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, disability, Health, immunization, measles, mercury, mmr, Myth, Parenting, patient, pdd-nos, Science, shots, VaccinesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1616173 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:19:27 +0100 1616173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1554477&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F322987388%2F Late Sunday afternoon Charlie was hanging around the front door when I looked at him and saw that three of his left hand fingers were bloody, and then noticed a similar Hawaiian Punch-like stain on his left cheek and a little white wadded-up-paper-looking-thing in his right thumb and finger…. “You lost a tooth!” I said. “Tooth!” said Charlie and grinned and, when I asked, handed me the tooth (from the upper left part of his mouth, where he has two more new ones already coming in). I thought: No wonder he kept chewing on the front of his t-shirt on Saturday afternoon, and picked up bits of food with his fingers and put them carefully into his mouth, and kept thrusting his head forward like a stork and closing his eyes in a kind of repetitive way. Had the lower ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1554477 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:05:57 +0100 1554477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1535818&cid=t_107656_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F316403012%2F While the scientific evidence refutes a link between autism and vaccines, parents of young children can’t seem to stop worrying about this and (as a June 18th CNN story reports) are wondering: Should they vaccinate their baby? Should they space out the vaccines and have a child receive their immunizations for measles, mumps and rubella separately, rather than in one vaccine, the MMR? A new book, Do Vaccines Cause That?! A Guide for Evaluating Vaccine Safety Concerns,provides sensible and straightforward answers to these sorts of concerns. The book is written by Martin G. Myers, M.D., and Diego Pineda, the editor and the science writer for the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii) and the co-authors of more than 80 peer-reviewed articles on immunization issues. It might... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1535818 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:00:58 +0100 1535818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=972835&cid=t_107656_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F173962640%2F Just a little reminder for those that reside in the US, I am not certain about time frames in other countries, that it is time to receive your Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunization/Vaccine. Yes, if you hadn’t already guessed diabetics are in the “persons at risk” category. Make your appointment today and save yourself some troubles down the road. Better safe than sorry! That is what I always say. And no, I am not advising you to do so because I am a nurse and enjoy inflicting pain on people with needles. But that is always a perk when a patient misbehaves, hahahaha. Share This (Source: Diabetes Notes) Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=972835 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:38:29 +0100 972835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=747152&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fwhy-cant-we-have-single-jabs-while.html Following recent news stories about Dr Andrew Wakefield, MMR, autism and the vaccination programme in general, I've seen a number of variations on the question:I want to vaccinate my children but why can't we have single jabs on the NHS while there is uncertainty?Dr Richard Halvorsen recommends single jabs or individual doses of vaccine, administered one at a time, on separate visits in his recent piece in the Daily Mail.First and foremost, unless it is contraindicated for a individual (e.g., someone who is immunocompromised), there is no uncertainty about the safety of MMR v. the potential for harm of these preventable illnesses among Public Health Officials and the majority of scientists. The Medicines Control Agency and Dept. of Health issued a useful summary of the safety investigation... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=747152 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 12:05:00 +0100 747152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=740460&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Ffitzpatrick-and-halvorsen-speak-about.html Dr Michael Fitzpatrick has posted his own version of the recent abysmal UK reporting: The dark art of the MMR-autism panic. What can I say, the man writes with economy and clarity.Dr Wakefield’s scientific achievements lag far behind his successes in media manipulation: after 10 years (and the expenditure of £15 million in legal aid funding), he has yet to produce credible evidence that MMR has caused autism in a single child (2). The Observer story contains three features common to the episodic upsurges in media interest in the MMR-autism link provoked by anti-vaccine campaigners over the past decade. These are the leak of an unpublished scientific paper ostensibly supporting the link; the endorsement of the link by some maverick scientist or doctor; the prominent report by a journalis... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=740460 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:44:00 +0100 740460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=721317&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fupdate-on-google-where-anti.html At the beginning of 2007, Medgagdget ran some interesting vaccination searches on Google. The results of their investigations were dispiriting. At the time, there were some suggestions that the medical/healthcare blogging communities might take some concerted action to change these search results and various ideas were floated. So, a little more than 6 months on, and in the light of a resurgence of news about Andrew Wakefield in the UK and the Autism Omnibus Hearings in the US, has anything changed?I repeated Medgadget's searches, using their search terms, on Google.com. Medgadget originally reported:To see what's going on, one does not have to go far. Goggle's search for 'vaccination' returns 10 results on its first page. Of them, two are from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prev... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=721317 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:10:00 +0100 721317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682760&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fpatrick-holford-claims-remarkable.html Bowel-whisperer Patrick Holford has some disturbing ideas about vaccination. If you pay a subscription to him, you can consult his special online reports on a number of topics. One of these reports is about vaccination. I'm accustomed to anti-vax denialism and general crankery but reading this report was like allowing my eyes to turn into two fists and pummel my brain.I was slightly worried by Holford's introduction:The orthodox view is that vaccinations are essential, save lives, have few down-sides and are responsible for the decrease in deaths from many infectious diseases.These views are, however, highly questionable. One of the best reviews of the facts about immunisation is by Lynne McTaggart in the book, What Doctors Don't Tell You in which she explodes the myths surrounding vaccina... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682760 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:08:00 +0100 682760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=658847&cid=t_107656_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fpaul-offit-on-how-we-could-lose-modern.html Dr. Paul Offit has written an admirably clear account of why a legal case could mean the end of the modern medical marvel of vaccines (try BugMeNot if you need a log-in for the full article).No single medical advance has had a greater impact on human health than vaccines. Before vaccines, Americans could expect that every year measles would infect four million children and kill 3,000; diphtheria would kill 15,000 people, mostly teenagers; rubella (German measles) would cause 20,000 babies to be born blind, deaf, or mentally retarded; pertussis would kill 8,000 children, most of whom were less than one year old; and polio would paralyze 15,000 children and kill 1,000.Because of vaccines all of these diseases have been completely or virtually eliminated from the United States. Smallpox -- a ... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=658847 Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:15:00 +0100 658847