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FORBES: Revised Recommendations for Vaccines Are Being Phased In, CDC Report Says.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gerganakoleva/2012/05/11/revised-recommendations-for-vaccines-are-being-phased-in-cdc-report-says/
Revised Recommendations for Vaccines Are Being Phased In, CDC Report Says
5/11/2012 @ 5:01PM |2,312 views
112 comments
Can vaccines be more useful for some people than for others?
Until now, most physicians have recommended immunizations for all infants and children, as well as for adults at various ages who may have missed shots. But new guidelines that take into account the strength of scientific evidence and individual health to determine whether specific vaccines should be recommended or simply optional for patients are being used in medicine for the first time, a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
The recommendations are based on a framework for evaluating science used by more than 60 major organizations, including the American College of Physicians and the World Health Organization, and will each fall in one of two categories, reflective of evidence that a vaccine is essential to good health. Category A recommendations will include vaccinations considered necessary for all people of a certain age or those who are at an increased risk for contracting a vaccine-preventable disease. Category B recommendations will provide guidance to physicians in the context of individual cases where patients with varying health conditions may or may not benefit from a vaccine.
More.
The new rules are modeled after an existing system for evaluating scientific evidence, called Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), in which the evidence backing each intervention is ranked according to type and quality. The recommendation categories are based on those rankings. For example, randomized controlled trials, considered the gold standard in generating scientific evidence, are ranked highest and warrant instructions to doctors that a vaccine “should” be administered, whereas clinical experience without consistent results is used for suggesting that a vaccine “may” benefit patients.
The move toward standardizing recommendations is expected to improve transparency, consistency, and communication in the health care setting and between physicians and their patients.
The news update was published this week in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Gergana Koleva, Contributor
I write about the intersection of consumer fraud, bioethics and health
Revised Recommendations for Vaccines Are Being Phased In, CDC Report Says
5/11/2012 @ 5:01PM |2,312 views
112 comments
Can vaccines be more useful for some people than for others?
Until now, most physicians have recommended immunizations for all infants and children, as well as for adults at various ages who may have missed shots. But new guidelines that take into account the strength of scientific evidence and individual health to determine whether specific vaccines should be recommended or simply optional for patients are being used in medicine for the first time, a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
The recommendations are based on a framework for evaluating science used by more than 60 major organizations, including the American College of Physicians and the World Health Organization, and will each fall in one of two categories, reflective of evidence that a vaccine is essential to good health. Category A recommendations will include vaccinations considered necessary for all people of a certain age or those who are at an increased risk for contracting a vaccine-preventable disease. Category B recommendations will provide guidance to physicians in the context of individual cases where patients with varying health conditions may or may not benefit from a vaccine.
More.
The new rules are modeled after an existing system for evaluating scientific evidence, called Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), in which the evidence backing each intervention is ranked according to type and quality. The recommendation categories are based on those rankings. For example, randomized controlled trials, considered the gold standard in generating scientific evidence, are ranked highest and warrant instructions to doctors that a vaccine “should” be administered, whereas clinical experience without consistent results is used for suggesting that a vaccine “may” benefit patients.
The move toward standardizing recommendations is expected to improve transparency, consistency, and communication in the health care setting and between physicians and their patients.
The news update was published this week in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Gergana Koleva, Contributor
I write about the intersection of consumer fraud, bioethics and health
Related thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002312035#post101
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
http://media.apps.chicagotribune.com/flames/index.html
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Chemical companies, Big Tobacco and the toxic products in your home
The average American baby is born with 10 fingers, 10 toes and the highest recorded levels of flame retardants among infants in the world. The toxic chemicals are present in nearly every home, packed into couches, chairs and many other products. Two powerful industries — Big Tobacco and chemical manufacturers — waged deceptive campaigns that led to the proliferation of these chemicals, which don’t even work as promised.
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Chemical companies, Big Tobacco and the toxic products in your home
The average American baby is born with 10 fingers, 10 toes and the highest recorded levels of flame retardants among infants in the world. The toxic chemicals are present in nearly every home, packed into couches, chairs and many other products. Two powerful industries — Big Tobacco and chemical manufacturers — waged deceptive campaigns that led to the proliferation of these chemicals, which don’t even work as promised.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-toxic-chemicals-20120523,0,7124007.story
'Stroller Brigade' rolls out for Safe Chemicals Act
Families and activists turn out to support Senate Democrats' Safe Chemicals Act, which would strengthen monitoring of toxic chemicals in consumer products. Chemical manufacturers say the act is seriously flawed.
By Ian Duncan, Washington Bureau
May 23, 2012, 3:00 a.m
WASHINGTON — Moms, a few dads and some children gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday to urge Congress to strengthen the federal government's powers to regulate harmful chemicals.
The group of almost a hundred activists, which included registered nurses and cancer survivors, came from across the country to support the Safe Chemicals Act, which if passed by Congress would create a new process to monitor toxic chemicals used in consumer products.
The chemicals, which are common in furniture and baby products, have been linked to neurological defects, cancer, developmental problems and impaired fertility.
The chemical industry has argued for decades that flame retardants save lives, but its claims are based on a few small studies. Activists say the chemicals do little to protect consumers from fires.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), a sponsor of the bill, said at a news conference that after he read a series in the Chicago Tribune detailing the risks posed by flame-retarding chemicals, he worried that cushioned cradles he had bought for his twin grandchildren could be harming them.
More at link.
'Stroller Brigade' rolls out for Safe Chemicals Act
Families and activists turn out to support Senate Democrats' Safe Chemicals Act, which would strengthen monitoring of toxic chemicals in consumer products. Chemical manufacturers say the act is seriously flawed.
By Ian Duncan, Washington Bureau
May 23, 2012, 3:00 a.m
WASHINGTON — Moms, a few dads and some children gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday to urge Congress to strengthen the federal government's powers to regulate harmful chemicals.
The group of almost a hundred activists, which included registered nurses and cancer survivors, came from across the country to support the Safe Chemicals Act, which if passed by Congress would create a new process to monitor toxic chemicals used in consumer products.
The chemicals, which are common in furniture and baby products, have been linked to neurological defects, cancer, developmental problems and impaired fertility.
The chemical industry has argued for decades that flame retardants save lives, but its claims are based on a few small studies. Activists say the chemicals do little to protect consumers from fires.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), a sponsor of the bill, said at a news conference that after he read a series in the Chicago Tribune detailing the risks posed by flame-retarding chemicals, he worried that cushioned cradles he had bought for his twin grandchildren could be harming them.
More at link.
http://www.examiner.com/article/mom-s-stroller-brigade-pushes-for-toxic-chemical-reform
...Much of the concern is regarding flame retardants in everything from furniture to nursing pillows for lactating mom and nursing infants. This month, the Chicago Tribune uncovered evidence that the chemical industry and the federal government embelished the benefits of flame retardants from studies done 25 years ago. The four-part Chicago Tribune investigative series, Playing With Fire, is being compared to the tobacco industry cover-ups of the past.
The studies uncovered in the story (done in government labs, published in foreign languages), show that flame retardants do very little to protect humans from fire danger. The Chicago Tribune also found evidence that the dangers of exposure to flame retardants have been distorted to give the chemicals a favorable impression the manufacturers and the public.
"The industry has twisted research results, ignored findings that run counter to its aims and passed off biased, industry-funded reports as rigorous science," wrote Sam Roe and Patricia Callahan, the journalists that uncovered the story. This distortion has led to a requirement for many common household goods to be treated with flame retardants, which is linked to serious health problems like cancer, developmental problems.
More at link.
...Much of the concern is regarding flame retardants in everything from furniture to nursing pillows for lactating mom and nursing infants. This month, the Chicago Tribune uncovered evidence that the chemical industry and the federal government embelished the benefits of flame retardants from studies done 25 years ago. The four-part Chicago Tribune investigative series, Playing With Fire, is being compared to the tobacco industry cover-ups of the past.
“If there is one overwhelming message from years of science, it’s that exposure to toxic chemicals early in our lives is responsible for some of the cancer, infertility, and other health problems that affect millions of Americans,” said Andy Igrejas, director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. “However, Congress has been paralyzed. We’re here to break the gridlock and demand common sense limits on toxic chemicals.”
The studies uncovered in the story (done in government labs, published in foreign languages), show that flame retardants do very little to protect humans from fire danger. The Chicago Tribune also found evidence that the dangers of exposure to flame retardants have been distorted to give the chemicals a favorable impression the manufacturers and the public.
"The industry has twisted research results, ignored findings that run counter to its aims and passed off biased, industry-funded reports as rigorous science," wrote Sam Roe and Patricia Callahan, the journalists that uncovered the story. This distortion has led to a requirement for many common household goods to be treated with flame retardants, which is linked to serious health problems like cancer, developmental problems.
More at link.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/site/newspaper/news/ct-nw-durbin-flame-retardants-20120524,0,295527.story
Durbin calls for chemical regulation
Senator cites Tribune series on toxicity of flame retardants
By Patricia Callahan, Chicago Tribune reporter
11:17 a.m. CDT, May 24, 2012
Urging colleagues to overhaul the nation's chemical laws, Sen. Dick Durbin spoke Wednesday on the Senate floor about his own frustrations as a grandfather to twins born into a world laden with flame retardant chemicals.
Two other senators joined the Illinois Democrat in citing the Tribune's "Playing With Fire" series as they drummed up support for the proposed Safe Chemicals Act. The investigation revealed a deceptive campaign by industry that has loaded American furniture and baby products with toxic flame retardants that don't work as promised.
<...>
The foam cushions in a large sofa can contain up to 2 pounds of flame retardants, and those same chemicals routinely are found in the foam inside baby products. The chemicals — linked to cancer, neurological deficits and impaired fertility — escape from products and settle in dust. That's why children, who play on the floor and put things in their mouths, have far higher levels of flame retardants in their blood than their parents do.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that it knows little, if anything, about the safety of most of the 84,000 industrial chemicals used in the U.S. The bill Durbin is promoting would give the EPA more authority to regulate chemicals and require manufacturers to prove their products are safe before selling them.
Durbin calls for chemical regulation
Senator cites Tribune series on toxicity of flame retardants
By Patricia Callahan, Chicago Tribune reporter
11:17 a.m. CDT, May 24, 2012
Urging colleagues to overhaul the nation's chemical laws, Sen. Dick Durbin spoke Wednesday on the Senate floor about his own frustrations as a grandfather to twins born into a world laden with flame retardant chemicals.
Two other senators joined the Illinois Democrat in citing the Tribune's "Playing With Fire" series as they drummed up support for the proposed Safe Chemicals Act. The investigation revealed a deceptive campaign by industry that has loaded American furniture and baby products with toxic flame retardants that don't work as promised.
<...>
The foam cushions in a large sofa can contain up to 2 pounds of flame retardants, and those same chemicals routinely are found in the foam inside baby products. The chemicals — linked to cancer, neurological deficits and impaired fertility — escape from products and settle in dust. That's why children, who play on the floor and put things in their mouths, have far higher levels of flame retardants in their blood than their parents do.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that it knows little, if anything, about the safety of most of the 84,000 industrial chemicals used in the U.S. The bill Durbin is promoting would give the EPA more authority to regulate chemicals and require manufacturers to prove their products are safe before selling them.
Haven't seen it yet, but will.
http://www.greatergoodmovie.org/
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THE GREATER GOOD looks behind the fear, hype and politics that have polarized the vaccine debate in America today. The film re-frames the emotionally charged issue and offers, for the first time, the opportunity for a rational and scientific discussion on how to create a safer and more effective vaccine program.
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THE GREATER GOOD looks behind the fear, hype and politics that have polarized the vaccine debate in America today. The film re-frames the emotionally charged issue and offers, for the first time, the opportunity for a rational and scientific discussion on how to create a safer and more effective vaccine program.
http://www.ageofautism.com/2012/05/the-greater-good-anne-dachel.html#more
An Interview with The Greater Good's Leslie Manookian
By Anne Dachel
Posted by Age of Autism at May 25, 2012 at 5:45 AM
<...>
Question: How has "The Greater Good" been received by the general public and by the medical community/public health officials?
We have been thrilled with the support we have received from all corners. We have had doctors and scientists applaud us and stand up after our screenings to congratulate us on the film, as mentioned before, we have won some awards including an award from the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, we have a medical consultant who wants us to show the film to 50 hospitals and thousands of doctors in her network, and we have plans to show the film across the nation. Many of these people are angry and outraged to learn there is more to this topic than they had realized and all are grateful for us having made a fair film that addresses this very important topic facing us today. The reception from the general public has also been wonderful. People have written to us thanking us for explaining how this issue is not black and white, people have written to us thanking us for creating a tool that they can share with their friend and family, and people have thanked us for making a film that helps them to feel empowered about making decisions for their families.
<...>
Question: How have they (pharmaceutical industry) responded?
It is interesting that there has been what would appear to be a coordinated effort to attack exemptions to vaccinations across the nation.
In Vermont quite recently, the Vermont Chairperson for ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, a lobby group for the corporate world, is also a Vermont Senator and he introduced legislation just before Christmas that would strip Vermonters of their right to philosophical and religious exemptions to vaccinations. In the end, the bill was unsuccessful as so many concerned citizens fought back for the right to decide what they put into their bodies and how they keep their families well. And this kind of attack is happening across the US. There was a bill introduced in Maryland that would allow children as young as 9 who enter a drug store to be vaccinated with any CDC recommended vaccine without parental consent and there is a bill in California right now that would make a parent sit before a doctor each year to be educated about vaccine benefits in order to receive an exemption.
In addition to these legislative initiatives, every time we have a public screening of The Greater Good there is a flurry of opinion pieces in the local newspapers.
<...>
An Interview with The Greater Good's Leslie Manookian
By Anne Dachel
Posted by Age of Autism at May 25, 2012 at 5:45 AM
<...>
Question: How has "The Greater Good" been received by the general public and by the medical community/public health officials?
We have been thrilled with the support we have received from all corners. We have had doctors and scientists applaud us and stand up after our screenings to congratulate us on the film, as mentioned before, we have won some awards including an award from the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, we have a medical consultant who wants us to show the film to 50 hospitals and thousands of doctors in her network, and we have plans to show the film across the nation. Many of these people are angry and outraged to learn there is more to this topic than they had realized and all are grateful for us having made a fair film that addresses this very important topic facing us today. The reception from the general public has also been wonderful. People have written to us thanking us for explaining how this issue is not black and white, people have written to us thanking us for creating a tool that they can share with their friend and family, and people have thanked us for making a film that helps them to feel empowered about making decisions for their families.
<...>
Question: How have they (pharmaceutical industry) responded?
It is interesting that there has been what would appear to be a coordinated effort to attack exemptions to vaccinations across the nation.
In Vermont quite recently, the Vermont Chairperson for ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, a lobby group for the corporate world, is also a Vermont Senator and he introduced legislation just before Christmas that would strip Vermonters of their right to philosophical and religious exemptions to vaccinations. In the end, the bill was unsuccessful as so many concerned citizens fought back for the right to decide what they put into their bodies and how they keep their families well. And this kind of attack is happening across the US. There was a bill introduced in Maryland that would allow children as young as 9 who enter a drug store to be vaccinated with any CDC recommended vaccine without parental consent and there is a bill in California right now that would make a parent sit before a doctor each year to be educated about vaccine benefits in order to receive an exemption.
In addition to these legislative initiatives, every time we have a public screening of The Greater Good there is a flurry of opinion pieces in the local newspapers.
<...>
http://shop.mercola.com//product/the-greater-good-dvd,881.htm
DVD PURCHASE: (looks like distribution is limited, despite the accolades)
Back in the 1980s, children were asked to get 23 doses of 7 different vaccines. By 2010, parents are being asked to give their children 69 doses of 16 vaccines. That’s triple the dose of those recommended in the 1980s. And today, many states have made certain vaccinations mandatory… with parents having little or no say in whether or not their children will receive a vaccine. Are we doing the right thing? Should all of this be stopped? Or, are we completely taking vaccines for granted?
The Greater Good DVD takes a closer look behind the fear, hype and politics which polarizes people into taking either a pro-vaccine stance, or an anti-vaccine position… with no room in the middle.
Hear what experts have to say on both sides of the coin including…
And also listen to sobering accounts of 3 families from Wichita, Kansas… Portland, Oregon… and Tulsa, Oklahoma, who have had to deal with devastating effects from vaccines.
The Greater Good DVD is a plea to parents, doctors, scientists, and the general public., to get more educated about vaccines and making informed decisions. The DVD challenges you to think again and dig deeper into the burning issue… Is there a better way to approach all this?
DVD PURCHASE: (looks like distribution is limited, despite the accolades)
Back in the 1980s, children were asked to get 23 doses of 7 different vaccines. By 2010, parents are being asked to give their children 69 doses of 16 vaccines. That’s triple the dose of those recommended in the 1980s. And today, many states have made certain vaccinations mandatory… with parents having little or no say in whether or not their children will receive a vaccine. Are we doing the right thing? Should all of this be stopped? Or, are we completely taking vaccines for granted?
The Greater Good DVD takes a closer look behind the fear, hype and politics which polarizes people into taking either a pro-vaccine stance, or an anti-vaccine position… with no room in the middle.
Hear what experts have to say on both sides of the coin including…
Barbara Loe Fisher, Co-founder & President, National Vaccine Information Center
Paul Offit, MD, Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Mark Feinberg, MD, PhD, VP Medical Affairs and Policy, Merck & Co.
The deputy director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
The FDA’s Director of Office of Vaccines Research & Review
The lead researcher for Gardasil, HPV and cervical cancer vaccine
Vaccine neuroscientists, developers, and injury lawyers
Paul Offit, MD, Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Mark Feinberg, MD, PhD, VP Medical Affairs and Policy, Merck & Co.
The deputy director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
The FDA’s Director of Office of Vaccines Research & Review
The lead researcher for Gardasil, HPV and cervical cancer vaccine
Vaccine neuroscientists, developers, and injury lawyers
And also listen to sobering accounts of 3 families from Wichita, Kansas… Portland, Oregon… and Tulsa, Oklahoma, who have had to deal with devastating effects from vaccines.
The Greater Good DVD is a plea to parents, doctors, scientists, and the general public., to get more educated about vaccines and making informed decisions. The DVD challenges you to think again and dig deeper into the burning issue… Is there a better way to approach all this?
Unrelated to the film, expanding on the ALEC reference from the interview:
Here's where many presumably well-intentioned (D)'s unfortunately ally with ALEC. In CA, for example, currently (R)'s oppose while (D)'s support AB2109 (See http://nvicadvocacy.org/members/Home.aspx ).
Previously,
http://www.nvic.org/pressrelease/pr-ca-ab499-signed.aspx
October 10, 2011
National Vaccine Information Center Calls New CA Vaccine Law A “Violation of Parental Informed Consent Rights and Federal Law”
Washington, D.C. - The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) today criticized California Governor Jerry Brown for bowing to pressure from the pharmaceutical and medical trade lobby and signing a controversial bill (AB499) into law that allows 12 year old children to be vaccinated without the knowledge or consent of their parents. The new California law allows minor children as young as 12 years old to be given Gardasil and hepatitis B vaccine, as well as future vaccines for sexually transmitted diseases, without the informed consent of their parents.
More at link.
October 10, 2011
National Vaccine Information Center Calls New CA Vaccine Law A “Violation of Parental Informed Consent Rights and Federal Law”
Washington, D.C. - The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) today criticized California Governor Jerry Brown for bowing to pressure from the pharmaceutical and medical trade lobby and signing a controversial bill (AB499) into law that allows 12 year old children to be vaccinated without the knowledge or consent of their parents. The new California law allows minor children as young as 12 years old to be given Gardasil and hepatitis B vaccine, as well as future vaccines for sexually transmitted diseases, without the informed consent of their parents.
More at link.
