Should Pregnant Women have the Swine Flu Vaccine?

excerpt from
Should pregnant women have the swine flu jab?
By Max Pemberton
Published: 7:00AM GMT 23 Nov 2009

On the other hand, most pregnant women won't get swine flu and most of those that do won't be severely affected. Vaccination is not without risk in itself, and pandemic flu vaccines have been associated with a rare neurological condition known as Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS).
Swine flu vaccines used in the US in 1976 resulted in one case of GBS per 100,000. This is a very small number, but it still meant that more people died as a result of the vaccine than from swine flu. Within the medical profession, some have raised concerns about the unknown effects of the additives in the vaccines, in particular a substance called squalene.
Dr Tom Jefferson, coordinator of the vaccines section of the Cochrane Collaboration, stated that "none of the studies we've extracted have any research on it at all". So the dilemma facing pregnant women is that there is a small but quantifiable risk associated with infection and an unknown but probably only very small risk associated with the vaccine.

full article

Guillain Barre Syndrome:
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances, the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until the muscles cannot be used at all and the patient is almost totally paralyzed. In these cases, the disorder is life-threatening and is considered a medical emergency. The patient is often put on a respirator to assist with breathing. Most patients, however, recover from even the most severe cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, although some continue to have some degree of weakness. Guillain-Barré syndrome is rare. Usually Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. Occasionally, surgery or vaccinations will trigger the syndrome. The disorder can develop over the course of hours or days, or it may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. No one yet knows why Guillain-Barré strikes some people and not others or what sets the disease in motion. What scientists do know is that the body's immune system begins to attack the body itself, causing what is known as an autoimmune disease. Guillain-Barré is called a syndrome rather than a disease because it is not clear that a specific disease-causing agent is involved. Reflexes such as knee jerks are usually lost. Because the signals traveling along the nerve are slower, a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test can give a doctor clues to aid the diagnosis. The cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the spinal cord and brain contains more protein than usual, so a physician may decide to perform a spinal tap.

cool site for "safe" bottles and sippys

I'm on the "plastic is bad for you bandwagon"
I've read enough different accounts of why plastic is bad for you hormonally (not to mention other reasons) that I really try to limit it when I can. Hard.

Baby and toddler life makes it difficult to get rid of plastics completely... even a breastfeeding mom is encouraged to have some milk stored for an emergency and to allow dad to bottle feed on occasion - in an emergency -

and sippy cups - unless you stay home you may find it difficult to do without them.

I saw an add for this site on another blog and checked it out. Kinda cool.

THINK BABY

"Drug Maker's Playbook Reveals a Marketing Strategy" as seen in the NY Times

aren't we all surprised?

A Drug Maker's Playbook Reveals a Marketing Strategy by Gardiner Harris

The pharmaceutical industry has developed thousands of medicines that have saved millions of lives, but it has also used its marketing muscle to successfully peddle expensive pills that are no more effective than older drugs sold at a fraction of the cost.

No drug better demonstrates the industry’s salesmanship than Lexapro, an antidepressant sold by Forest Laboratories. And a document quietly made public recently by the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging demonstrates just how Forest managed to turn a medicinal afterthought into a best seller.

The document, “Lexapro Fiscal 2004 Marketing Plan,” is an outline of the many steps Forest used to make Lexapro a success. Because of concerns from Forest, the Senate committee released only 88 pages of the document, which may have originally run longer than 270 pages. “Confidential” is stamped on every page.

click to read the whole article

In February, federal prosecutors in Boston announced a civil lawsuit against Forest claiming that the company illegally marketed both Lexapro and a closely related antidepressant, Celexa, for use in children and paid kickbacks to doctors to induce them to prescribe the medicines to children.

a link I came across on Facebook

MMR Vaccine in court http://www.wptv.com/news/local/story/MMR-vaccinations-being-brought-to-court/fKRqinuFqEa98NV35OvLKA.cspx

I think it is fascinating.

I remember reading some time ago actually that the Autism Society will not officially go on record and say that the MMR Vaccine is not linked to Autism (although many doctors will.)

The debate regarding shots is fascinating to me for several reasons. Circumstantial evidence says shots are a problem. The Medical Community won't even address that. Law makers have decided that certain shots are necessary. Some of these necessary shots are quite new.

I have spoken to people who have done work for large pharmaceutical firms. I cannot quote them by name. But these people have said that the FDA regulations are that a certain number of test need to be done BUT the regulations DO NOT specify a number of acceptable test results or quantify what acceptable is - so drugs go into the market having had the tests but not necessarily proven to be safe or beneficial. I had this discussion with these people several years ago when there was much hoopla about anti depressants being given to teens and causing them to harm themselves or others. I need to try to look that up. I don't know if I can provide a valid documentable source on that statement.

anyway...

the article linked above:

BOCA RATON, FL -- Boca Raton father, Ben Zeller, says his son, Ben, Jr., was a normal 11-month-old when he received the Measles, Mump and Rubella shot in November of 2004.

Within days, he had a complete febral seizure.

"This was a reaction to the MMR shot, there is no doubt in my mind," Zeller said.

Zeller was one of the first to prove his case in the Federal Vaccine Court. Last July, the court ruled his son would not have experienced the seizure if it weren't for the MMR vaccine.

"We have thousands of cases and we can show all vaccines are causing the exact same problem," said Dr. Andrew Moulden, a Canadian physician gathering evidence to support a class action lawsuit.

Moulden is spending the next week in South Florida interviewing families like the Zeller's.

"To stop this from going on, we have to go to the courts," Moulden said. "They won't stop doing this until we hold them fiscally responsible."

Moulden has gathered more than five thousand images of children's faces taken before and after the MMR vaccine to help prove his case.

The photos highlight children's eyes turning in and out as well as the corner of their mouth dropping.

"These are classic signs of a stroke and clearly a direct result of vaccines," Moulden said.

Still, many doctors and Health Departments say shots are not only safe but needed.

"It prevents death and disability from 14 childhood diseases so it is very important to give vaccines to keep kids healthy," said Deborah Hogan with the Florida Department of Health.

Moulden disagrees and says the proof is in the pictures.

"It's time for them to listen," he said.

Dr. Moulden is asking all families who believe their child may have had an adverse reaction to the vaccine to send him pictures before and after.

You can click on the newslinks tab on the WPTV homepage for the link to Dr. Moulden's site.

Up date on the eczema discrimination situation

heard from D. recently {I wrote about D. in the previous post.}:

I finally had my meeting with the federal officer from the employment commission on monday and it turned out really well. I came prepared and documented everything, even wrote a two page report with a timeline and contacts which she was impressed with because most people just come in there with no information or evidence saying they just want money. So she looked at all my paperwork and said that there was definitely discrimination involved and that the manager made some big mistakes.  She also said that the federal employment commission feels that I should be given pay for all this time I have had to wait for them to decide whether they are going to allow me to use my doctor recommended hand cleanser or not. The best part is she got right on the phone and called  the manager of the store, she called the district manager, and she called the head of the HR dept. for *company name* in CO. The officer introduced herself to everyone as a federal officer of the employment commission investigating case #5791.... for a disabilitly discrimination concerning *his name* and told all three of them that I need to receive pay for this time that I have waited and that she is turning the case over to her legal dept. for further investigation. It was great to have the federal government backing me up and getting the ball rolling on this ordeal. She said I will most likely be cut a check for all my time and troubles very soon because federal charges are not taken lightly by companies this size. I have another meeting with her in a few weeks as the investigation continues, until then I am just going to look for work and continue with this computer certification.

Discrimination

I received a phone call this evening from a relative.  Her husband has eczema.  He works at Starbucks.  He is required to keep his hands clean.  Due to his eczema he has prescription cleansers and disinfectants that he uses to keep his hands clean.  His immediate supervisor at work has repeatedly thrown out his prescription cleansers and demanded that he use the cleansers provided by Starbucks.  He has provided this supervisor with a doctor's note.  This evening the supervisor wrote him up for not meeting hygienic standards, sent him home and told him that he would be contacted by Starbucks's legal representative tomorrow.  He should not return to work until told to do so.

My relative wanted to know if I have ever received such treatment and did I know what could be done about it?

I went surfing at the National Psoriasis Foundation.

and found the following:

Although the National Psoriasis Foundation does not provide legal advice, we have put together basic information about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These two pages can point you in the direction of powerful information that will help with most employment related issues.

Discrimination and FMLA rights
Discrimination and ADA rights
External links

U.S. Department of Labor: Family and Medical Leave Act
U.S. Department of Justice: Americans with Disabilities Act
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy
What to do if you think you have been discriminated against.
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
This Web site can provide you with additional information on discrimination due to a disability and how to file a discrimination charge.

If you follow the link to the United States Department of Labor "What to do if you think you have been discriminated against" you find: STEP 1:

Investigate the laws that prohibit employment-related discrimination on the basis of disability. Note which laws cover public sector employers, which cover private sector employers, and the applicable time limits for filing claims. The primary laws include:

• Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (P.L. 101-336) prohibits private sector employers (including employment agencies and labor unions) and state and local government agencies that employ 15 or more individuals from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment. Title II of the ADA provides the same protection to employees of state and local government agencies regardless of the number of employees such agencies employ. Persons who have been discriminated against on the basis of a perceived disability or record of having a disability also are covered by the ADA.

If you follow the link to Discrimination and ADA rights you'll find: ADA rights

Being considered "disabled" under the ADA is different than qualifying for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. The Americans with Disabilities Act prevents your employer from discriminating against you if you can successfully perform the essential functions of your job.

Your employer must make a "reasonable accommodation" to your known disability if it would not impose an "undue hardship" on your employer's business. The law defines undue hardship as an action requiring significant difficulty or expense. The law takes into consideration an employer's size, financial resources, etc.

Examples of reasonable accommodation include: modified work schedules, extra leave (above and beyond sick leave), uniform/dress code changes, etc.

Learn more

• The Americans with Disabilities Act is there to protect you (PDF)
  
• Americans with Disabilities Act 
• Job Accommodation Network: a free consulting service designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities

Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research Cure and Care Act PPARCCA

Press release
Congress takes on nation's most prevelent autoimmune disease


Millions of Americans hoping for a psoriasis cure

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 11, 2009)—Psoriasis, the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the United States, affecting as many as 7.5 million Americans, will get a much-needed federal investment in medical research dollars if U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) has his way.

The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research Cure and Care Act (PPARCCA) of 2009, introduced by Menendez today, advances the nation’s efforts to find a cure for this disease and sheds new light on what many people believe is "just a skin rash." U.S. Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.-1st) introduced the House version of the bill in February.

A noncontagious, chronic, painful and disabling genetic disease, psoriasis is now being seen as a serious medical condition warranting sophisticated care and therapies. Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. "Unfortunately, the nation is not making the progress necessary to improve current treatments and to find a cure," said Menendez.

New research shows that individuals suffering with psoriasis have increased risks for Crohn’s disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, hypertension, heart attack, cardiovascular disease and liver disease. Studies also indicate that individuals with psoriasis often have increased thoughts of suicide. Most startling is that people with severe psoriasis will die an average of six years sooner than those without the disease.

"Of the 7.5 million Americans with psoriasis, there are nearly 219,000 people in New Jersey alone that have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis," said Menendez. "Psoriasis is not a cosmetic issue, it is a serious autoimmune disease that lasts a lifetime and frequently occurs with a range of other health concerns. We must find a cure."