On July 18, Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, convened another in a series of vaccine safety hearings.  This one was called "Mercury in Medicine -- Are We Taking Unnecessary Risks?"

Congressman Burton suspects that a connection exists between mercury contamination and autism.  Since the incidence of autism appears to be on the rise -- some say one in 250 U.S. children -- he is anxious to attribute a source.  He has been linking autism to vaccines for some time, despite credible scientific studies to the contrary.  Because mercury toxicity can cause language difficulties and such neurological disorders as attention deficit and hyperactivity, characteristics of autism, some maintain a cause-and-effect relationship.

Click here for full story.

Click below for recent 
Newsweek Article on Autism
 

Glaxo Wellcome/SmithKline Beecham Merger

Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham announce that the formal documents relating to their proposed merger to form GlaxoSmithKline have been posted to the shareholders of both companies. Click here for more information.

Baxter Completes Acquisition of North American Vaccine

Baxter International Inc. and North American Vaccine, Inc. announced that Baxter has completed its approximately $380 million acquisition of Columbia, Maryland-based North American Vaccine. Click here for the press release.
 

Ireland's National Disease Surveillance Center Blames Measles Epidemic on Parents

Forgetfulness, apathy and concerns about side effects of MMR Vaccine have resulted in a measles epidemic with 1,221 notified cases during the first six months of this year, compared to 73 cases for the same period last year. Two children have already died and cases are at their highest level since 1993.  The NDSC has warned that there is evidence that it is spreading from Dublin to other parts of the State. 

Click here for more.  (Sorry, this article is not available as of 11/20/03) 
 
 

Bumpers and Carter Awarded Champion of Prevention Awards by CDC

Betty Bumpers and Rosalynn Carter were presented this year's Champion of Prevention Award by HHS Secretary Donna Shalala at this years 34th National Immunization Conference in Washington, DC.
Click here for full story!

Jean Holzgang Accepts Position With Merck

Jean Holzgang, programs manager of ECBT, is moving on to the position of Vaccine Specialist in the Private Sector for Merck.  Click here for more information.

Rich Greenaway Joins ECBT Staff

Rich Greenaway, previously with the American Nurses Association has joined the staff of ECBT as Director of Programs.  Click here for more information. 

Congress begins its August recess on July 28, and resumes business on September 5.  This stretch between Memorial Day and August recesses has been busy.

Seven of the 13 appropriations bills, those bills funding federal agencies and their programs, have passed both houses but have not been finalized.  Among them the bill funding the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education passed both houses, but it is currently stalled in conference committee. 

Currently the Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations conference committee is at an impasse on putting together a veto proof committee report.  The Republicans have conceded to including the dollar amount requested by the White House, but their priorities are different.
Full Story

Merck and The Merck Company Foundation Offers to Match the $50 Million Gates Foundation Donation to Botswana

In the wake of the recent International Conference on AIDS, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Merck & Co., Inc. and the Republic of Botswana announced the establishment of the Botswana Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership.  The goal of the initiative is to improve the overall state of HIV/AIDS care and treatment in Botswana. Click here for full story.

Influenza Vaccine Supply Delayed

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lower than anticipated production yields for this year's influenza A (H3N2) vaccine component and other manufacturing problems are expected to lead to a substantial delay in the distribution of influenza vaccine and possibly substantially fewer total doses of vaccine for distribution than last year.  The CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are issuing adjunct influenza vaccination recommendations specific to the 2000--01 influenza season to assist providers in planning activities for the Fall.

Included in the new recommendations is the suggested postponement of organized shot campaigns until mid-November.  Routine vaccination activities should proceed as normal with available vaccine for persons at high risk for complications from influenza, health-care staff, and other persons in close contact with persons at high risk for complications from influenza.  Click here for full recommendations. 

For more information please contact the National Coalition for Adult Immunizations
(301) 656-0003
NCAI Website
 

During a recent meeting with the National Governor's Association Clinton highlighted the progress states have made in extending affordable insurance for more than 2 million children, according to the Associated Press.  He encouraged the nation's Governors to initiate aggressive measures to streamline eligibility and enrollment processes for Medicaid and S-CHIP eligible  children. The President reiterated his opposition to Congressional proposals to reduce state funding for S-CHIP and state welfare programs.  Also announced was issuance of guidance materials by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the approval of S-CHIP 1115 demonstration waivers that expand coverage to uninsured children and their parents.

The President also released a new report by the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Agriculture that details recommendations and best practices for school-based outreach activities. The attached report (follow link below) provides various strategies for motivating schools to adopt SCHIP enrollment outreach as part of their mission and highlights best-state practices for  identifying and enrolling eligible children within our school systems.

For a PDF version of the school outreach report click here...

Medicaid to pick up some of the tab for future immunization registry development, maintenance and operations, Click here for more...