NGO Head: CIA Shares Blame for Murdered Health Workers
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Two days after gunmen killed seven of his employees, the head of a Pakistani aid organization blamed their deaths not only on the militants who pulled the trigger, but also on America’s Central Intelligence Age…
Non-Medical Vaccination Opt-Outs on the Rise
Joe Raedle/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — An increasing number of parents are getting state approval to allow their children to opt out of school-mandated vaccinations for non-medical reasons, according to a new analysis published Wednesday.Dr. Saad Omer, a…
Whooping Cough Vaccine Protection Short-Lived, Study Warns
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(OAKLAND, Calif.) — Protection against whooping cough declines during the five years after the fifth dose of vaccine is given to 4- to 6-year-old children, a new study suggests — leading some experts to urge teens and adults to …
Donald Trump Plays Doctor on Twitter with Autism Claims
Mike Stobe/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Mostly quiet since his last birther allegation, Donald Trump Thursday to went on Twitter to peddle a theory that claims vaccinations cause autism in young children.“Massive combined inoculations to small child…
Pertussis Outbreak May Be Worst in 50 Years, CDC Says
Hemera/Thinkstock(ATLANTA) — Reported cases of pertussis are at their highest level in 50 years, a top official with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Thursday, adding that outbreaks in several states should encourag…
Rob Schneider Speaks Out Against Childhood Vaccinations
Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — You can add Rob Schneider to the list of celebrities speaking out against childhood vaccinations. The former Saturday Night Live star was among those attending a hearing last week on Californi…
FDA Approves Meningitis Vaccine for Infants
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Thursday approved an infant vaccine that experts say will protect small children from two potentially fatal bacterial diseases.Menhibrix, manufactured by the Belgium-based comp…
Are Doctors Improperly Storing Vaccines?
Joe Raedle/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — As many moms do, Julie Dilensky of Washington, D.C., takes her 1-year-old daughter to the doctor for her recommended vaccinations.”It’s protective and preventative in my mind and anything I can do to keep her as saf…
One in Six Cancers Caused by Infection
Ingram Publishing/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Roughly one in six cancers is caused by an infection, according to a global study highlighting the power of vaccines in cancer prevention.French researchers pooled data on 27 cancers from 184 countries to calcu…
Study: Mandatory Vaccines Lead to Higher Immunization Levels
Joe Raedle/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — States that require immunizations for students entering middle school have significantly higher numbers of adolescents who actually get recommended vaccinations compared with states that simply require that parent…
Vermont Debates Vaccines: Should Parents Be Able to Opt Out?
Jeffrey Hamilton/Thinkstock(MONTPELIER, Vt.) — The debate over a bill that would make vaccines mandatory for school-aged children by eliminating “philosophical exemption” as a reason to opt out of the shots, has divided Vermont’s families over the ben…
An End to Infant Crying at the Doctor’s Office?
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NORFOLK, Va.) — A technique that doctors have commonly recommended to parents to deal with the pain of baby colic now shows promise in easing the crying associated with infant vaccinations at the doctor’s office.In a paper publi…
Chemicals Found in Manufacturing Affect Some Childhood Vaccines
Joe Raedle/Getty Images(ROCHESTER) — New research finds that chemicals commonly found in non-stick cookware, microwave popcorn bags and other manufactured goods may make childhood vaccines less effective, perhaps making it easier for certain diseases …
Zoo Gives Gorillas Flu Shots … and Bananas for Their Trouble
Hemera/Thinkstock(BOSTON) — Eighteen-year-old Okie is like many teenagers: He’s filling out, he’s a bit on the quiet side, and he has a predilection for sweet treats. And like many his age, a seasonal flu shot is highly recommended.But as any doctor w…