Merck’s Ebola Vaccine, A Christmas Gift for the World: Really?
The media is in a tizzy over the recent trial results of Merck’s experimental Ebola vaccine, rVSV-ZEBOV (recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Zaire Ebola Virus). “New Ebola Vaccine Gives 100 Percent Protection,” reads a headline in The New York Times. The headline in Science Alert sounds even more conclusive… “It’s Official: We Finally Have…
Scapegoating Anti-Vaxxers for the Mumps Outbreaks: How Predictable
Wanna see an example of superbly unscientific, unreferenced, and ridiculously biased opinion writing? Take a look at Steven Salzburg’s piece in Forbes magazine titled “Anti-Vax Movement To Blame For Quadrupling Of Mumps Cases This Year”. It’s a doozy, particularly given that Salzburg himself (in the comment section)…
Fake News Alert: CDC Did Not Recommend Delaying Breastfeeding During Infant Vaccinations
In early 2015, rumors were circulating on various Internet blogs that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was recommending that mothers should delay breastfeeding their babies to boost vaccine efficacy. The recommendations were traced back to a 2010 study funded by CDC and published in…
Piper Lowery Died From the Flu?
Tragically, sixth grader Piper Lowery from Port Orchard, Washington died on Sat. Jan. 1, 2016 after a week of illness. Reportedly, she died from H1N1 influenza. She had not gotten a seasonal flu shot. A week earlier, Piper began feeling sick with a high fever and a sore throat. Her mother, Peggy Lowery, also had symptoms of influenza during that time. It was not reported whether Mrs. Lowery had…
Vaccine Primer: A Great Companion for the Journey Down the Rabbit Hole
One of my favorite movie scenes is from “Die Hard 2” when Bruce Willis, in the character of Lt. John McClane, is in a race against terrorists to save his wife who is on a plane approaching to land. As he is waiting frantically for a fax to come through so he can rescue the day, the young and seductive counter clerk begins flirting with him when he shows her his wedding…
How the FDA Controls the Media
Embargoes have been used in journalism since the 1920s. It’s a deal between journalists and their sources, which gives the journalist access to a story on the condition that it’s not published before a certain date and time. Some institutions, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), further control media coverage by offering briefings to…