Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
More MMR stories in the news.
(1/29/15) Univ. of Minnesota student with measles had 2 doses of MMR: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/27978518/u-student-with-measles-had-2-doses-of-mmr
(1/22/15) MMR advice after threefold increase in mumps cases: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-30930445
(9/9/14) Lawsuits claiming Merck lied about mumps vaccine efficacy headed to trial: http://www.fiercevaccines.com/story/lawsuits-claiming-merck-lied-about-mumps-vaccine-efficacy-headed-trial/2014-09-09
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
http://blogs.wsj.com/pharmalot/2015/01/30/pro-life-groups-say-merck-is-partly-to-blame-for-measles-outbreaks/
Pro-Life Groups say Merck is Partly to Blame for Measles Outbreaks
By ED SILVERMAN
1:43 pm ET
Jan 30, 2015
Getty Images
As the measles outbreak focuses attention on parents who object to vaccination, some pro-life groups argue one culprit contributing to the problem is actually Merck, which makes the only measles vaccine available in the U.S. And some have begun a new campaign this week to pressure the drug maker to alter the composition of its vaccine.
At issue is the MMR – or measles, mumps and rubella – combination vaccine sold by Merck. Pro-life groups say they object to the rubella component on religious grounds because it was made using cell lines derived from aborted fetuses. As a result, the groups say pro-life supporters have avoided the MMR vaccine ever since Merck ended production in 2009 of a dedicated measles vaccine.
“The current outbreak would not be as severe or widespread if parents had the ability to access separate vaccines,” says Debi Vinnedge, the director of Children of God for Life, a non-profit, pro-life organization. “Parents are being unfairly targeted as the problem when Merck is the problem. If they had the separate doses available more people would have been vaccinated.”
To what extent a separate measles vaccine might mitigate any recent outbreak or uptick in the disease is unclear. Children of God for Life and the American Life League, another pro-life group that this week has called for Merck to change its vaccine production, are uncertain of the number of supporters who would vaccinate their children if MMR was not offered only as a combined product.
Will Merck consider shifting its vaccine production strategy? We asked the drug maker for comment and will update you accordingly. (UPDATE: A Merck spokeswoman sends us this: "There is no medical reason to administer the measles, mumps and rubella antigens separately and the (CDC) guidelines do not support their use. Major religious groups have accepted use of the rubella vaccine because of the public health value it provides and because there is currently no alternative to prevent this potentially serious disease." And she notes that some religious organizations, such as the National Catholic Bioethics Center, support use of the vaccine.)
<>
About Pharmalot
Pharmalot explores the fast-moving, complicated world that develops and markets medicines – and the drug makers that are attempting to replenish their pipelines while grappling with pricing and regulatory dictates, among many other challenges. Writer Ed Silverman has covered the pharmaceutical industry for nearly two decades and has closely followed the many hurdles facing drug companies as they move ideas from the laboratory to the medicine chest. He started Pharmalot while at The Star-Ledger of New Jersey and previously worked at New York Newsday and Investor’s Business Daily.
Pro-Life Groups say Merck is Partly to Blame for Measles Outbreaks
By ED SILVERMAN
1:43 pm ET
Jan 30, 2015
Getty Images
As the measles outbreak focuses attention on parents who object to vaccination, some pro-life groups argue one culprit contributing to the problem is actually Merck, which makes the only measles vaccine available in the U.S. And some have begun a new campaign this week to pressure the drug maker to alter the composition of its vaccine.
At issue is the MMR – or measles, mumps and rubella – combination vaccine sold by Merck. Pro-life groups say they object to the rubella component on religious grounds because it was made using cell lines derived from aborted fetuses. As a result, the groups say pro-life supporters have avoided the MMR vaccine ever since Merck ended production in 2009 of a dedicated measles vaccine.
“The current outbreak would not be as severe or widespread if parents had the ability to access separate vaccines,” says Debi Vinnedge, the director of Children of God for Life, a non-profit, pro-life organization. “Parents are being unfairly targeted as the problem when Merck is the problem. If they had the separate doses available more people would have been vaccinated.”
To what extent a separate measles vaccine might mitigate any recent outbreak or uptick in the disease is unclear. Children of God for Life and the American Life League, another pro-life group that this week has called for Merck to change its vaccine production, are uncertain of the number of supporters who would vaccinate their children if MMR was not offered only as a combined product.
Will Merck consider shifting its vaccine production strategy? We asked the drug maker for comment and will update you accordingly. (UPDATE: A Merck spokeswoman sends us this: "There is no medical reason to administer the measles, mumps and rubella antigens separately and the (CDC) guidelines do not support their use. Major religious groups have accepted use of the rubella vaccine because of the public health value it provides and because there is currently no alternative to prevent this potentially serious disease." And she notes that some religious organizations, such as the National Catholic Bioethics Center, support use of the vaccine.)
<>
About Pharmalot
Pharmalot explores the fast-moving, complicated world that develops and markets medicines – and the drug makers that are attempting to replenish their pipelines while grappling with pricing and regulatory dictates, among many other challenges. Writer Ed Silverman has covered the pharmaceutical industry for nearly two decades and has closely followed the many hurdles facing drug companies as they move ideas from the laboratory to the medicine chest. He started Pharmalot while at The Star-Ledger of New Jersey and previously worked at New York Newsday and Investor’s Business Daily.
Link from: http://annedachel.com
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102360683
DAVOS 2015 - WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
How health care is changing: Kaiser Permanente CEO
Tom DiChristopher
Friday, 23 Jan 2015 | 7:13 AM ET
VIDEO
Health care utilization is not dropping, but shifting toward a greater focus on outpatient care, Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard Tyson told CNBC on Friday.
"In our environment, when you're in the hospital, we're already preparing to care for you in the outpatient setting," he said in a "Squawk Box" interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "We can get someone out of the hospital faster. However they are handed off to the outpatient side of the organization, so the continuity of care continues, its just in a very different setting."
Tyson said that model helps make health care more affordable for Kaiser Permanente and marks a change from the industry's mindset 30 years ago, when people came to providers, he said. "Now we're distributing care out," he said.
DAVOS 2015 - WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
How health care is changing: Kaiser Permanente CEO
Tom DiChristopher
Friday, 23 Jan 2015 | 7:13 AM ET
VIDEO
Health care utilization is not dropping, but shifting toward a greater focus on outpatient care, Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard Tyson told CNBC on Friday.
"In our environment, when you're in the hospital, we're already preparing to care for you in the outpatient setting," he said in a "Squawk Box" interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "We can get someone out of the hospital faster. However they are handed off to the outpatient side of the organization, so the continuity of care continues, its just in a very different setting."
Tyson said that model helps make health care more affordable for Kaiser Permanente and marks a change from the industry's mindset 30 years ago, when people came to providers, he said. "Now we're distributing care out," he said.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/zinamoukheiber/2014/09/30/kaiser-permanente-chairman-bernard-tyson-on-the-kaiserfication-of-america/
http://www.ageofautism.com/2015/01/age-of-autism-midweek-mashup-minneapolis-minnesota-measles-minnie-and-more.html
Age of Autism Midweek Mashup: Minneapolis, Minnesota, Measles, Minnie, and More
By Dan Olmsted
...As I was packing to head to Minneapolis on Friday, I had CNBC on in the background when Kaiser-Permanente CEO Bernard Tyson was interviewed. Since K-P is my own HMO, I turned it up and listened. The vaccine question soon came up in the context of the measles cases emanating from Disneyland.
To me that's the standard pabulum you expect from an outfit like KP. But the next question and answer were interesting.
Except for his view that the autism link is very slim if at all, these comments are quite reasonable. In fact, as I said in Minneapolis after reading them, they reflect the spirit of our gathering there and also of our book, Vaccines 2.0. Parents are confused and concerned, as well they should be given the rise of chronic and developmental illnesses concurrent with the exploding and bloated vaccine schedule. Someone like KP's Tyson, who has a business to run, is probably a lot more sensitive to the pushback from parents than insulated and unaccountable vaccine zealots like Paul Offit and the crowd at the CDC.
<>
Posted by Age of Autism at January 28, 2015
Age of Autism Midweek Mashup: Minneapolis, Minnesota, Measles, Minnie, and More
By Dan Olmsted
...As I was packing to head to Minneapolis on Friday, I had CNBC on in the background when Kaiser-Permanente CEO Bernard Tyson was interviewed. Since K-P is my own HMO, I turned it up and listened. The vaccine question soon came up in the context of the measles cases emanating from Disneyland.
"Well you know," Tyson said, "we've seen in the country a decline in parents bringing their children in for immunization. We make that a big push at Kaiser -- studies show it helps and it's the right preventive step and we have outreach programs to parents.
"I think the measles and what is happening there is another sign of what can happen very quickly when something reaches epidemic proportions."
To me that's the standard pabulum you expect from an outfit like KP. But the next question and answer were interesting.
Question: "The parents who are worried about their children potentially getting autism from that? What do you tell them?"
Answer: "Well, those are legitimate concerns," he said, emphasizing the last two words. I nearly dropped my toothbrush. "I don't want to excuse away responsible parents asking very responsible questions. In some cases we don't have the answers in the health care community. I think we have the latest evidence to show that the connection is very slim if at all, but I think the questions are very important and we need to figure out how to engage in the right conversations so people are making informed decisions."
Except for his view that the autism link is very slim if at all, these comments are quite reasonable. In fact, as I said in Minneapolis after reading them, they reflect the spirit of our gathering there and also of our book, Vaccines 2.0. Parents are confused and concerned, as well they should be given the rise of chronic and developmental illnesses concurrent with the exploding and bloated vaccine schedule. Someone like KP's Tyson, who has a business to run, is probably a lot more sensitive to the pushback from parents than insulated and unaccountable vaccine zealots like Paul Offit and the crowd at the CDC.
<>
Posted by Age of Autism at January 28, 2015
http://www.amazon.com/Vaccines-2-0-Careful-Parents-Vaccination-ebook/dp/B00R3LDZOC/
About the Authors
About the Authors
Mark Blaxill is the father of a daughter diagnosed with autism, co-founder of the Canary Party, and editor at large for "Age of Autism." He has authored several scientific publications on autism. He received his A.B. from Princeton and an MBA from Harvard. He co-authored the book, "The Age of Autism."
Dan Olmsted is co-author of "Age of Autism" and Editor of the blog of the same name. He was an original staff member of USA Today and Senior Editor for USA Weekend magazine and United Press International. He is a member of the National Press Club.
