Posts Tagged ‘vaccines’
Science Policy Around the Web – May 12, 2013
By: Katherine Donigan
Our weekly linkpost, bringing you interesting and informative links on science policy issues buzzing about the internet.
FDA Proposes Tougher Warnings for Tanning Beds – Despite recommendations from the FDA’s own advisory panel and the American Medical Association that favor an outright ban on tanning beds for children, the agency is proposing only to increase the risk level associated with indoor tanning. This move would result in requiring tanning beds to display a warning label advising against use by anyone under 18. The decision to upgrade tanning beds from low to moderate risk devices is a step in the right direction, as skin cancer has been found to be significantly increased in people who are exposed to UV radiation from tanning beds before age 35. The FDA has indicated that warning labels may be a precursor to an outright ban in the future, but the reasoning behind the agency’s reluctance to presently support such a ban remains unclear. (Steve Reinberg, US News)
Cancer Vaccines Get a Price Cut in Poor Nations – The two major manufacturers of the HPV vaccine have announced that they will be making it available to girls and women in poor countries for under $5 per dose. This price reduction is significant, as in the US, the vaccine usually runs around $130 per dose. Advocates of a low-cost HPV vaccine hope that by 2020, 30 million girls living in 40 different countries would be vaccinated. The HPV vaccine protects against multiple strains of human papilloma virus that cause genital warts and up to 70% of cervical cancers. Dramatically reducing the cost barrier for women and girls in poor countries at higher risk of dying from cervical cancer has the potential to save millions of lives, representing a major advance for women’s health. (Sabrina Tavernise, NYTimes)
New Genomic Prostate Cancer Test Holds More Answers – The limitations of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test have become increasingly apparent over the years, as new studies have shown PSA levels alone are a relatively poor marker for prostate cancer. Data indicate that PSA testing can lead to overdiagnosis, and in October 2011, the United States Preventive Services Task Force issued a recommendation against PSA testing in healthy men at any age. A new test from Genomic Health, Oncotype DX, screens 17 different genes from a biopsy and assigns a numerical score correlating to tumor aggressiveness. The test appears to be more sensitive at detecting the differences between low and high-risk samples, potentially sparing thousands of men each year from unnecessary medical treatment. (Andrew Pollack, NYTimes)
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Science Policy Around the Web – April 28, 2013
photo credit: Ethan T. Allen via photopin cc
By: Katherine Donigan
Our weekly linkpost, bringing you interesting and informative links on science policy issues buzzing about the internet.
Senators, Representatives Express Opposition to Disproportionate Cuts to NASA Science Budget – Federal budget cuts resulting from sequestration continue to affect many areas of research. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, along with Representatives Adam Schiff and John Culberson have signed a letter to NASA administrator Charles Bolden to express opposition to budget reductions to the Planetary Science program. This program focuses on solar system exploration through data collection; from flyby images of distant planets to roving missions on planet surfaces. Proposed budget cuts would likely eliminate a planned mission to Jupiter’s moon, Europa, that is known to have an ice-covered ocean that may harbor living organisms. Current missions, such as the Cassini spacecraft that orbits Saturn, may be cut short. As the effects of sequestration and budget cuts on scientific research start to become more defined, we can expect to see more opposition arise to specific cuts, but how best to navigate science budgets in these fiscal times is far from clear. (Richard M. Jones)
Drug Policy Reform In Action: A 21st Century Approach – The White House has released a plan for drug policy reform that is based on scientific study regarding the nature of addiction. Despite all the effort put into fighting the “war on drugs,” drug-induced overdose deaths are now the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Past policies were focused on enforcing criminal penalties and incarceration. This new approach accounts for the mountains of scientific data indicating that addiction has a physiological basis, and should be treated as a public health issue with a focus on prevention, treatment and recovery. These studies show us why the drug war has been such a difficult one to fight, and points toward a new direction for policy reform.(R. Gil Kerlikowske)
Despite safety and effectiveness, parent HPV vaccine concerns persist – A recent study published in Pediatrics has found that the numbers of parents who are not getting their daughters vaccinated against HPV is on the rise. The vaccine protects against strains of HPV that cause cancer and strains that cause genital warts, and has not been shown to have any side effects beyond the typical ones seen for vaccines. Despite the data supporting the safety of this vaccine, more parents are citing safety concerns as reason to not get their daughters vaccinated. The primary reason cited for not vaccinating, however, was that parents didn’t see the need to vaccinate a young child against a sexually transmitted virus. Maximum effectiveness is seen when girls are vaccinated early, before they have had a chance to be exposed to HPV. In fact, recent data on genital wart prevention indicate that the vaccine is 93% effective in girls vaccinated before age 14. These recent studies highlight the need for increased public awareness about HPV vaccine effectiveness, especially when given at a young age. (Tara Haelle)
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Science Policy Around the Web – November 4, 2012
photo credit: NASA Goddard Photo and Video via photopin cc
By: Jennifer Plank
Our weekly linkpost, bringing you interesting and informative links on science policy issues buzzing about the internet.
Scientists unsure if humans are to blame for Hurricane Sandy – Following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy last week, one must ask “Did this storm occur as a result of global climate change?” While most climate scientists will not conclusively say that the storm resulted from global climate change, some will offer several pieces of evidence that global warming at least intensified the effects of the storm. (Justin Gillis)
Politics and fetal diagnostics collide – A new diagnostic called non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) will increase the amount of genetic information available early in pregnancy. This test is currently used to determine a fetus’s blood type, gender, father, trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) and trisomy 13. Due to its non-invasive nature and the fact that it can be completed at 10 weeks gestation rather than during the second trimester (when amniocentesis can be performed), NIPT is a valuable tool for diagnosing genetic abnormalities. This new screening method is strongly opposed by pro-life groups and has resulted in the introduction of new legislation to limit abortions following genetic screening. To date, “the FDA has not developed a regulatory scheme for genetic tests”. (Jaime King, subscription required)
Will Elephant Contraception Work in South Africa? – Although the elephant population in much of Africa is endangered due to poaching, the number of elephants in South Africa keeps increasing. Elephants eat approximately 600 pounds of food per day and can be incredibly destructive to their environment. Therefore, wildlife conservationists have encouraged the use of a contraceptive vaccine on female elephants to reduce elephant fertility. However, some experts oppose this new treatment and raise questions about its feasibility. (Martin Plaut)
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Science Policy Around the Web – October 18, 2012
Photo Credit: Adamo Photo
By: Jennifer Plank
Our weekly linkpost, bringing you interesting and informative links on science policy issues buzzing about the internet.
Parsing of Data Led to Mixed Messages on Organic Food’s Value - Recently two independent groups reviewed years of scientific data regarding the benefits of organic food and came to very different conclusions. A study published in 2011 by a group from Newcastle University in England found that organic food was generally more nutritious and contained more molecules that help people fight cancer and heart disease. However, while reviewing many of the same original studies, a group from Stanford University concluded that organic food is not more nutritious than conventionally grown food. Kenneth Chang of the New York Times reviews the methodology used by both groups that led to this discrepancy.
Science in an Election Year – President Obama and Governor Romney were recently asked 14 science-related questions regarding topics such as energy, climate change, and the future of research, and Scientific American evaluated the responses given by their campaigns. The candidates’ full responses can be found here. Additionally, sciencedebate.org asked leaders of congressional committees that impact science policy 8 of the 14 questions that were asked of the presidential candidates- The Top American Science Questions: 2012 Congressional Edition.
Pertussis: Get the Vax or At Least Listen To Why You Should – Tara Haelle, a Double X Science contributor, reviews several recent events regarding vaccines and vaccine exemptions. On September 30, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2109 which requires parents to sign a statement stating they received information about the risks and benefits of vaccines before excluding their children from immunization. The statement must also be signed by a health care practitioner. On September 24, a US District court in Ohio ruled that religious objections were not sufficient for vaccination exemption stating that “the mere assertion of a religious belief . . . does not automatically trigger First Amendment protections,” and that “it has long been recognized that local authorities may constitutionally mandate vaccinations.” Finally, a study in the journal Epidemiology highlights the importance of family members being vaccinated to protect the health of babies who are too young to be vaccinated and may contract the disease.
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Science Policy Around the Web – April 19, 2012
By: Rebecca Cerio
Our weekly linkpost, bringing you interesting and informative links on science policy issues buzzing about the internet.
The Ultimate Endpoint - Elie Dolgin points out the particular ethical and social difficulties faced when studying one of the leading causes of death among young Americans: suicide. Is our fear of doing harm leading to research paralysis on a deadly problem? (via Nature)
Shopping Your Science – A NASA scientist points out some marketing research that can help scientists make their point, including the three types of figures that you can include to make your point stick with your audience. Be sure to check out the excerpt from the author’s book as well. (by Marc J. Kuchner via The Scientist online)
Whooping Cough at Epidemic Levels in Washington - “So far in 2012, 640 cases have been reported in 23 counties as of March 31. This compares to 94 cases during this same time period last year, putting Washington on-pace to have the highest number of reported cases in decades.” Officials are urging all residents, including adults, to verify that they are up-to-date on their vaccines. With such vaccines available, I can’t help but see this as a science policy issue. WHY are we seeing a revival of this disease? (via the Washington State Department of Health)
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HPV—an ounce of prevention could be worth its weight in gold
Image courtesy of NCI Visuals Online
By: Danielle Daee
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important health issue because it is the most common and recurrent sexually transmitted infection worldwide and it can cause genital warts and cancer (including cervical, anal, oral, and penile cancers). While many of these cancers are rare, cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in women worldwide. Current screening procedures for cervical cancer are very successful in identifying precancerous lesions in women; however, regular screenings remain rare in impoverished populations. As a result, there has been a push for the development of an HPV vaccine to combat the challenges of HPV infections.
Merck recently developed an efficacious, quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil) that prevents infection by HPV strains 16 and 18 (which cause ~70% of cervical and anal cancers) and HPV strains 6 and 11 (which cause 90% of genital warts) in both men and women. Although universal vaccination would have clear benefits for both sexes and would help achieve herd immunity, the development of vaccination programs has been stymied by costs. Currently, to be effective a three-dose regimen ($120 per dose) is required. This is particularly cost-prohibitive for target, impoverished populations worldwide. Furthermore, the vaccine will only prevent ~70% of cancers so additional screening procedures will still be necessary for effective cancer detection, driving preventative costs even higher.
Although HPV vaccines are clearly effective and important, it is evident that current costs will prevent the widespread use of the vaccines. Moving forward, it is necessary to develop a more cost-effective vaccine by reducing dosage and increasing efficacy. Research efforts should be focused on identifying common peptide targets that could enhance the cross-reactivity of HPV vaccines so numerous variants could be simultaneously targeted. Additionally, it is imperative that scientists and physicians vociferously support the preventative value of an HPV vaccination program. Strong support is essential to persuade international health organizations and local insurance companies that the value (in terms of both cost and human life) is worth the effort to provide affordable and convenient prevention for at-risk individuals.
Science Policy Around the Web – October 26, 2011
Our weekly linkpost, bringing you interesting and informative links on science policy issues buzzing about the internet.
Panel Endorses HPV Vaccine for Boys of 11 – Boys and young men should be vaccinated against human papillomavirus, or HPV, to protect against anal and throat cancers that can result from sexual activity, a federal advisory committee said Tuesday. The recommendation by the panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is likely to transform the use of the HPV vaccine, since most private insurers pay for vaccines once the committee recommends them for routine use. The HPV vaccine is unusually expensive. Its three doses cost pediatricians more than $300, and pediatricians often charge patients hundreds more. (via New York Times, by Gardiner Harris)
Cancer Care’s “Culture of Excess” – Most developed countries spend 4-7% of their total healthcare budgets on cancer. A new report in The Lancet Oncology by oncologists and patient advocates has given a sobering list of insights into the factors for these billowing costs. Top among them: we’re getting older, there’s more technology available and we’re (over)using it, and the current health care pricing models don’t help. (from PLoS Blogs by Jessica Wapner)
OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senators weigh Keystone pipeline strategy – Senators battling the proposed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline are mulling their options as the Obama administration’s decision on the controversial project looms. Critics of the proposed $7 billion, 1,700-mile pipeline say the State Department’s favorable environmental analysis was flawed, and that the review lacked integrity because it was performed by a company with financial ties to pipeline developer TransCanada. (via E2 Wire – THE HILL’s Energy and Environment Blog, by Ben Geman and Andrew Restuccia )
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