WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event
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The WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment, has teamed up with Jenny McCarthy for Saturday Night’s Main Event, August 2nd, 9pm EST
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Date: July 25th, 2008
How “Independent” are Vaccine Defenders?
How “Independent” Are Vaccine Defenders?
Sharyl Attkisson Investigates Vaccine Advocates Taking Funding From The Companies Whose Vaccines They Endorse
WASHINGTON, July 25, 2008(CBS) For years some parents and scientists have raised concerns about vaccine safety, including a possible link to autism and ADD. Many independent experts have sided with government officials and other scientists who say there’s no possible connection. But how “independent” are they? CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson shares here’s what she found.
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They’re some of the most trusted voices in the defense of vaccine safety: the American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two, and pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit.
But CBS News has found these three have something more in common - strong financial ties to the industry whose products they promote and defend.
The vaccine industry gives millions to the Academy of Pediatrics for conferences, grants, medical education classes and even helped build their headquarters. The totals are kept secret, but public documents reveal bits and pieces.
A $342,000 payment from Wyeth, maker of the pneumococcal vaccine - which makes $2 billion a year in sales.
A $433,000 contribution from Merck, the same year the academy endorsed Merck’s HPV vaccine - which made $1.5 billion a year in sales.
Another top donor: Sanofi Aventis, maker of 17 vaccines and a new five-in-one combo shot just added to the childhood vaccine schedule last month.
Every Child By Two, a group that promotes early immunization for all children, admits the group takes money from the vaccine industry, too - but wouldn’t tell us how much.
A spokesman told CBS News: “There are simply no conflicts to be unearthed.” But guess who’s listed as the group’s treasurers? Officials from Wyeth and a paid advisor to big pharmaceutical clients.
Then there’s Paul Offit, perhaps the most widely-quoted defender of vaccine safety.
He’s gone so far as to say babies can tolerate “10,000 vaccines at once.”
This is how Offit described himself in a previous interview: “I’m the chief of infectious disease at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of pediatrics at Penn’s medical school,” he said.
Offit was not willing to be interviewed on this subject but like others in this CBS News investigation, he has strong industry ties. In fact, he’s a vaccine industry insider.
Offit holds in a $1.5 million dollar research chair at Children’s Hospital, funded by Merck. He holds the patent on an anti-diarrhea vaccine he developed with Merck, Rotateq, which has prevented thousands of hospitalizations.
And future royalties for the vaccine were just sold for $182 million cash. Dr. Offit’s share of vaccine profits? Unknown.
Chunky Monkey
In the ER the other night, we weighed Nicholas - he weighed in at 54.4 pounds. On June 1, he was 48 pounds and on May 1, he was 43 pounds. I’m a little concerned with the rapid weight gain. I know that hbot will make them feel better and we did see him start eating a bit more - but the increased appetite tapered off.
He doesn’t snack, doesn’t really eat junk or sugary foods. Any ideas? Feel free to comment.
New Supplement added today
Oregon Grape Extract (for yeast) added today. 3 drops at dinner.
Goal dose is 15 drops 3 times/day.
A Glimpse into normal
Every now and again, we get a glimpse of the NT Nicholas. Today was one of those days.
Daddy was outside mowing the lawn and Nicholas was watching him through the window. Once Daddy was done, he had to blow off all of the grass clippings because we’ve been so busy the grass got so high. Once Daddy was done blowing the clippings onto the sidewalk, Nicholas went outside and helped him sweep them all up and toss them into a bag. He held the dustpan while daddy swept and then he took turns being the one doing the sweeping. Things, for that short time, were very different. We weren’t worried that he would go running out into the street - or down the street.
People who don’t have a child with autism just don’t know what we go through on a daily basis. How huge and significant this short time is to us. They don’t have to worry that taking their child outside of their home for 5 minutes could end up in having a screaming, tantruming child which you have to pick up and carry him back inside completely against his will, kicking and screaming all the way - and then deal with the fall-out from that lousy five minutes making you wish you had never taken him outside. They can take walks in the park with their child trailing behind them and not worry where their kid will be. They can sit on the bench on the park and talk on their cell phones while their kids play. They don’t have to keep their eyes on their children for 60 seconds out of every single minute focusing on nothing else but their child. They can slowly walk through the grocery store reading food labels while their child contently sits in the cart. They don’t have to assess a new situation or surroundings for things that might end up being issues for their kids. They can just be. One day we’ll get there.
