SMR: Cancer Vaccine Scare

A NEWS.com.au report this morning stated: "THE new cervical cancer jab is believed to be behind a huge jump in the number of women and girls suffering bad reactions to vaccinations."

The new cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, is being primarily named as the reason for a large increase in reported adverse reactions to vaccines in the medical community. These statements refer primarily to school-aged girls who recieved the Gardasil vaccination in conjunction with other vaccines during routine innoculations by school nursing staff.

A report released by the National Vaccine Information Centre and reported in an article on the Medical News Today website in February 2007, the reactions reported by the 16 and under group were consistently found when the Gardasil vaccine in conjunction with other school-age vaccines. NVIC President Barbara Loe Fisher was quoted as saying:
"Because Merck only studied GARDASIL in fewer than 1200 girls under age 16 in pre-licensure trials, it is critical that doctors and parents be made aware of the nature of the initial adverse event reports ..."

Doctors are stressing to patients and the media that the benifits of this vaccine far outweigh the risks when used in suggested age groups. The Australian Federal government has funded a program providing this vaccine free to girls aged 12 to 13 through a school program. They are also offered free to 13 to 18 year old girls as part of a 'catch-up' program, and to young women aged up to 26 through their GP.

In my humble opinion, parents should be aware of the potential side effects of this - and any - vaccine their child is to recieve at school. Especially since Gardasil was under-tested by the manufacturer, Merck, during its' pre-licensing phase.

I do still think that it is a worthwhile vaccine for all women eligible. The ideal way for this vaccine to be introduced is to girls before they become sexually active - and let's face it, a growing percentage of young girls are potentially exposing themselves to HPV before they have had the chance to become protected.

I personally have had the course of Gardasil vaccinations, and while it was a rather stingy injection, I suffered no ill-effects beyond a little dizziness after the first treatment. So, I'll have to agree with the doctors on this one.

Do you research, weigh the benifits and risks, and do what you think is right.

SMR: Food, Fuel and Greening it Up

As fuel prices soar, news services are beginning to warn that food prices will be next to rise. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out!

"As fuel prices hit record highs, the Victorian Farmers Federation revealed yesterday how much it expected prices of essentials would rise as a result." The Sunday Morning Herald reports. "..farmers say they cannot continue to absorb extra costs from rising petrol prices."

Now, normally I'd continue to pick through news articles for the rest of my rant, but this morning I'm inspired, so here are some tips that everyone can use to make their lives easier, save some money, and save the planet too!

Buy Local
This one's a no-brainer. Next time you're at the supermarket and about to buy something, stop for a second and think about how far the item has travelled to get to the shelf. Buy locally grown veggies and meat from local outlets - not from chain supermarkets. Shop right and you'll save a packet too.

Buy Fresh
Most of us are out and about most days of the week, whether it be for work, errands or whatever, so why not buy your veggies fresh? Do your veggie shop once a week, and only buy what you will eat or cook within a week. Frozen veg goes through a lot of processing, and covers a lot of distance before it ends up in the freezer section at the supermarket. Plus, fresh tastes better too!

Turn it off!
This is one tip that I've really taken to heart. I used to leave my computer on all the time, whether I was using it or not. Until I found out how much energy is uses! Turn appliances off at the off switch, or better still, at the power point when they're not in use. Don't put things in stand-by mode either: a study conducted by the International Energy Agency in 2001 showed that a staggering 13% of residential electricity used was stand-by! So take a walk around your home at night. Every little light you can see means more energy wasted! Oh, and turn off the light when you leave the room ;)

Change a Light globe
Change to energy-saving light bulbs in your home. "If every household in the United States replaced one regular light bulb with (a compact fluro bulb)... the pollution reduction would be the equivalent of removing one million cars from the road." If you don't like the color of them, use them where you won't see them much: outside, toilet, laundry, etc..

Don't drink bottled water
Save your money, and reduce waste: install an under-bench or on-tap water filter at home and make your own.

Well, there you have it. My top Eco-tips. Don't get too excited, I may have more in the future!

Sunday Morning Rant

NEWS.com.au reports this morning: "Students told friends dead in hoax". What the hell?!

Just incase you're too lazy to go read the article, I'll quote the important bit here:
"To make it seem real, highway patrol officers visited the school on a Monday morning to deliver the grim news explaining why 26 students were missing from class. The Associated Press reports some students wept, some felt physically ill and others were completely overcome."

One student stated to the media that she "...felt betrayed by people she is supposed to be able to trust." Exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Teachers work long and hard to gain the respect and trust of their students, and it's even harder for the Police to earn respect, especially from teenagers.

It's extremely important for students to feel that they can trust and confide in their teachers: for many students, teachers are the only adults in their lives that they can feel safe to talk to. Good on you for destroying these teens trust in authority figures. Bravo.

Sunday Morning Rant

What the hell is Australia coming to?

A site at Myall Creek in NSW is to be added to the Australian National Heritage List, in recognition of at least 28 indigenous peoples that were massacred there in 1838. "The events at Myall Creek resonate across the years and the listing of the massacre and memorial site formally recognises a pivotal moment in Australia's history,'' said Mr Peter Garrett, Heritage Minister. Good on you Pete. What's next, Port Arthur is already on the list, what you gonna do about that, huh?