Blood samples to be tested to track immunity to coronavirus

DutchNews, March 19, 2020 

Photo: Depositphotos.com

Blood banks in the Netherlands are to test samples for coronavirus in order to track the level of immunity in the population. 

Blood bank operator Sanquin said the tests would be carried out regularly on incoming blood and plasma donations to monitor the presence of antibodies, which indicate that a person has developed resistance to the virus. 

There are around 331,000 blood and plasma donors in the Netherlands, of whom 10,000 give blood weekly. Plasma donors are particularly interesting because they donate on average five times a year, which allows researchers to track the spread of immunity. 

Prime minister Mark Rutte said on Monday night that building up ‘herd immunity’ was one way of protecting people from the virus unitl a vaccine can be developed. 

His statement was criticised in some quarters for suggesting that the government was deliberately allowing people to be exposed to Covid-19. The disease control agency RIVM has since clarified that herd immunity is not ‘an aim in itself’. 

Microbiolologist Hans Zaaijer at Sanquin said around 99% of donors had given permission for their blood samples to be tested. The data will be stored anonymously. 

He told AD: ‘Around 2000 blood donors come to the blood bank every day. That’s a good representative sample of people aged between 18 and 79 across the country. 

‘We will measure the first samples this week and if all goes well we will measure the entire stock two weeks from now. We’ll begin with the 10,000 people in the Netherlands who donate blood in one week.’

UN says online anti-vaxxers fuelling Samoa measles deaths

Yahoo – AFP, December 5, 2019

The measles outbreak in Samoa has claimed 62 lives since mid-October
(AFP Photo/ALLAN STEPHEN)

Social media giants must crack down on anti-vaccination posts that are fuelling Samoa's deadly measles epidemic from afar, UNICEF's Pacific islands chief said Thursday.

Sheldon Yett, the regional representative for the UN children's agency, said "incredibly irresponsible" online material on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram had exacerbated the Samoa measles outbreak -- which has claimed 62 lives since mid-October -- by discouraging immunisation.

"It's quite clear that they have a corporate responsibility to step up to the plate and make sure that populations, particularly vulnerable populations, get accurate information that's going to keep children alive," Yett told AFP.

Immunisation rates in Samoa dropped to just over 30 percent before the outbreak, well below accepted best practice of around 90 percent, making the island nation extremely vulnerable to infection.

The World Health Organisation blamed an anti-vaccine messaging campaign, which Yett said was carried out largely online by overseas-based activists.

"It's quite obvious that there are very loud people on social media making very false claims about vaccines," he said.

"Unfortunately it's found a ready audience in Samoa, where some people are suspicious about the quality of healthcare and may have issues with local (vaccine) providers."

Immunisation rates in Samoa dropped to just over 30 percent before the outbreak, 

well below accepted best practice of around 90 percent, making the island nation 

extremely vulnerable to infection (AFP Photo/ALLAN STEPHEN)

He said activists posting anti-vaccine material from wealthy developed countries such as the United States and Australia needed to realise the impact of their actions in developing nations.

"It's devastating, it can be a death sentence for a child here where there's low immunisation and possibly other health issues going on in the background," he said from the capital Apia.

'No easy fix'

Yett said suspicion of vaccines in Samoa stemmed from a case last year when two babies died after receiving measles shots, leading to an eight-month suspension of the country's immunisation programme.

Subsequent investigations found there was no problem with the vaccine itself, but the nurses administering it accidentally mixed it with anaesthetic, instead of water.

However, trust in the immunisation programme was dented and anti-vaxxers stepped up efforts to push their agenda online, creating what Yett described as "a perfect formula" for an uncontrollable epidemic.

The activists have also hindered efforts to control the outbreak, with one prominent Australian-based blogger last week comparing compulsory vaccinations to Nazi Germany and saying "fascism is well and truly alive in Samoa".

Yett said health authorities' focus at the moment was containing an epidemic 

that was still raging (AFP Photo/ALLAN STEPHEN)

Others have promoted quick remedies such as "kangen water", an alkaline water which supporters say can cure measles, despite no scientific evidence.

Yett said health authorities' focus at the moment was containing an epidemic that was still raging, resulting in fresh infections and child deaths every day.

But he said once it was over there had to be discussion with platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram about their approach to anti-vaccine material.

He said informed debate was important but it was wrong to allow online activists to question the effectiveness of vaccines, which the WHO estimates have saved the lives of 21 million children over the past 20 years.

"It's not easy, nobody wants to be a censor," he said.

"Companies have a responsibility to do it, but we also have to be honest and say there's no easy fix where they can flick a switch."

He conceded the clicks generated by heated online debate about vaccines could prevent the platforms from wanting to take swift action on the issue.

"We shouldn't be naive, there are many counter incentives here for social media giants as well," he said.

Related Articles:

New York mandates vaccine to contain Brooklyn measles outbreak

Kryon Q&A

Question (2003): Dear Kryon, I have a new grandson. He's going for his first vaccination in the next few weeks. If we're beginning to transmute toxins with reconnections to our endocrine system through our DNA, then what happens to our babies, who by law have to be vaccinated? What are your thoughts on this subject?

Answer: First, know that vaccinations are a God-given science that humanity earned. They're a tried and proven homeopathic method that have been with you for years. You were probably vaccinated yourself, and it worked.

We have three answers: (1) God is not in a vacuum. Even the vaccinated Human Being who's older can modify and rework their DNA. So there's no time limit, and there are no rules that say "Once vaccinated, you're ruined." (2) The Human who is of the age of awareness can say, even as they are vaccinated, "Let nothing inappropriate enter my chemistry." This is a conscious instruction given to your "intelligent cellular structure" (the same one responsible for kinesiology and homeopathic results). This will result in your cells only using what they need and casting away everything else. (3) Finally, about babies: There has been a push by your science lately to vaccinate against many things at the same time. You'd be advised to seek out a doctor who will only vaccinate your child for only the basic diseases that have been known in the last 40 years. Eliminate the vaccinations for the new ones. This leaves you with approximately seven or eight - the very ones that have been used for years. What your science is not appreciating yet is the results of combining all the vaccination substances together. There's a problem that will show itself in time. Stick with the basic ones.

Drone delivers vaccines in key Vanuatu trial

Yahoo – AFP, 18 December 2018

A key requirement for vaccine deliveries, including by drone, is maintaining
the temperature

A one-month-old on a remote island in the Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu became the first child to be immunised in a commercial trial of drone-delivered vaccines, the UN children's fund UNICEF said Tuesday.

Aid agencies hope the successful run in the country, where one in five children is not fully immunised, could eventually help governments and organisations reach others in far-flung places around the world.

"Today's small flight by drone is a big leap for global health," UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore said in a statement.

"With the world still struggling to immunise the hardest to reach children, drone technologies can be a game changer for bridging that last mile to reach every child."

While this is not the first time that drones have been used to deliver vaccines, it is the first time such a method has been deployed in Vanuatu, which has 83 islands, most only accessible by boat.

It is also the first time a commercial contract is being used for routine immunisations, UNICEF said.

A key requirement for the deliveries is maintaining the temperatures at which the vaccines are carried.

In warmer places such as Vanuatu, transportation across limited roads has its challenges.

In the trial, the drone travelled across almost 40 kilometres (25 miles) of rough and mountainous terrain from the west of the southern island of Erromango to its east, arriving at the remote Cook's Bay.

The vaccines were kept in styrofoam boxes that carried ice-packs and a temperature sensor that would be triggered if it exceeded the required range. A total of 13 children and five pregnant women were vaccinated by a registered nurse, UNICEF added.

"As the journey is often long and difficult, I can only go there once a month to vaccinate children. But now, with these drones, we can hope to reach many more children in the remotest areas of the island," the nurse, Miriam Nampil, told UNICEF.

The agency said Vanuatu's government was considering incorporating drone deliveries of vaccines into their national immunisation programme, and with the supply of other health aids.

Australia to cut benefits to parents who refuse to vaccinate

The Australian prime minister has said parents who refuse to vaccinate their children will have some benefits cut. The move comes amid a resurgent vaccination debate in several parts of the world.

Deutsche Welle, 12 April 2015

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Sunday that Australians who refuse to vaccinate their children will in future be denied some government benefits such as child care subsidies and family tax benefits.

"It's essentially a 'no jab, no pay' policy from this government," Abbott told reporters in the eastern city of Sydney.

"It's a very important public health announcement. It's a very important measure to keep our children and our families as safe as possible," he said.

"The choice made by families not to immunize their children is not supported by public policy or medical research nor should such action be supported by taxpayers in the form of child care payments," he said, adding that the new policy would go into force on January 1, 2016.

The announcement comes amid a nationwide debate over immunizing children. Many vaccination objectors say they fear that a triple vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella is behind an increase in cases of childhood autism - a theory posited in a since-retracted article in the Lancet medical journal in 1998 that has been repeatedly disproven by a number of studies.

Few exemptions

Currently in Australia, the some 3 percent of benefit recipients who do not have their children immunized on the basis of "conscientious objections" still have access to benefits such as child care rebates.

Such parents stand to lose a reported 15,000 Australian dollars (10,880 euros; $11,500) annually per child under the new policy, which is also supported by the Labor opposition in Australia, making parliamentary approval a formality.

Exemptions will be permitted only on strict medical or religious grounds, with parents who cite religion having to prove affiliation with a religious group whose objection to vaccination has received government approval.

Although Australia has vaccination rates of more than 90 percent for children aged one to five, the government says more than 39,000 children under seven have not been immunized - an increase of more than 24,000 children over the past decade.

The vaccination debate in and outside of Australia has been fueled by recent outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough in several parts of the world.

Non-vaccinated people who contract such diseases can pose a danger to babies who have not yet been immunized or those with auto-immune conditions, who are otherwise protected by so-called "herd immunity."

tj/jr (AFP, dpa)

Related Articles:

Measles outbreak hits Dutch Bible belt, 30 cases so far confirmed

Kryon Q&A

Question: Dear Kryon, I have a new grandson. He's going for his first vaccination in the next few weeks. If we're beginning to transmute toxins with reconnections to our endocrine system through our DNA, then what happens to our babies, who by law have to be vaccinated? What are your thoughts on this subject?

Answer: First, know that vaccinations are a God-given science that humanity earned. They're a tried and proven homeopathic method that have been with you for years. You were probably vaccinated yourself, and it worked.

We have three answers: (1) God is not in a vacuum. Even the vaccinated Human Being who's older can modify and rework their DNA. So there's no time limit, and there are no rules that say "Once vaccinated, you're ruined." (2) The Human who is of the age of awareness can say, even as they are vaccinated, "Let nothing inappropriate enter my chemistry." This is a conscious instruction given to your "intelligent cellular structure" (the same one responsible for kinesiology and homeopathic results). This will result in your cells only using what they need and casting away everything else. (3) Finally, about babies: There has been a push by your science lately to vaccinate against many things at the same time. You'd be advised to seek out a doctor who will only vaccinate your child for only the basic diseases that have been known in the last 40 years. Eliminate the vaccinations for the new ones. This leaves you with approximately seven or eight - the very ones that have been used for years. What your science is not appreciating yet is the results of combining all the vaccination substances together. There's a problem that will show itself in time. Stick with the basic ones.

"Perceptions of God" – June 6, 2010 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Quantum Teaching, The Fear of God, Near-death Experience, God Becomes Mythology, Worship, Mastery, Intelligent Design, Benevolent Creator,Global Unity.... etc.) (Text version)

“.. For centuries you haven't been able to think past that box of what God must be like. So you create a Human-like God with wars in heaven, angel strife, things that would explain the devil, fallen angels, pearly gates, lists of dos and don'ts, and many rules still based on cultures that are centuries old. You create golden streets and even sexual pleasures as rewards for men (of course) - all Human perspective, pasted upon God. I want to tell you that it's a lot different than that. I want to remind you that there are those who have seen it! Why don't you ask somebody who has had what you would call a near-death experience? ..." 

Human Evolution –  27 Sep 2008 (a message from Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll)

“.. What do you think the Human brain can really do? What do you think it's built to do? Let me give you an example of what your society has come to accept as an "unbalanced person." Some of you think it's a "sick person." Let me talk about the autistic one. Let us talk about autism in what you call the most severe case.

Blessed is the autistic one who has come to this earth to show you what future Human evolvement looks like! They spend a lifetime trying to figure out linearity and it frustrates them. Blessed is the savant who the earth looks at and calls unbalanced. For the Humans who do this cannot see what they don't understand. The autistic one is able to get up off the paper and be in color! Many of the autistic ones can do what your calculators can do on your desks, did you know that? And they don't need a calculator! Give them a problem - two digits multiplied by three digits. Now watch how fast they give you the answer. Because they're not linear! Ask them what weekday the 13th of August will be in 2012, and they'll tell you, and they don't need a calendar. You might say, "What kind of a mind can do that?" I'll tell you - a nonlinear one without the walls in the brain that you have.

Have you ever thought about that? The autistic have a nonlinear mind. The barriers are dropped. Can you imagine the frustration of this Human? Here he is in a world of black and white while he is in color. Not only that, you want him to go in a straight line when he is used to all directions at once. This also explains why the only energies that will work to calm him are interdimensional ones - music, art, and love. Does this start to make sense to you? (see below)

What is taking place, dear ones, for all to know and see and understand, is that very, very slowly you have the linearity of the Human brain starting to be reduced. Unlike the autistic, it will be in ways that will still be balanced and make sense. In other words, you will be able to move in and out of quantum thought any time you wish in order to live in a linear, 3D existence, but have quantum consciousness. It will be a return to a form of consciousness that Lemurians had, but with the wisdom of the ages that you have collected. This will not be fast, but the forerunners of that are already here.

I'm going to give you some attributes of Human evolution in a moment, but let's return to the autistic ones. Many reading this are very concerned about autism. You wish to know why there are so many autistics being born. You say it's beyond coincidence that there are suddenly so many! There's more autistic children being born today than there ever have been on this planet. Humans are scurrying around wanting to know what's wrong. Is it the chemistry of the food? Perhaps it must be vaccinations! Some are saying, without any proof, "Yes, that's it - vaccinations must be it." You are grasping at almost anything to solve the puzzle of why so many autistics are arriving.

Yet very few Humans, if any, have looked at the puzzle and said, "Perhaps we're evolving, and this is the first wave of what we're going to see?" Not mentally unbalanced, but nonlinear thinking! This is, indeed, the case. You are seeing a form of evolution and you are calling it odd and unusual. It's simply those who are coming in early with activated quantum DNA. This early forerunner has DNA activated in an uncontrolled way, and so learning is needed to know how to make sense of it all. This is what they are doing, and each generation of savant will have a better time of it, figuring out what is linear and what is not.

Watch the autistic child go through what they must do (autism in its most severe form). They are so nonlinear that there is incredible frustration in trying to linearize even the Human voice as you speak to them. They will do the same actions over and over and over, trying to linearize the nonlinear. The linear walls are gone in their brain, and they have to learn to build the ones that they need. Humans then see them as a problem, and it's not a problem. It's a form of gifted children who are helping this planet to grow. Blessed are those who come into Earth as the new wave of consciousness to show you where it's going. They are setting the stage for a new kind of Human. For this quantumness will develop in a balanced way where many will have the autistic talents where they want them, and the linear when they want that. That's what the Human mind is capable of - being quantum when they wish to be. That's a return to the way it was given to you.

Let me tell you something that's nonlinear in your life. We have said this so seldom. You're given two quantum things as a Human Being, two things that pass between the other side of the veil and this side of the veil that are absolutely quantum, not linear. They have structure, but they are not linear. Perhaps you haven't even thought about them? I'll tell you what they are - art and music. There is no limit to the number of notes that you can hear at the same time, which your brain can listen to and put together. There's no limit to the number of symphony orchestra players that can come together in harmony on one stage. The more you add, the better it gets! Try that with lecturers [smile]. Did you ever think about that? There's no limit to the number of colors that you can comprehend and resolve in certain patterns. They are beautiful and have communications within them all. Music touches your heart. Now you know why. It's interdimensional. It's quantum. It was designed to do that. Now, apply that same scenario to communication and you'll see where you're going. This is Human evolvement. It's beginning on this planet. It will go slow, but that's what's going on. ...‘’

Govt to hasten health improvement in remote areas

Antara News, Saturday, March 20, 2010 22:12 WIB

Pontianak (ANTARA News) - The government plans to hasten health improvement development program in remote and border areas to provide the local people with better health care services.

"We will soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the health improvement program in remote areas, border areas, and smaller islands," Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih said in the West Kalimantan city of Pontianak on Friday.

She said signing of the MoU would be followed up by real action to improve health services for the people living in those areas.

According to the minister, the government had to make every effort to speed up the health improvement program because health access and service in most of the isolated areas in small islands across the country have yet to be effective as being expected.

"Health status in the remote areas is still low while we have limited human resources, funds, infrastructure, and facility," the health minister said.

Meanwhile, West Kalimantan deputy governor Christiandy Sanjaya also shared the minister`s opinion and said it did happen at many areas in the province.

"Geographic condition in West Kalimantan is difficult, public transportation and facility are limited, and health service access is low because of limited number of health personnel," Sanjaya said.

He said allocation of regional budget (APBD) to improve health services in the remote and isolated areas was also low in amount.

"Therefore we hope there is a support from central government," Sanjaya said, explaining that there were five areas in West Kalimantan bordering with Malaysia, namely Entikong in Sanggau district,Nangabadau in Kapuas Hulu district, Aruk in Sambas district, Jagoibabang in Bengkayang district, and Jasa in Sintang district.

He said infectious diseases and the others that can be prevented through immunization still posed serious problem in those five border areas in West Kalimantan.

"At Sajingan clinic in the past three years there were frequent extraordinary cases of measles because many children there missed measles immunization," Sanjaya said.

Bill Gates promises $10 billion for vaccines

Reuters, DAVOS, Switzerland, Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:55pm EST

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Bill and Melinda Gates said on Friday they would spend $10 billion over the next decade to develop and deliver vaccines, an increased commitment that reflects progress in the pipeline of products for immunizing children in the developing world.

Over the past 10 years, the Microsoft co-founder's charity has committed $4.5 billion to vaccines and has been instrumental in establishing the GAVI alliance, a public-private partnership that channels money for vaccines in poor countries.

By increasing immunization coverage in developing countries to 90 percent, it should be possible to prevent the deaths of 7.6 million children under five between 2010 and 2019, Gates told reporters at the World Economic Forum.

Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization described Gates' commitment to vaccines as "unprecedented" and called on governments around the world and the private sector to match it with "unprecedented action."

Vaccination rates have already climbed remarkably in recent years, with even a poor African country like Malawi now boasting coverage rates similar to those in many Western cities.

"Over the last 10 years, the success of both increased vaccine coverage and getting new vaccines out has been phenomenal," Gates said.

More cash is now needed to make the most of new vaccines becoming available, including ones against severe diarrhea and pneumococcal disease from GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Pfizer.

"We can take immunization to the next level, with the expanded uptake of new vaccines against major killers such as pneumonia and rotavirus diarrhea," Chan said in a statement.

She said an extra two million deaths in children under five could be prevented by 2015 by widespread use of new vaccines and a 10 percent increase in global immunization coverage.

Further off, Glaxo is also in the final phase of testing a vaccine against malaria that Gates said could slash deaths from the mosquito-borne disease.

Gates warned against the risk of governments diverting foreign aid funding for health toward climate change, arguing that health should stay a top priority -- not least because better health leads to a lower birth rate.

Curbing the globe's population growth is critical for tackling global warming.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler, additional reporting by Kate Kelland, editing by Jon Boyle)

Watermelon 'has same effect as Viagra'

BBC, By Tulip Mazumdar, Newsbeat health reporter

Eating watermelon has a similar effect on the body to Viagra, according to researchers in the US.

It's down to a chemical called citrulline which is found in the juicy fruit.

Watermelons are loaded with anti-oxidants
which are good for the skin

Citrulline is an organic compound which affects the body's blood vessels in the same way as the sex enhancement pills.

It helps relax the blood vessels which means blood gets around the body more easily.

The research comes from the US' Texas Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Centre.

Dr Bhimu Patil led the research. He said: "We've always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study.

"Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra... but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects."

It's also claimed watermelons are good for your heart and immune system.

The vast majority of watermelon (92%) is made up of water. But the remaining 8% is loaded with the anti-oxidant lycopene which is also good for your skin.

Vaccine Review Meets With Irritation, Questions of What Supari Isn’t Saying

The Jakarta Globe, Dessy Sagita, March 26, 2009

Doctors on Thursday criticized and questioned the health minister for her decision to review a number of discretionary vaccines that she said had not scientifically been proven beneficial.

Soedjatmiko, chairman of the Indonesian Pediatrics Association, told the Jakarta Globe that Siti Fadillah Supari had created unnecessary alarm by announcing the plan before the ministry could provide any reason for doing so.

“It would be better if she kept things confidential until her cause for worry was clear, especially on such a sensitive matter,” he said, adding that even though the vaccines were excluded from the government’s list of mandatory vaccinations for children, they had been proven beneficial and were widely used in neighboring countries, including Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

“Do you really think all those countries would use these vaccines if they weren’t beneficial?”

Soedjatmiko said that if the government deciding against making additional vaccines mandatory due to financial reasons, it should not prohibit people who were willing to pay from obtaining the vaccines.

“The diseases exist in this country, the vaccines are readily available, and if parents can afford them, why should we stop them?” he said.

Soedjatmiko also said all vaccines available in Indonesia had been tested by the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency before being made commercially available.

Sukman Tulus Putra, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Doctors Association, said the vaccines had, in fact, been scientifically proven to be beneficial, although some of the research was conducted overseas.

“But we don’t need to rely only on local research; we can consider foreign research as long as a particular country has our same standards,” he said.

“We have no problem with the ministry’s plan to review the vaccines, but please don’t prohibit them.”

However, Iskandar Sitorus, spokesman for the Legal Aid Foundation for Health, or LBH Kesehatan, said his office had found indications that some vaccines were not only not beneficial, but were even harmful for children.

Sitorus said Supari’s call for a review came years too late.

“Over the past few years, trillions of rupiah has been circulating around these possibly wasteful vaccines, and our children may be left to bear useless and possibly toxic chemical substances in their bodies,” he said.

Sitorus said the minister should have initiated a review years ago, before the use of some vaccines had become commonplace.

He also said the ministry’s decision indicated that some problems likely had been found.

“I don’t think the ministry would announce the review so suddenly if they hadn’t run into irregularities.”

Earlier this week, Supari said she would review the benefits of immunizations that aren’t currently included in the government’s official vaccination program, including vaccines for pneumonia, flu and rubella.

Supari said that in urban areas at least 11 different kinds of vaccinations were available, but that the ministry had made only four mandatory — for measles, polio, tetanus and tuberculosis.

“Those four were cleared by the WHO and were scientifically proven to be beneficial and necessary,” she said.

Of the remaining eight, she said, “Note this: I’m not saying they are dangerous, but the real question is whether or not they’re necessary. That’s why the ministry is conducting a review.”

Indonesia may stop child vaccinations on testing fears

News.Scotsman.com, By MARGARET NEIGHBOUR, 26 March 2009

INDONESIA'S health minister wants to end vaccinating children against meningitis, mumps and other diseases, because she fears foreign drug companies are using the country as a testing ground.

The controversial minister, Siti Fadillah Supari – who first drew widespread attention by boycotting the World Health Organisation's 50-year-old virus sharing system in 2007 – said she wanted scientific proof that injections against illnesses such as pneumonia, chicken pox, flu, rubella and typho.

"If not, they have to be stopped," she said, declining to say exactly what that would mean. "We don't want our country to be a testing place for drugs, as has been the case in Africa."

Ms Supari said she still would advocate immunisations against measles, polio, tetanus, hepatitis B and tuberculosis.

Her statement comes as Indonesia struggles to contain outbreaks of preventable childhood illnesses.

Cases of measles, tuberculosis and other diseases have skyrocketed.

Central Java Completes 90 Percent of its Immunization Program

Thursday, 19 March, 2009 | 19:00 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Semarang:Central Java Health Services chief, Hartanto, said the vaccination programs in Central Java has been 90 percent completed since the National Immunization Week began in 2005. “We hope the program can be 100 percent implemented this year,” he said yesterday.

According to Hartanto, the government had covered the numbers targeted by the Universal Child Immunization program when it first launched the program in 1990. There was a serious epidemic of polio in Indonesia-- including Central Java– in 2005. To prevent contamination, the National Immunization Week was held five times in 2005 and in 2006.

To support the five basic immunization program for children in 2007 – 2009, UNICEF is organizing the Millennium Challenge Corporation/Immunization Project in seven provinces, including Central Java.

SOHIRIN

Symptoms likely rare disease

The Jakarta Post, DEPOK | Mon, 02/23/2009 11:45 AM  

A girl who was hospitalized a few days ago after receiving a diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) vaccine in Depok has been diagnosed as having Stephen Johnson syndrome, according to the hospital’s paediatrician. 

“The syndrome occurred after the girl was treated with some medicines to cure the side effects that come naturally after an immunization, such as fever,” Dr. Indra Sugiarno said Saturday during a press conference in Depok’s Sentra Medika hospital. 

The syndrome was not related directly to the immunization and giving medication for fever after a an immunization is normal, Dr. Indra said. 

Head of the Depok administration’s health agency explained the chronology of the case. 

The seven-year-old elementary school student had an immunization of a 0.5 cc DPT at her school on Feb. 4. The next day she felt pain in her upper arm and shoulder. On the fourth day, Feb. 7, the pain had spread to her neck as bumps began to appear on her skin. 

By Monday, Feb. 9, the girl became weak and had a fever. The next day she was given two kinds of medicine for her fever at a health clinic, but her condition continued to deteriorate as the lumps spread across her upper body. 

The lumps continued to appear and, after being prescribed five kinds of medicine by a doctor on Feb. 13, her condition continued to worsen; her lips turned dark blue. On Feb. 14, after being taken to another health clinic, she was referred to the hospital. 

“The Depok administration will cover all expenses for the care of the child, even if the conditions were not caused directly by the immunization,” he said. 

The immunization was part of a national program from the ministry of health. 

“An immunization of DPT bears no absolute contraindication,” Indra said. “It means there is no specific condition that can prevent a child from being immunized.” 

He said the little girl needed to be hospitalized because the syndrome could lead to infection, which can be fatal on open skin. The danger level of the disease greatly depends on how large the area of the open skin is. 

Stephen Johnson syndrome is caused by hypersensitivity to medicines, viruses, or infection Dr. Indra explained. The real cause of the little girl’s case is yet to be determined by the experts studying her case, he said. 

“The disease has genetical susceptibility. The case rate is one in a million people a year,” he said. 

The syndrome is mostly seen in forms of defiant reactions on skin and mucus membrane.

Dr. Hapsari, the dermatologist assigned to care for the girl said, “The condition of the girl is now getting better.” 

Prasetyo, the father of the girl, said his daughter can again eat soft food after only being able to take nutrition intravenously. 

As of Saturday morning the lumps had disappeared, but her neck, upper arm, and chest were blackened. 

Early symptoms of Stephen Johnson disease include reddening of the skin, which later turns to necrosis, causing the skin to blacken, Dr. Hapsari said. 

She said the condition of the skin might return to normal in a few weeks. “It all depends on the treatment.” The color of the skin, he said, might not return to its original shade. 

Dr. Indra stressed that for the interest of the patient the condition of the patient should be kept discreet, but the public’s right to be informed — as the case was related to the national program of immunization — led to the disclosure of the case, with the consent of the patient’s parents. (iwp)

Echinacea 'can prevent a cold'

BBC 

Taking the herbal remedy echinacea can more than halve the risk of catching a common cold, US researchers say. 

The flower, stem and root of
echinacea is used in products

They found it decreased the odds of developing a cold by 58% and the duration of colds by a day-and-a-half. 

The results in The Lancet Infectious Diseases conflict with other studies that show no beneficial effect. 

Experts believe echinacea, a collection of nine related plant species indigenous to North America, may work by boosting the body's immune system. 

'Marked effects' 

Researchers, led by Dr Craig Coleman from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, combined the results of 14 different studies on Echinacea's anti-cold properties. 

In one of the 14 studies the researchers reviewed, echinacea was taken alongside vitamin C. This combination reduced cold incidence by 86%. 

When echinacea was used alone it reduced cold incidence by 65%. 

Even when patients were directly inoculated with a rhinovirus - the most common cold-causing virus - echinacea reduced cold incidence by 35%. 

The researchers' report said: "With over 200 viruses capable of causing the common cold, echinacea could have modest effect against rhinovirus but marked effects against other viruses." 

Popular product 

They found that more than 800 products containing echinacea were available, and that differing parts of the plant - flower, stem and root - were used in different products. 

They said more work was needed to check the safety of these different formulations. 

Professor Ron Cutler, of the University of East London, said: "The true benefits, and more importantly, how the agents work remains unclear and further better-controlled actual clinical trials still have to be carried out.

He said people with impaired immune function might benefit from taking echinacea during the winter months to prevent colds and flu, but that healthy people did not require long-term preventative use. 

"There has also been the suggestion in the past that continuous treatment with echinacea is not recommended - the benefits may only be effective for one or two weeks and after taking the agent for this time people should stop and give the immune system a week without the agent." 

Professor Ronald Eccles, director of the Common Cold Centre at the University of Cardiff, said the work was "a significant step in our battle against the common cold". 

"Harnessing the power of our own immune system to fight common infections with herbal medicines such as echinacea is now given more validity with this interesting scientific evaluation of past clinical trials," he added.

US ambassador to RI promotes childhood immunization

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - United States Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume emphasized the importance of childhood immunizations during the Ministry of Health`s National Child Immunization event at Menteng Park here on Monday, a US Embassy press release has said.

It said the U.S. Government`s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) provided a US$20 million grant to the Indonesian Ministry of Health`s Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI).

The grant is an effort to help protect Indonesia`s children against vaccine-preventable diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and measles.

"Alleviating preventable childhood diseases is one of the most fundamental ways in which we can all be good ancestors. Every child has the right to proper and timely childhood immunization," the US envoy said at the National Child Immunization event.

"Today we celebrate the Government of Indonesia`s goal to immunize as many children as possible against the most deadly diseases of early childhood," Hume added.

The Ministry of Health`s EPI program aims to provide routine immunization services to protect Indonesia`s children against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Support for the EPI comes from the MCC`s Indonesia Immunization Project, which is administered by USAID. The two-year grant provides assistance at both the central level and to seven priority provinces in Indonesia, including 63 priority districts within these provinces.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation is assisting the Indonesian Ministry of Health in developing revised national immunization strategies for routine services and building capacity of the immunization health staff in both public and private sectors.

Among the goals of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Program is assistance to the Government of Indonesia to improve child immunization nationwide.