Many parents have been concerned about the alleged links between the MMR vaccine and a possible link to autism. As I’ve mentioned before, all medical societies continue to state that there has never been convincing proof of this, and now there is even less. The esteemed medical journal Lancet, which started this whole issue in …

I’m sure most China expats and locals remember — and often quote — last month’s “news” that four Chinese people had died after getting the H1N1 vaccine. I felt that initial story was very misleading, as it provided zero evidence of a connection and stoked nationwide fears when most likely the deaths were coincidental, not …

There’s a very provocative new study in Lancet which may change my clinical practice. As parents know, vaccines are not a fun time for their children, and many doctors recommend pain medicines like Tylenol or Motrin with the vaccines. Now, unfortunately, there is good data from this new study that Tylenol (AKA acetaminophen, Panadol) may …

Here’s a quick link to a good review from Medscape about the latest H1N1 information regarding hospitalizations and deaths. This latest paper was in November 4th’s JAMA. The gist is that hospitals are seeing complications at all age groups, including the elderly, which seemed previously to be partially immune. Here’s a good quote: “H1N1 has …

It’s almost like a tidal wave, this outpouring of fear and misinformation regarding flu vaccines. I hope to provide evidence-based data for people to review and provide a basis for a well-informed discussion. Here’s an update: regarding pregnant women, every reputable public health agency is not just recommending but strongly recommending that all pregnant women …

Wow, there’s a lot of heated debate about the H1N1 vaccine! Parents are being offered free vaccines for their schoolchildren here in Beijing, and we doctors are getting a lot of phone calls. Is there reason for concern? I hope that we all can at least review the most reputable sources of data and use …

As a family and community medicine doctor using evidence-based medicine, I am a firm believer in vaccines. They have saved tens of millions of people, mostly children, from debility and death from once-common scourges such as polio, smallpox, rubella, measles and many others. And there is still a long way to go; just here in …

As H1N1 season progresses, there is growing evidence that H1N1 is a darker creature than initially hoped. In the link below is discussed recent CDC data showing how the death rates for H1N1 are the reverse of a typical seasonal flu. Usually, the elderly are most at risk and account for 90% of mortality. However, …

The H1N1 virus is full into its second wave all over the world. There has been a large increase over the last 2-3 weeks, including in China. There are some disturbing signs that this H1N1 virus is more dangerous to pregnant women and children than previously thought. With pregnant women, the risk of death from …

There has been a lot of controversy since 1999 regarding the MMR vaccine and an alleged link to autism. Fortunately, the best studies have shown no relation, and now again there is a new study to corroborate this. It’s a UK NHS study which found the same rate of autism among adults as in children. …

Beijing has just started to vaccinate people with the newly available H1N1 vaccine. Two days ago, thousands of students participating in the upcoming parade were given the vaccine, and no serious side effects were reported (see article link below). There’s no reason to presume that there would be any unusual side effects with this new …

By now, most Beijingers know that the expat clinics have received their supplies of seasonal flu (not H1N1) vaccine. But how effective is it, and who really needs it? Many people are wary of this vaccine, and even in America only about 40% of adults get it annually. The annual flu virus, for most people, …