(NaturalNews) A British government committee has recommended vaccinating everyone between the ages of 70 and 79 against shingles.
"I welcome the recommendation that we should look for a cost-effective vaccine," said Gillian Merron, minister for public health. "A vaccination program would be good news for those in their 70s. It would improve quality of life by offering protection against this illness."
Shingles is caused by infection with the virus Herpes varicella zoster, the same virus responsible for chicken pox. In shingles, which occurs later in life, the virus infects a nerve and the surrounding skin, causing highly painful blisters that may last for months. In 30 percent of patients, chronic pain persists indefinitely even after the virus is cleared out. Other long-term side effects include scarring and vision loss.
Shingles was considered responsible for 100 deaths among the elderly in England and Wales in 2008. An estimated one in four adults contracts the infection at some point during their lifetimes.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) conducted an investigation into the disease and concluded that everyone between the ages of 70 and 79 should be vaccinated.
"This age group was proposed as the duration of protection, based on current data, is estimated to be 7.5 years and infection is more severe and the burden of illness is greater in this age group," the committee said.
The JCVI did not recommend widespread use of the chickenpox vaccine in children, due to concerns that it can actually increase the risk of shingles later in life.
The committee's investigation was not triggered by any particular concern about shingles. Its recommendation will now go before the Department of Health, which will decide if it is cost effective.
The only shingles/chickenpox vaccine on the market is Zostavax, made by Merck. If the recommendation is adopted by the British government, four million would be encouraged to receive the shot at once.
Sources for this story include: www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-... www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/jan....
Showing posts with label Elderly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elderly. Show all posts
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
EXPOSED: "Scandalous Abuse" of the Elderly Being Killed With Psychiatric Medications
(NaturalNews) Elderly dementia patients are being subjected to "scandalous abuse" by being drugged with dangerous antipsychotic drugs, according to a letter by ten influential health organizations, published in The Daily Telegraph.
"[One hundred thousand] people with dementia in care homes are being inappropriately prescribed a damaging chemical cosh of antipsychotic drugs and new research suggests that there is a significant problem in hospitals too," the letter reads. "Antipsychotics should only ever be a last resort. This over prescription is abuse and it must stop. ... We cannot stand by while this scandalous abuse of vulnerable citizens continues."
Although antipsychotic drugs are intended for people with medical conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and are not approved for the treatment of dementia, studies show that nursing homes and hospitals regularly prescribe them to these patients as sedatives, in order to make them easier for doctors and nurses to handle.
Research has shown, however, that antipsychotic drugs can double a patient's risk of death if used for three years. Another study found that dementia patients are three times more likely to suffer a stroke if given antipsychotic drugs.
A 2008 report by British Minister of Parliament Paul Burstow concluded that 23,500 dementia patients are being killed every year by inappropriate prescription of antipsychotics in nursing homes. However, a recent survey by the Alzheimer's Society marks the first time that researchers have looked into the prevalence of the problem in hospitals.
The trust found that three-quarters of nurses surveyed said they had seen antipsychotics used to sedate dementia patients, while one-quarter said they had seen the drugs used inappropriately.
"The massive over prescription of antipsychotics to people with dementia is an abuse of human rights, causing serious side effects and increasing risk of death," said Neil Hunt of the Alzheimer's Society. "The government must take action to ensure that these drugs are only ever used as a last resort."
"While the Department of Health prevaricates, thousands of people are being put at risk through the misuse of antipsychotics," said Rebecca Wood of the Alzheimer's Research Trust.
Sources for this story include: www.telegraph.co.uk.
"[One hundred thousand] people with dementia in care homes are being inappropriately prescribed a damaging chemical cosh of antipsychotic drugs and new research suggests that there is a significant problem in hospitals too," the letter reads. "Antipsychotics should only ever be a last resort. This over prescription is abuse and it must stop. ... We cannot stand by while this scandalous abuse of vulnerable citizens continues."
Although antipsychotic drugs are intended for people with medical conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and are not approved for the treatment of dementia, studies show that nursing homes and hospitals regularly prescribe them to these patients as sedatives, in order to make them easier for doctors and nurses to handle.
Research has shown, however, that antipsychotic drugs can double a patient's risk of death if used for three years. Another study found that dementia patients are three times more likely to suffer a stroke if given antipsychotic drugs.
A 2008 report by British Minister of Parliament Paul Burstow concluded that 23,500 dementia patients are being killed every year by inappropriate prescription of antipsychotics in nursing homes. However, a recent survey by the Alzheimer's Society marks the first time that researchers have looked into the prevalence of the problem in hospitals.
The trust found that three-quarters of nurses surveyed said they had seen antipsychotics used to sedate dementia patients, while one-quarter said they had seen the drugs used inappropriately.
"The massive over prescription of antipsychotics to people with dementia is an abuse of human rights, causing serious side effects and increasing risk of death," said Neil Hunt of the Alzheimer's Society. "The government must take action to ensure that these drugs are only ever used as a last resort."
"While the Department of Health prevaricates, thousands of people are being put at risk through the misuse of antipsychotics," said Rebecca Wood of the Alzheimer's Research Trust.
Sources for this story include: www.telegraph.co.uk.
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