Vaccine Maker Ad Scares Public
Did we not experience similar tactics with WMDs in Iraq?
I thought I'd also share this with our Group as a "heads up" for a possible ( I should almost say probable) biological threat - initiated by, who knows whom...if you listen to the audio clip excerpts and view the links below. The article on the vaccine maker Ad scare follows the audio clips.
Jack Topel
WHY ARE 30 OF THE WORLD LEADING MICROBILOGIST DEAD?
Here is a link for more detailed coverage of "mysterious deaths" of these premier microbiologists:
http://www.stevequayle.com/C2C.index.dead.scientist.html
http://stevequayle.com/News.alert/NBC/020303.14.dead.scientists.html
AUDIO CLIPS
http://PlayAudioMessage.com/play.asp?m=34123&f=NCRIWL&ps=7&p=1 (10 min)
http://PlayAudioMessage.com/play.asp?m=34126&f=OGLMXY&ps=7&p=1 (10min)
http://PlayAudioMessage.com/play.asp?m=34128&f=VEVPJU&ps=7&p=1 (1 min)
Subject: [NVIC] Vaccine Maker Ad Scares Public
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2004 09:27:35 -0400
From: news@nvic.org (NVICNews)
E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER
Vienna, Virginia http://www.nvic.org
UNITED WAY/COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN #9119
"Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982."
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/30/1091080439774.html?oneclick=true#
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Drug maker accused of scare-mongering
By Julie Robotham, Medical Editor
July 31, 2004
The drug company Baxter Healthcare has been accused of distortion and scare-mongering over advertisements designed to prompt people to request an expensive meningococcal disease vaccination from their doctor.
The ads, running this week in Woman's Day, show the feet of a corpse with a mortuary label tied to a toe. The label peels off the page, and readers are asked to, "Take this to your GP and ask about vaccination today."
The information on the mortuary tag explains that adults account for nearly half of all cases of disease caused by the C strain of meningococcal bacteria. Among the adults, two in 10 lose digits or limbs and one in 10 dies.
But it does not explain that the disease affects only about 130 adults in Australia each year. Most make a full recovery.
The campaign is billed as "a community message from Baxter Healthcare", and does not mention by name the company's NeisVac-C vaccine. The advertising of prescription medicines direct to the public is illegal.
But the mortuary label includes Baxter's name, and uses the same branding as the vaccine, which costs $73 and is not eligible for any government subsidy. Separate ads running in the specialist medical press alert doctors that "your patients may be bringing in coupons requesting vaccinations", and explicitly mention NeisVac-C.
David Henry, a professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of Newcastle, said the advertisement was an example of "a serious but low-risk condition [being] exaggerated in the public's mind by selective presentation of statistics ... I think this is a gross example of disease-mongering." Professor Henry said the campaign was plainly intended to scare people. Meningococcal disease was "not something the average Australian should be carrying in their head as a proximal risk ... you're at much higher risk climbing into the car every day".
Hilda Bastian, a health consumer advocate and editor of Informed Health Online, said the campaign was "shockingly manipulative, and it was dishonest to call this a community message".
Baxter did not respond to requests for comment.
I thought I'd also share this with our Group as a "heads up" for a possible ( I should almost say probable) biological threat - initiated by, who knows whom...if you listen to the audio clip excerpts and view the links below. The article on the vaccine maker Ad scare follows the audio clips.
Jack Topel
WHY ARE 30 OF THE WORLD LEADING MICROBILOGIST DEAD?
Here is a link for more detailed coverage of "mysterious deaths" of these premier microbiologists:
http://www.stevequayle.com/C2C.index.dead.scientist.html
http://stevequayle.com/News.alert/NBC/020303.14.dead.scientists.html
AUDIO CLIPS
http://PlayAudioMessage.com/play.asp?m=34123&f=NCRIWL&ps=7&p=1 (10 min)
http://PlayAudioMessage.com/play.asp?m=34126&f=OGLMXY&ps=7&p=1 (10min)
http://PlayAudioMessage.com/play.asp?m=34128&f=VEVPJU&ps=7&p=1 (1 min)
Subject: [NVIC] Vaccine Maker Ad Scares Public
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2004 09:27:35 -0400
From: news@nvic.org (NVICNews)
E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER
Vienna, Virginia http://www.nvic.org
UNITED WAY/COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN #9119
"Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982."
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/30/1091080439774.html?oneclick=true#
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Drug maker accused of scare-mongering
By Julie Robotham, Medical Editor
July 31, 2004
The drug company Baxter Healthcare has been accused of distortion and scare-mongering over advertisements designed to prompt people to request an expensive meningococcal disease vaccination from their doctor.
The ads, running this week in Woman's Day, show the feet of a corpse with a mortuary label tied to a toe. The label peels off the page, and readers are asked to, "Take this to your GP and ask about vaccination today."
The information on the mortuary tag explains that adults account for nearly half of all cases of disease caused by the C strain of meningococcal bacteria. Among the adults, two in 10 lose digits or limbs and one in 10 dies.
But it does not explain that the disease affects only about 130 adults in Australia each year. Most make a full recovery.
The campaign is billed as "a community message from Baxter Healthcare", and does not mention by name the company's NeisVac-C vaccine. The advertising of prescription medicines direct to the public is illegal.
But the mortuary label includes Baxter's name, and uses the same branding as the vaccine, which costs $73 and is not eligible for any government subsidy. Separate ads running in the specialist medical press alert doctors that "your patients may be bringing in coupons requesting vaccinations", and explicitly mention NeisVac-C.
David Henry, a professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of Newcastle, said the advertisement was an example of "a serious but low-risk condition [being] exaggerated in the public's mind by selective presentation of statistics ... I think this is a gross example of disease-mongering." Professor Henry said the campaign was plainly intended to scare people. Meningococcal disease was "not something the average Australian should be carrying in their head as a proximal risk ... you're at much higher risk climbing into the car every day".
Hilda Bastian, a health consumer advocate and editor of Informed Health Online, said the campaign was "shockingly manipulative, and it was dishonest to call this a community message".
Baxter did not respond to requests for comment.
Starmail - 2. Aug, 23:50
