FRIDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Richard Kanowitz's 4-year-old daughter, Amanda, died of the flu on March 1, 2004, barely 72 hours after she first complained of feeling ill.

Amanda came home from preschool on a Friday afternoon with a slight cough and fever, her father recalled. Her symptoms progressed slowly over the weekend and, by Sunday, she was sluggish, still feverish and now vomiting. The pediatrician said there were multiple viruses circulating and advised the parents to just keep her hydrated.

It has been hard to ignore lately...the advertisements and marketing of FLU shots...at doctor's offices, clinics, pharmacies and even grocery stores. Yes, the time is upon us...FLU SEASON. With the critical time in the flu season being December-February, decision time is now. How do we best prepare our immune systems...do we "flu-shot" or do we have other options?

TUESDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Children vaccinated against hepatitis B probably are not at an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) unless they were inoculated with a particular brand of the vaccine, according to a new study.

The French study found that children with MS were almost twice as likely to have received the vaccine called Engerix B three or more years before the disease's onset. Further studies will need to be done to determine whether the vaccine is a direct cause of the development of MS.

SUNDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- A vaccine that protects against the miserable symptoms of ragweed allergy for a longer period of time -- and with fewer injections -- could be available in the coming years.

Unlike traditional allergy vaccines that are given weekly for several months, new formulations would require only a few injections and would offer longer-lasting relief.

TUESDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- With the memory of last season's flu vaccine mismatch still fresh, U.S. health officials announced Tuesday that they have approved vaccines for the 2008-09 season that include new strains of the virus most likely to circulate.

U.S. scientists at Stanford University have apparently come up with a way to use tobacco to ‘grow’ key components for a new cancer vaccine. The vaccine could be used to bring down one form of lymphoma.

“They are using the plants as factories for an antibody chemical specific to the cells which cause follicular B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.” (Source: bbc.com)

WEDNESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- In a feat that should help researchers more effectively evaluate new treatments for hepatitis C, investigators report that they have developed the first tissue culture of regular human liver cells that can imitate infections with the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The 5-in-1 pediatric combination vaccine Pentacel has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in infants and children ages 6 weeks through 4 years, maker Sanofi Pasteur announced.

Pentacel -- which includes immunization against influenza type B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) and poliomyelitis -- was approved for administration as a four-dose series at 2, 4, 6 and 15 to 18 months of age, United Press International reported. The first dose can be given as early as 6 weeks of age.

Friends and Colleagues,

We are facing serious health freedom consequences in the US that have not been mentioned during the nightly news.  Please take a moment to look at the attached Health Freedom Alert regarding vaccinations which will, for the first time in US history, make infant and toddler vaccinations MANDATORY.   I have researched the rise in number of infant thru 12 year old vaccinations over recent years.  The numbers are staggering.