California Governor Jerry Brown has reportedly signed into law the contentious Senate Bill 277, which eliminates the freedom of California parents to opt their children out of vaccinations for personal reasons. All school-age children without an approved medical exemption will now be forced to get vaccinated in order to attend public or private school, a tyrannous mandate that has already driven many …
One More Reason to Unplug Before Bedtime – Christopher Bergland
We all know from first-hand experience that the digital age has most of us “plugged in” 24/7. What is the detrimental impact on parents and children of being “plugged in” to digital devices—or in front of a television screen—both day and night? New studies show that turning off the television, unplugging other digital devices, and reading a book before bedtime can: improve a child’s brain function, mental imagery, imagination, theory of mind …
Offit Jumps Shark, Orders Starbucks, Plays Armchair Psychologist in Support of Oregon Bill
Senate Bill 442, since defeated in Oregon, had some high-powered supporters. Oregon activists recently unearthed the testimony of Dr. Paul Offit, a resident of Pennsylvania, who put together an extraordinary letter. It’s worth noting that Paul Offit is one of the primary architects of the thinking and logic behind the nationwide attempts to end vaccine exemptions, its remarkable to see …
Why Are American Doctors Killing Themselves In Record Numbers?
Recent reports have indicated that doctors in America are killing themselves in record numbers, and also suffer from drug and alcohol abuse at a rate significantly higher than your average person. Many people will write this off as a result of long hours or the stress of the job, but it is also possible that many of these doctors are …
Emerging form of poliovirus threatens hopes for eradication
The oral version of the polio vaccine gives better intestinal immunity than the injected vaccine, a boon in areas where people are often exposed to sewage. But because it’s made with live strains, there is a risk that the virus could escape. Credit: Julien Harneis/Wikimedia Commons Polio is about to be eradicated. By 2018, if all goes according to the World Health …
Mothers Hepatitis B infection may give infants a better survival advantage to counteract bacterial infection during early life.
A Singapore led study has shown that Hepatitis B Virus Infection (HBV) exposure increases the immune system maturation of infants, which may give a better survival advantage to counteract bacterial infection during early life. These findings radically modify the way that HBV vertical infection of neonates (mother-to-child) is portrayed, and present a paradigm shift in the approach to treatment of …
The rise of Big Breast Milk: A boon for healthy babies or exploitative of low-income mothers?
I witnessed the power of breast milk — as a magic health elixir and apparent social lubricant — earlier this month when my friend, while playing with her young son, was approached by a stranger and asked if she was breast-feeding. It went something like this: “Hey, this is a crazy question, but are you breastfeeding?” “I am.” “Can I …
Kids and Screen Time: What Parents Should Know
Children’s use of technology and social media has become a focus for modern-day parents. What is an appropriate amount of screen time and how should it be monitored? How does use of technology impact children? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children and teens generally have no more than one to two hours of screen time – including television, computers, …
Pediatricians face increasing pressure to delay vaccinations
AURORA, Colo. (March 2, 2015) – Pediatricians are facing increasing pressure from some parents who want to spread out the recommended vaccine schedule for their children by postponing vaccines, pointing to a need for improved programs that support timely vaccinations, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus. …