10-23-98
  
French Halt School Age Hepatitis B Immunization, Risk of Autoimmunity Cited

BALTIMORE, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Health in France recently 
announced a decision to suspend routine hepatitis B immunization of children in French 
schools while continuing routine Hepatitis B immunization at birth. The reason for this 
decision was apparently the increased risk of autoimmune diseases that is associated with 
the vaccine when it is given starting at school age.

John B. Classen, M.D., an immunologist at Classen Immunotherapies originally published 
papers linking the hepatitis B and other vaccines to the development of insulin dependent 
diabetes, an autoimmune disease. At that time certain public health officials attempted to 
deny an association between autoimmunity and immunization however recently published 
US government studies have supported the association. One published US government 
study linked hepatitis b immunization to an autoimmune form of hair loss. Another small 
study from the US government showed that when hepatitis B immunization was given 
starting after 2 months of life it was associated with an almost doubling of the risk of 
diabetes.

"The French decision to continue hepatitis B immunization at birth while discontinuing 
immunization starting at school age suggests the French Ministry of Health may believe that 
timing of immunization has an role on the development of autoimmunity. They appear to be 
accepting our findings." Dr. Classen is referring to his numerous publications indicating 
immunization starting at birth is associated with lower risks of autoimmunity then 
immunization starting later in life.

Long term safety studies are typically not performed on vaccines in order to have them 
approved for marketing. "Without these studies we can not be sure that the benefits of 
immunization exceed the risks and thus we should not mandate the hepatitis B or other 
vaccines," adds Classen.

Dr. Classen's research has been featured in national news reports including ABC World 
News Tonight. For the latest information on the effects of vaccines on insulin dependent 
diabetes and other chronic diseases visit the Vaccine Safety Website  (http://vaccines.net) .

Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Created at NIH

GREAT FALLS, Va., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- "Last night, Congress passed legislation 
that is going to change the face of health care in this country forever," said Ralph Miranda, 
M.D., President of the American Preventive Medical Association.  "Thanks to the 
concerted efforts of Senators Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter, Congress has passed 
legislation that will promote the Office of Alternative Medicine, at the National Institutes of 
Health, to a Center.  Now, finally, we should be able to get scientifically rigorous research 
into alternative therapies that could improve the lives of millions of Americans.  Now, 
finally, we will have a Center at NIH that has the authority it needs to get the job done."

"Based on peer reviewed scientific studies, as many as 60 million adults in the United 
States are using alternative medicine therapies in conjunction with conventional medical 
treatments for various health related conditions. According to a recent national study of 
alternative medicine and its use among adults in the U.S. ... Forty percent of all survey 
respondents reported using some form of alternative health care in the year prior to 
participating in the mail survey."  (Astin, Journal of the American Medical Association, 
May 20, 1998, Vol. 279. No. 19, pp 1548-1553.)  

"There are many promising alternative therapies for cancer, for instance, that the National 
Cancer Institute hasn't been interested in researching," Dr. Miranda noted.  "That's why 
OAM was established in the first place; to investigate and validate the therapies to which 
more and more Americans are turning.  We are very excited by the prospect of finally 
getting research into therapies that, in some cases, have been used in other countries for 
decades, even centuries."

APMA is a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to creating a health care environment 
in which practitioners can practice in good conscience, with the well being of their patients 
foremost in their minds, and without fear of recrimination for the use of complementary 
and alternative therapies.  The association is dedicated to ensuring Americans' right to 
medical freedom and access to the full range of health-promotion and treatment methods.  
Members includes medical doctors, osteopaths, naturopaths, dentists, acupuncturists, 
nutritionists, doctors of oriental medicine, massage therapists, and other practitioners, as 
well as laymen interested in reasserting their health care freedom.

SOURCE  American Preventive Medical Association