Fed: Review launched over contaminated vaccine =2 (Reopens) Fears over vaccine cocktail for babies Fears over

vaccine cocktail for babies Fears over vaccine cocktail for babies Fears over vaccine cocktail for babies New six-in-one vaccine costs $300 New baby vaccine will cost $300 Babies set for big shot in the arm Boost for childhood jabs [] Parents left to weigh benefits of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine - ... Boost for childhood jabs [] Parents left to weigh benefits of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine - ... Misleading information over child vaccinations Jabs may alienate parents, say doctors HOW MANY DO WE NEED? Thorny anthrax vaccine claims Army used out-of-date vaccines The Debate Jabs may alienate parents, say doctors HOW MANY DO WE NEED? Letters to the Editor Soldier ill from anthrax vaccine

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Fed: Review launched over contaminated vaccine =2 (Reopens) 139 words 23 October 2004 Australian Associated Press General News AAP English (c) 2004 Australian Associated Press Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved POLIO The Australian Vaccination Network said current research showed polio vaccines still carried the monkey virus, even though the vaccine was now made differently. "It's never not been contaminated," the group's national president Meryl Dorey said. "The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has never independently tested our vaccine for this - we don't even make the vaccine in Australia. "All they (TGA) do is look at the information provided by pharmaceutical companies. "To turn around now and say `whoops we've made a mistake and for the last 45 years we've actually been giving you the seeds for a cancer' ... can you imagine the lawsuits?" The Australian Vaccination Network believes in "free choice when it comes to vaccinations and immunisations for our children or ourselves". AAP bk/sjb/sd Document AAP0000020041023e0an000rt

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GENERAL Fears over vaccine cocktail for babies CATHY O'LEARY 343 words 24 August 2004 The West Australian TWAU METRO 1 English (c) 2004, West Australian Newspapers Limited Moves to combine up to six vaccines in one jab could put babies at risk of severe reactions, despite assurances from doctors they were safer, anti-vaccination lobbyists have warned. Australian health authorities are considering new combination vaccines which protect against up to six diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib (influenza B), polio and hepatitis B. But the Australian Vaccination Network warned yesterday that it was irresponsible to keep combining vaccines without knowing the effect. President Meryl Dorey said mixing several vaccines in one injection contained too many variables. British doctors are battling claims the introduction next month of a new five-in-one jab in the UK could overload a baby's immune system. In a backlash reminiscent of past controversy linking the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism, health authorities are facing opposition to the vaccine Pediacel. It protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib and polio. The current four-in-one vaccine excludes polio, given orally. Doctors say it will cause fewer reactions than the previous vaccine because it uses inactivated polio instead of a live sample. The British Medical Journal said the new vaccine caused fewer side effects, such as fever and soreness, and some parents were misinformed about combination vaccines' safety. Child health experts Helen Bedford and David Elliman said in the journal that negative newspaper headlines were regrettable because the new formulation gave safe protection against five common diseases because it contained 3000 less antigens than the current vaccine. Australia's immunisation schedule funds a three-in-one vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough from the age of two months. Hib and polio are given separat~ely. But the Commonwealth Health Department is believed to be considering several combination vaccines which could protect against these as well as other diseases such as hepatitis B, Hib and polio. One - DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib - would protect against six diseases. A department spokesman said the decision hinged on whether an injectable or oral polio vaccine was used. Document TWAU000020040824e08o0000i

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2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

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GENERAL Fears over vaccine cocktail for babies CATHY O'LEARY 343 words 24 August 2004 The West Australian TWAU METRO 1 English (c) 2004, West Australian Newspapers Limited Moves to combine up to six vaccines in one jab could put babies at risk of severe reactions, despite assurances from doctors they were safer, anti-vaccination lobbyists have warned. Australian health authorities are considering new combination vaccines which protect against up to six diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib (influenza B), polio and hepatitis B. But the Australian Vaccination Network warned yesterday that it was irresponsible to keep combining vaccines without knowing the effect. President Meryl Dorey said mixing several vaccines in one injection contained too many variables. British doctors are battling claims the introduction next month of a new five-in-one jab in the UK could overload a baby's immune system. In a backlash reminiscent of past controversy linking the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism, health authorities are facing opposition to the vaccine Pediacel. It protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib and polio. The current four-in-one vaccine excludes polio, given orally. Doctors say it will cause fewer reactions than the previous vaccine because it uses inactivated polio instead of a live sample. The British Medical Journal said the new vaccine caused fewer side effects, such as fever and soreness, and some parents were misinformed about combination vaccines' safety. Child health experts Helen Bedford and David Elliman said in the journal that negative newspaper headlines were regrettable because the new formulation gave safe protection against five common diseases because it contained 3000 fewer antigens than the current vaccine. Australia's immunisation schedule funds a three-in-one vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough from the age of two months. Hib and polio are given separately. But the Comm~onwealth Health Department is believed to be considering several combination vaccines which could protect against these as well as other diseases such as hepatitis B, Hib and polio. One - DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib - would protect against six diseases. A department spokesman said the decision hinged on whether an injectable or oral polio vaccine was used. Document TWAU000020040824e08o0000h

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2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

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GENERAL Fears over vaccine cocktail for babies CATHY O'LEARY 343 words 24 August 2004 The West Australian TWAU STATE 1 English (c) 2004, West Australian Newspapers Limited Moves to combine up to six vaccines in one jab could put babies at risk of severe reactions, despite assurances from doctors they were safer, anti-vaccination lobbyists have warned. Australian health authorities are considering new combination vaccines which protect against up to six diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib (influenza B), polio and hepatitis B. But the Australian Vaccination Network warned yesterday that it was irresponsible to keep combining vaccines without knowing the effect. President Meryl Dorey said mixing several vaccines in one injection contained too many variables. British doctors are battling claims the introduction next month of a new five-in-one jab in the UK could overload a baby's immune system. In a backlash reminiscent of past controversy linking the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism, health authorities are facing opposition to the vaccine Pediacel. It protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib and polio. The current four-in-one vaccine excludes polio, given orally. Doctors say it will cause fewer reactions than the previous vaccine because it uses inactivated polio instead of a live sample. The British Medical Journal said the new vaccine caused fewer side effects, such as fever and soreness, and some parents were misinformed about combination vaccines' safety. Child health experts Helen Bedford and David Elliman said in the journal that negative newspaper headlines were regrettable because the new formulation gave safe protection against five common diseases because it contained 3000 less antigens than the current vaccine. Australia's immunisation schedule funds a three-in-one vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough from the age of two months. Hib and polio are given separately. But the Commonwealth Health Department is believed to be considering s~everal combination vaccines which could protect against these as well as other diseases such as hepatitis B, Hib and polio. One - DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib - would protect against six diseases. A department spokesman said the decision hinged on whether an injectable or oral polio vaccine was used. Document TWAU000020040823e08o0008d

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GENERAL Fears over vaccine cocktail for babies CATHY O'LEARY 343 words 24 August 2004 The West Australian TWAU STATE 1 English (c) 2004, West Australian Newspapers Limited Moves to combine up to six vaccines in one jab could put babies at risk of severe reactions, despite assurances from doctors they were safer, anti-vaccination lobbyists have warned. Australian health authorities are considering new combination vaccines which protect against up to six diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib (influenza B), polio and hepatitis B. But the Australian Vaccination Network warned yesterday that it was irresponsible to keep combining vaccines without knowing the effect. President Meryl Dorey said mixing several vaccines in one injection contained too many variables. British doctors are battling claims the introduction next month of a new five-in-one jab in the UK could overload a baby's immune system. In a backlash reminiscent of past controversy linking the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism, health authorities are facing opposition to the vaccine Pediacel. It protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib and polio. The current four-in-one vaccine excludes polio, given orally. Doctors say it will cause fewer reactions than the previous vaccine because it uses inactivated polio instead of a live sample. The British Medical Journal said the new vaccine caused fewer side effects, such as fever and soreness, and some parents were misinformed about combination vaccines' safety. Child health experts Helen Bedford and David Elliman said in the journal that negative newspaper headlines were regrettable because the new formulation gave safe protection against five common diseases because it contained 3000 less antigens than the current vaccine. Australia's immunisation schedule funds a three-in-one vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough from the age of two months. Hib and polio are given separately. But the Commonwealth Health Department is believed to be considering s~everal combination vaccines which could protect against these as well as other diseases such as hepatitis B, Hib and polio. One - DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib - would protect against six diseases. A department spokesman said the decision hinged on whether an injectable or oral polio vaccine was used. Document TWAU000020040824e08o0005l

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GENERAL New six-in-one vaccine costs $300 CATHY O'LEARY 377 words 15 September 2004 The West Australian TWAU METRO 13 English (c) 2004, West Australian Newspapers Limited Australia's first six-in-one combination vaccine for babies has gone on the market, but will cost parents more than $300. While anti-vaccination groups are not satisfied about possible side-effects from the vaccine Infanrix hexa, doctors say it is safe and will make immunising young children easier. The vaccine targets six of the seven diseases which parents are advised to protect babies from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib). It is given at two, four and six months, with each shot expected to cost parents at least $100 because the vaccine is not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The PBS now funds a three-in-one vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, a Hib-hep B shot and oral polio. But from January 1, it also will fund a pneumococcal vaccine which will be given as a separate injection. Australian Vaccination Network president Meryl Dorey said she was concerned that the vaccine was unsafe despite research by the manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. "The problem is that if they want to keep administering more vaccines, they have to combine them or they'll be running out of limbs in which to give them," she said. "But I'm not satisfied there aren't any side-effects and we have to ask when enough's enough with immunisation." But doctors argue that with babies facing three injections at a time from next year, moves to combine more vaccines will make immunisation less complicated so babies will be more likely to have the full course. Dr Peter Richmond, senior lecturer at the University of WA's school of paediatrics and child health, said the vaccine had been tested in clinical trials and there was no evid~ence of side-effects. He said a baby's immune system was geared to handle thousands of sources of bacteria so the introduction of six or more antigens was not going to cause any challenge. "Because we can protect against a range of diseases with one injection instead of two, I think this will be more acceptable not just to parents but also the people who have to give the injections," he said. Document TWAU000020040915e09f0004b

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GENERAL New baby vaccine will cost $300 CATHY O'LEARY 376 words 15 September 2004 The West Australian TWAU COUNTRY 13 English (c) 2004, West Australian Newspapers Limited Australia's first six-in-one combination vaccine for babies has gone on the market, but will cost parents more than $300. While anti-vaccination groups are not satisfied about possible side-effects from the vaccine Infanrix hexa, doctors say it is safe and will make immunising young children easier. The vaccine targets six of the seven diseases which parents are advised to protect babies from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib). It is given at two, four and six months, with each shot expected to cost parents at least $100 because the vaccine is not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. At present, the PBS funds a three-in-one vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, a Hib-hep B shot and oral polio. But from January 1, it also will fund a pneumococcal vaccine which will be given as a separate injection. Australian Vaccination Network president Meryl Dorey said she was concerned that the vaccine was unsafe despite research by the manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. "The problem is that if they want to keep administering more vaccines, they have to combine them or they'll be running out of limbs in which to give them," she said. "But I'm not satisfied there aren't any side-effects and we have to ask when enough's enough with immunisation." But doctors argue that with babies facing three injections at a time from next year, moves to combine more vaccines will make immunisation less complicated so babies will be more likely to have the full course. Dr Peter Richmond, senior lecturer at the University of WA's school of paediatrics and child health, said the vaccine had been tested in clinical trials and there was no ~evidence of side-effects. He said a baby's immune system was geared to handle thousands of sources of bacteria so the introduction of six or more antigens was not going to cause any challenge. "Because we can protect against a range of diseases with one injection instead of two, I think this will be more acceptable not just to parents but also the people who have to give the injections," he said. Document TWAU000020040915e09f0004f

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2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

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News Babies set for big shot in the arm Cathy O'Leary 421 words 15 September 2004 The Age AGEE First 3 English 2004 Copyright John Fairfax Holdings Limited.

Not available for re-distribution.

Australian parents will now be able to have their babies vaccinated against six diseases in a single shot, but it will cost them more than $300. While anti-vaccination groups are not satisfied about possible side effects from the vaccine Infanrix hexa, doctors say it is safe and will make immunising children easier. The vaccine targets six of the seven diseases against which parents are advised to immunise their babies: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib). It is given at two, four and six months, with each shot expected to cost parents at least $100 because they are not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The PBS now pays for a three-in-one vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, a Hibhep B shot and oral polio. From January 1 it will also cover a pneumococcal vaccine that will be given as a separate injection. Australian Vaccination Network president Meryl Dorey said she was concerned that the Infanrix hexa vaccine was unsafe despite research by manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. "The problem is that if they want to keep administering more vaccines they have to combine them or they'll be running out of limbs in which to give them," she said. "But I'm not satisfied there aren't any side effects and we have to ask when enough's enough with immunisation." Doctors argue that with babies facing three injections at a time from next year, combining vaccines will make immunisation less complicated so babies will be more likely to have them. Dr Peter Richmond, senior lecturer at the University of WA's school of paediatrics and child health, said the vaccine had been tested in clinical trials and there was no evidence of side effects. He said a baby's immune system was geared to handle thousands of sources of bacteria so the introduction of six or more antigens was not going to cause any special challenge. "Because we can protect against a range of diseases with one injection instead of two, I think this will be more acceptable not just to parents but also the people who have to give the injections," he said. "The major plus of this vaccine is that it encourages parents to have their children immunised at the right time so we don't get outbreaks of disease like we've seen recently with whooping cough." Document AGEE000020040914e09f0003i

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Boost for childhood jabs [] Parents left to weigh benefits of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine - ... By CATHY O'LEARY. 1,268 words 28 February 2004 The West Australian TWAU English (c) 2004, West Australian Newspapers Limited Boost for childhood jabs [] Parents left to weigh benefits of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine - WHAT IS MMR? - OPPOSING VIEWS. MEDICAL DISEASES RESEARCH AUTISTIC CHILDREN BABIES UK AUSTRALIA WA Although research linking autism and the MMR vaccine was discredited, fears continue. IT IS the sharp jab that makes babies and toddlers cry but thousands of parents trust it implicitly as protection against an array of dangerous childhood diseases. But the combination vaccine MMR - designed to ward off the three potentially serious infections measles, mumps and rubella - has been on a bumpy and emotional roller-coaster ride for more than a decade. Accused of doing more harm than good in 1990s research which is now considered flimsy, the vaccine's fight to clear its name has been on-going, even involving British Prime Minister Tony Blair. It was boosted last week when the prestigious medical journal The Lancet poured cold water on a study alleging a link between MMR and autism, the same research which was published in 1998 and triggered a furore which had public health experts in damage-control for many years. Concerns about an MMR-autism link were first raised in the late 1980s but intensified in 1998 when Andrew Wakefield, a researcher at the Royal Free Hospital in London, had a paper published. In it he suggested the MMR vaccine appeared to cause inflammatory bowel disease and a decreased absorption in essential vitamins and minerals resulting in developmental disorders such as autism. While he claimed to have found the live measles virus in 80 per cent of a group of children with autism and IBD, health authorities around the world dismissed the research as flawed and unreplicated anywhere else. The final nail in the coffin appears to have come in The Lancet last week. Editor Dr Richard Horton discredited Dr Wakefield's work on the grounds that he did not declare a conflict of interest even though he was being paid to investigate bringing legal action by parents who thought their children had been harmed by the vaccine. But for some parents, The Lancet's virtual retraction will not stop them from remaining sceptical of the safety of the MMR. In Australia the debate rages and a small number of families continues to boycott the vaccine. While more than 90 per cent of Australian children are dutifully immunised, other parents have not been so trusting. They say that while the injections given at 12 months and four years may prevent complications such as brain damage and deafness, they put children at added risk of other problems. WA health experts say the risks associated with MMR have been exaggerated and caused unnecessary alarm. Health Department director of communicable diseases Shirley Bowen, an infectious diseases specialist, said parents should feel confident the vaccine was safe and make the most of the free program. Page 10 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

"I think part of the problem has been that there is an apparent association between two events - a child having the vaccine and developing autism - and people see it as cause and effect," she said. "But no parents would go down the path of a vaccine if they thought it would harm their child and the vast majority of medical practitioners have their own children vaccinated." Dr Bowen said apart from the autism claims some parents were worried about other side effects of MMR, which could include a measles-like rash a week after the shot. While some referred to the manufacturer's information which listed an array of possible side effects, these were in fact rare. "If people read the same information for common drugs like aspirin they would never take them," Dr Bowen said. But the Australian Vaccination Network WA, which describes itself as pro-choice not anti-vaccination, says it is important for people to be aware of the 26 listed adverse reactions to MMR. Spokeswoman Verona Gibson said the reason Dr Wakefield's study had not been replicated was because no one, particularly in Australia, was prepared to do any research. "We know some children have had serious adverse effects and we have concerns about the combining of vaccines such as MMR," she said. "One woman had four children - the first two were vaccinated and have autism and the next two weren't vaccinated and don't have autism. Who's to say what is responsible for that? "Parents need to be able to make informed choice, without pressure, yet the Government views parents who don't vaccinate their children as lazy and that's not the case." Ms Gibson said parents who had their children immunised with any vaccine should ensure they knew what side effects to expect and keep a record of the batch number. But there remains fears that in the current preventive health climate a fall-off in immunisation rates will see diseases get a firmer grip. Some doctors view the MMR issue as little more than scaremongering. WA paediatrician David Roberts, a former president of the Australian Medical Association, said the link between MMR and autism was simply not there. "If the theory had ever been right we should have seen a high prevalence of autism in all those children vaccinated with MMR, particularly after mass vaccination programs," he said. "But we didn't." From a public health perspective, Dr Bowen said many people had become too complacent about dangerous diseases. "In Australia we live on an island and we've been very protected from many epidemics so people forget what it's like to have these illnesses," she said. "But these diseases are not eradicated in other countries and with the amount of travelling we do we could see these diseases creeping back if we let down our guard." Measles vaccine is given together with mumps and rubella (German measles) in a single combined injection known as MMR. It is manufactured by Merck Sharp and Dohme. In Australia it is given at 12 months and four years. Adults aged 20-30 who may have missed out on previous vaccination programs are also advised to be immunised. The diseases can cause brain damage, birth defects such as deafness and blindness, and death. More than 500 million doses of MMR have been used worldwide since the early 1970s. What the critics say: The Australian Vaccination Network WA says MMR has been associated with a big range of side effects, many serious and life-threatening. These include multiple sclerosis, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy, irritable bowel disease, permanent brain damage and death. The AVN says that in many cases of adverse reactions doctors have refused to accept that there has been a link with the vaccine. Page 11 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

It says there is no proof that unvaccinated children start measles outbreaks or suffer more severely if they contract the disease. What health authorities say: The WA Health Department says that since MMR was first used in 1963 hundreds of millions of people have been vaccinated worldwide. The vaccine is safe, effective and has few side effects. The department says some people have a temporary reaction between one and three weeks after their first vaccination. These side effects include: soreness at the injection site (one in 10) general tiredness, mild fever or a rash (one in 20) swollen glands (one in 100) joint pains (one in four adult women). The department says there is a very small chance that serious side effects can occur. These include allergic reactions (one in 500,000 vaccinations) and temporary problems with blood clotting (one in 30,000). Document TWAU000020040301e02s0004i

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Boost for childhood jabs [] Parents left to weigh benefits of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine - ... By CATHY O'LEARY. 1,266 words 28 February 2004 The West Australian TWAU English (c) 2004, West Australian Newspapers Limited Boost for childhood jabs [] Parents left to weigh benefits of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine - WHAT IS MMR? - OPPOSING VIEWS. MEDICAL DISEASES RESEARCH AUTISTIC CHILDREN BABIES UK AUSTRALIA WA Medical journal discredits link between autism and controversial inoculation IT IS the sharp jab that makes babies and toddlers cry but thousands of parents trust it implicitly as protection against an array of dangerous childhood diseases. But the combination vaccine MMR - designed to ward off the three potentially serious infections measles, mumps and rubella - has been on a bumpy and emotional rollercoaster ride for more than a decade. Accused of doing more harm than good in 1990s research which is now considered flimsy, the vaccine's fight to clear its name has been on-going, even involving British Prime Minister Tony Blair. It was boosted last week when the prestigious medical journal The Lancet poured cold water on a study alleging a link between MMR and autism, the same research which was published in 1998 and triggered a furore which had public health experts in damage-control for many years. Concerns about a MMR-autism link were first raised in the late 1980s but intensified in 1998 when Andrew Wakefield, a researcher at the Royal Free Hospital in London, had a paper published. In it he suggested that the MMR vaccine appeared to cause inflammatory bowel disease and a decreased absorption in essential vitamins and minerals resulting in developmental disorders such as autism. While he claimed to have found the live measles virus in 80 per cent of a group of children with autism and IBD, health authorities around the world dismissed the research as flawed and unreplicated anywhere else. The final nail in the coffin appears to have come in The Lancet last week. Editor Dr Richard Horton discredited Dr Wakefield's work on the grounds that he did not declare a conflict of interest even though he was being paid to investigate bringing legal action by parents who thought their children had been harmed by the vaccine. But for some parents, The Lancet's virtual retraction will not stop them from remaining sceptical of the safety of the MMR. In Australia the debate rages and a small number of families continue to boycott the vaccine. While more than 90 per cent of Australian children are dutifully immunised, other parents have not been so trusting. They say that while the injections given at 12 months and four years may prevent complications such as brain damage and deafness, they put children at added risk of other problems. WA health experts say the risks associated with MMR have been exaggerated and caused unnecessary alarm. Health Department director of communicable diseases Shirley Bowen, an infectious disease specialist, said parents should feel confident the vaccine was safe and make the most of the free program. Page 13 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

"I think part of the problem has been that there is an apparent association between two events - a child having the vaccine and developing autism - and people see it as cause and effect," she said. "But no parents would go down the path of a vaccine if they thought it would harm their child and the vast majority of medical practitioners have their own children vaccinated." Dr Bowen said apart from the autism claims some parents were worried about other side effects of MMR, which could include a measles-like rash a week after the shot. While some referred to the manufacturer's information which listed an array of possible side effects, these were in fact very rare. "If people read the same information for common drugs like aspirin they would never take them," Dr Bowen said. But the Australian Vaccination Network WA, which describes itself as pro-choice not anti-vaccination, says it is important for people to be aware of the 26 listed adverse reactions to MMR. Spokeswoman Verona Gibson said the reason Dr Wakefield's study had not been replicated was because no one, particularly in Australia, was prepared to do any research. "We know some children have had serious adverse effects and we have concerns about the combining of vaccines such as MMR," she said. "One woman had four children - the first two were vaccinated and have autism and the next two weren't vaccinated and don't have autism. Who's to say what is responsible for that? "Parents need to be able to make informed choice, without pressure, yet the Government views parents who don't vaccinate their children as lazy and that's not the case." Ms Gibson said parents who had their children immunised with any vaccine should ensure they knew what side effects to expect and keep a record of the batch number. But there remains fears that in the current preventive health climate a fall-off in immunisation rates will see diseases get a firmer grip. Some doctors view the MMR issue as little more than scaremongering. WA paediatrician David Roberts, a former president of the Australian Medical Association, said the link between MMR and autism was simply not there. "If the theory had ever been right we should have seen a high prevalence of autism in all those children vaccinated with MMR, particularly after mass vaccination programs," he said. "But we didn't." From a public health perspective, Dr Bowen said many people had become too complacent about dangerous diseases. "In Australia we live on an island and we've been very protected from many epidemics so people forget what it's like to have these illnesses," she said. "But these diseases are not eradicated in other countries and with the amount of travelling we do we could see these diseases creeping back if we let down our guard." Measles vaccine is given together with mumps and rubella (German measles) in a single combined injection known as MMR. It is manufactured by Merck Sharp and Dohme. In Australia it is given at 12 months and four years. Adults aged 20-30 who may have missed out on previous vaccination programs are also advised to be immunised. The diseases can cause brain damage, birth defects such as deafness and blindness, and death. More than 500 million doses of MMR have been used worldwide since the early 1970s. What the critics say: The Australian Vaccination Network WA says MMR has been associated with a big range of side effects, many serious and life-threatening. These include multiple sclerosis, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy, irritable bowel disease, permanent brain damage and death. The AVN says that in many cases of adverse reactions doctors have refused to accept that there has been a link with the vaccine. Page 14 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

It says there is no proof that unvaccinated children start measles outbreaks or suffer more severely if they contract the disease. What health authorities say: The WA Health Department says that since MMR was first used in 1963 hundreds of millions of people have been vaccinated worldwide. The vaccine is safe, effective and has few side effects. The department says some people have a temporary reaction between one and three weeks after their first vaccination. These side effects include: soreness at the injection site (one in 10) general tiredness, mild fever or a rash (one in 20) swollen glands (one in 100) joint pains (one in four adult women). The department says there is a very small chance that serious side effects can occur. These include allergic reactions (one in 500,000 vaccinations) and temporary problems with blood clotting (one in 30,000). Document TWAU000020040301e02s0004h

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News Misleading information over child vaccinations 826 words 27 December 2004 Illawarra Mercury ILM First 18 English 2004 Copyright John Fairfax Holdings Limited. . Not available for re-distribution. letters to the editor CHILD-CARE centres, service providers, and schools, are misleading parents over the issue of vaccinating their children. Also importantly, the Government has been slow to rectify this misinformation. Both vaccinating and non-vaccinating parents are equally entitled to child-care assistance, and fee relief. Vaccination exemptions; either medical, religious, conscientious or through natural immunity, are included in Maternity and Child Care Payment Acts 1997, and 1998. School is compulsory, vaccination is not. In fact, it is normal and beneficial for children to have these early childhood diseases. "Suppressing measles fever and rash by vaccination leads to cancer and degenerative diseases of bone and cartilage," Lancet September, 1985. You are not bound to have your child vaccinated for them to be eligible to attend school. A vaccination certificate may be required, but is not essential. If you choose not to vaccinate your child, then your doctor will fill in a simple form, at your request, which is called the "Declaration of Exemption from Vaccination". This form will advise Centrelink and Medicare about your decision not to vaccinate your child. And that your doctor has discussed this issue with you the parent, or guardian. Outbreaks of measles or whooping cough are of particular concern to the Health Department. There is one particular "safeguard" that has been emplaced deliberately to try to enforce vaccination. Which is, if there is a confirmed report of either disease at a school or child-care facility, there may be a two week (or more) exclusion period imposed, from school, for unvaccinated children. But note. The Health Department only, and not the school, can enforce this rule. In some cases the initial diagnoses have been wrong, with children being removed from school unnecessarily. Pathology testing is required to enforce this exclusion. The Government blue book lists very little information, and excludes details about the individual vaccines. This important information can be sourced from the Australian Vaccination Network website www.avn.org.au or you can find this information in the MIMS book (accessible at doctors and pharmacies). - C BOHACKYJ, Towradgi. Crown St support IN response to John Comelli's comments in the Mercury (December 18), the Save East Crown St Collective did not object to proposed developments at the Dwyer's site or in Corrimal St because they do not involve the demolition of buildings that tell valuable stories about the history of Crown St. The "slums" referred to by Mr Comelli are rich in social and cultural history - a history that has been largely ignored and unrecorded. Development may bring prosperity and jobs as Mr Comelli claims, but unabated it can also create an amnesic society. The proprietors of Perey's Books and Santana Coffee have risked their businesses to speak out against an inappropriate development. Page 16 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

They should be applauded for their courage in the face of the vindictive treatment they've received. - LINDA PHILLIPS, Save East Crown St Collective Figtree. Subjects disappear EDUCATION no longer seems to matter to the University of Wollongong. As a second year Communication and Media Studies student, my classmates and I recently discovered that core, compulsory subjects needed to finish our degree are no longer being offered. This news was not in the least surprising. The university has a long and vexing reputation of removing and changing subjects at their discretion. What makes us students angry is that we were not notified of these changes, and given no alternatives. A little ironic considering we are being taught communications. The university's solution to this problem has been to offer "fill in" subjects which have little to no relevance to our degree, but still add to our hefty HECS debt and detract from our chances of finding employment. - MITCHELL JORDAN, Wollongong. Lack of respect AFTER reading John Braun's letter, all I can say John is, don't feel discouraged mate. If the president of the RSL, Bill Cruse, gets his way about bringing Japs out here to train and it is passed by the Government, there will be so many vacancies in the RSL they will gladly accept anyone. I am stunned, horrified and disgusted that the president of the RSL could suggest such a thing. The hundreds of thousands of young men lying dead in the jungles and at the bottom of the ocean would be turning in their graves. They gave their lives to stop these creatures from taking Australia, for what? If they are allowed to rise again (the Japanese) believe me they will sneak attack again, go anywhere in Australia and you will never see a Jap without a camera - we all know why, except the stupid government leaders evidently. If the president of the RSL gets this passed, I will send you my badge or just go through the garbage bins and you will get thousands of them. - FRANK BURKE, ex RAN, Nowra. Document ILM0000020041227e0cr0000t

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GENERAL Jabs may alienate parents, say doctors HOW MANY DO WE NEED? CATHY O'LEARY 601 words 21 September 2004 The West Australian TWAU COUNTRY 4 English (c) 2004, West Australian Newspapers Limited The push to vaccinate babies against twice as many diseases as a decade ago could be alienating parents by disease-mongering, according to some doctors. They are worried they could lose public support for the program that protects children from a range of potentially killer diseases if parents decide immunisation is getting out of hand. In the past 12 years, the number of recommended vaccines has swelled from seven to 12. The traditional diseases - measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio - hav e been joined by hepatitis B, chicken pox, pneumococcal, meningococcal C and Haemophilus influenzae type B. This can mean babies getting up to three injections at a time, prompting the development of more combination vaccines to stop children becoming human pin cushions. Australia's first six-in-one vaccine was released last week but is not funded. There is speculation already about a nine-in-one vaccine being tested in the United States. But cracks are already appearing, with figures from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register showing that only two-thirds of 12-month-old babies eligible for meningococcal C vaccine have had the jab, despite it being free. This compares to rates of over 90 per cent for babies vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. Dr Rosemary Lester, the chairwoman of the register's management committee, has warned that parents might be put off having to give their one-year-old babies an extra injection for meningococcal. A survey published in Australian Family Physician found that nearly half of parents with children who had missed some of their shots disagreed with immunisation. Those who disagreed or had concerns about immunisation were more likely to have a university degree and many were worried about the safety of vac~cines or felt the risk posed by the disease was too low to warrant another injection. Australian Vaccination Network president Meryl Dorey, a critic of the immunisation program, said parents were becoming fed up with the ever-increasing number of vaccines they were being asked to give their children. "There is a lot of concern about the combination vaccines and many people are asking how far do they go to protect their children from every possible disease," she said. Perth GP Joe Kosterich said there was the risk of killing the goose that laid the golden egg by "diseasemongering". "It's one thing to have immunisation for diseases like tetanus and rubella where the risks are high but you really have to question about the need for vaccines for chicken pox where the fatalities or serious complications are low," he said. "If people start to weigh up the risk of adverse reactions against the likely benefit they might decide to take their chances and go without." Health Department communicable diseases director Shirley Bowen said she accepted that GPs and parents were questioning the need for so many injections. Some people believed that while a disease like meningococcal C was serious, the chances of getting it was small. "Multi-vaccines are going to be the future if we are to keep parents and GPs on side," she said. "But the Page 18 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

Commonwealth holds the purse strings and we won't be able to go much further until more combination vaccines are funded." Vaccines recommended for babies in 1990: Measles Mumps Rubella Whooping cough Oral polio Tetanus Diphtheria Vaccines recommended in 2004: Measles Mumps Rubella Whooping cough Injectable polio Tetanus Diphtheria Pneumococcal Meningococcal C Haemophilus influenzae type B Hepatitis B Chicken pox SOURCE: AUSTRALIAN STANDARD VACCINATION SCHEDULE Document TWAU000020040921e09l0004v

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Thorny anthrax vaccine claims PAUL POTTINGER 429 words 22 February 2004 Sunday Tasmanian SUNTAS 155 English (c) 2004 Davies Brothers Limited. AUSTRALIAN Army personnel were injected with out of date anthrax vaccine containing the carcinogen formaldeheyde during the lead up to the Sydney Olympics, according to an army medical officer. In a submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Major Brett Laboo said he had suffered ongoing health problems that had resulted in his being put on lighter duties for medical reasons. Major Laboo's claim is significant because it dates from 2000, almost two years year earlier than other reported cases of side effects from vaccines. The scope of the vaccine problem and the numbers of military personnel affected may therefore be greater than previously thought. Major Laboo said that almost immediately upon receiving two of a planned six vaccinations against the deadly germ warfare agent in March 2000, he was wracked by sneezing and coughing so violent that he ruptured a disc in his back. Major Laboo said he also suffers from a chronic viral ear infection and protracted fatigue consistent with an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Major Laboo said he was one of about 30 soldiers at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane to be vaccinated against anthrax. "The medical officer did not tell us the vaccine contained a suspected carcinogen [formaldeheyde], nor that it was out of date, nor that there were over 150 adverse reactions already recorded in the USA." Major Laboo later discovered that formaldeheyde was used as a preservative in the vaccine. It is a standard additive, according to the Australian Vaccination Network, a lobby group that campaigns on issues related to vaccines. Meryl Dorey, vice president of the network, said yesterday formaldeheyde was a "poison". "There is no safe level," she said. "It should never be injected into the human body." The vaccine, which must be kept between two and eight degrees centigrade, had been transported in a small styrofoam esky. After his first vaccination, Major Laboo said he requested the box and vaccine vial. "It was at that time that I realised that the vaccine was out of date," he said. "So I asked the army medical assistant about it and I recall her saying something like, `Don't worry about it, sir, it's alright'." Last week Air Commodore Tony Austin acknowledged the submission before the the Senate's estimates committee but said he was "not aware of anyone who required a prolonged period of time away from duties as a consequence of anthrax vaccination in the ADF". Personnel currently deployed in the Middle East do not receive the anthrax vaccination. Document SUNTAS0020040222e02m0002e

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Army used out-of-date vaccines PAUL POTTINGER 369 words 22 February 2004 Sunday Times (Perth) SUNTIP 1 - Street 9 English (c) 2004 Nationwide News Pty Limited AUSTRALIAN Army personnel were injected with out-of-date anthrax vaccine containing the carcinogen formaldehyde during the lead up to the Sydney Olympic Games, according to an army medical officer. In a submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Major Brett Laboo said he had suffered ongoing health problems that had resulted in him being put on lighter duties for medical reasons. Maj Laboo's claim is significant because it dates from 2000, almost two years earlier than other reported cases of side effects from vaccines. The scope of the vaccine problem and the numbers of military personnel affected may therefore be greater than previously thought. Maj Laboo said that almost immediately upon receiving two of a planned six vaccinations against the deadly germ warfare agent in March 2000, he was racked by sneezing and coughing so violent that he ruptured a disc in is back. Maj Laboo said he also suffered from a chronic viral ear infection and protracted fatigue consistent with an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Maj Laboo said he was one of about 30 soldiers at the Regimental Aid Post of the 2nd Combat Engineers at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, to be vaccinated. "The medical officer did not tell us the vaccine contained a suspected carcinogen (formaldehyde), nor that it was out of date, nor that there were over 150 adverse reactions already recorded in the USA," he said. Maj Laboo discovered later from published sources that formaldehyde was used as a preservative in the vaccine. It is a standard additive, according to the Australian Vaccination Network, a lobby group which campaigns on issues related to vaccines. Meryl Dorey, vice-president of the network, said yesterday formaldehyde was a poison. "There is no safe level," she said. "It should never be injected into the human body." After his first vaccination, Maj Laboo said that he requested the box and vaccine vial. "It was at that time that I realised that the vaccine was out of date," he said. "So I asked the army medical assistant about it and I recall her saying something like `Don't worry about it, sir, it's all right'." Document SUNTIP0020040225e02m0008o

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Features The Debate Sue Campbell-Lloyd, Meryl Dorey MATP 393 words 9 December 2004 Daily Telegraph DAITEL 1 - State 34 English Copyright 2004 News Ltd. All Rights Reserved SHOULD parents be overly concerned about their children reacting to immunisations? NO PARENTS can be assured the benefits of immunisation far outweigh any risk that is associated with vaccines. Immunisation very rarely causes serious side effects. Parents should not forget the effects of diseases we protect children from like whooping cough, meningococcal C, measles and polio are far worse than any potential reaction to a vaccine. More than 90 per cent of young people in NSW have been vaccinated against a range of childhood diseases. This not only protects them, but also the health of the community by stopping the spread of these illnesses. Immunisation has been repeatedly demonstrated in research and in practice to be one of the most effective medical interventions we have to prevent disease. The World Health Organisation ranks immunisation as one the top medical breakthroughs of the 20th century. It has been estimated that immunisations currently save three million lives a year throughout the world while remaining one of the most cost-effective health measures. No child should be denied the benefits of immunisation. * Sue Campbell-Lloyd is NSW Health Immunisation manager YES PARENTS always should be concerned about the risks associated with vaccines. Vaccination is a medical procedure and, like all such procedures, it has been associated with a wide range of reactions, serious and mild. According to the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee, only between 1 per cent and 10 per cent of all vaccine reactions are reported. This means that the safety data on vaccines is at least 90 per cent to 99 per cent incorrect. Doctors may say that the risk of brain swelling after measles vaccination is one in a million. What that means however, is that the reported rate is one in a million. Parents need to balance risks of the disease with risks of the vaccine. How can they do that when the Therapeutic Goods Administration does no independent testing before vaccines are approved; when no vaccine has ever been subjected to a true double-blind placebo study for safety and effectiveness; and when doctors are taught vaccines only cause mild reactions so when they see an actual serious event, they don't associate it with the vaccine? * Meryl Dorey is president of Australian Vaccination Network [DTM_T-20041209-1-034-341654 ] Page 22 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

Document DAITEL0020041208e0c900026

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GENERAL Jabs may alienate parents, say doctors HOW MANY DO WE NEED? CATHY O'LEARY 596 words 21 September 2004 The West Australian TWAU METRO 4 English (c) 2004, West Australian Newspapers Limited The push to vaccinate babies against twice as many diseases as a decade ago could be alienating parents, according to some doctors. They are worried they could lose public support for the program that protects children from a range of potentially killer diseases if parents decide immunisation is going too far. In the past 12 years, the number of recommended vaccines has swelled from seven to 12. The traditional diseases - measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio - hav e been joined by hepatitis B, chicken pox, pneumococcal, meningococcal C and Haemophilus influenzae type B. This can mean babies getting up to three injections at a time, prompting the development of more combination vaccines to stop children becoming human pin cushions. Australia's first six-in-one vaccine was released last week but is not funded. There is speculation already about a nine-in-one vaccine being tested in the United States. But cracks are already appearing, with figures from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register showing that only two-thirds of 12-month-old babies eligible for meningococcal C vaccine have had the jab, despite it being free. This compares to rates of over 90 per cent for babies vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. Dr Rosemary Lester, chairwoman of the register's management committee, has warned that parents might be put off having to give their one-year-old babies an extra injection for meningococcal. A survey published in Australian Family Physician found that nearly half of parents with children who had missed some of their shots disagreed with immunisation. Those who disagreed or had concerns about immunisation were more likely to have a university degree and many were worried about the safety of vaccines or felt the risk p~osed by the disease was too low to warrant another injection. Australian Vaccination Network president Meryl Dorey, a critic of the immunisation program, said parents were becoming fed up with the ever-increasing number of vaccines they were being asked to give their children. "There is a lot of concern about the combination vaccines and many people are asking how far do they go to protect their children from every possible disease," she said. Perth GP Joe Kosterich said there was the risk of killing the goose that laid the golden egg by "diseasemongering". "It's one thing to have immunisation for diseases like tetanus and rubella where the risks are high but you really have to question about the need for vaccines for chicken pox where the fatalities or serious complications are low," he said. "If people start to weigh up the risk of adverse reactions against the likely benefit they might decide to take their chances and go without." Health Department communicable diseases director Shirley Bowen said she accepted that GPs and parents were questioning the need for so many injections. Some people believed that while a disease Page 24 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

like meningococcal C was serious, the chances of getting it was small. "Multi-vaccines are going to be the future if we are to keep parents and GPs on side," she said. "But the Commonwealth holds the purse strings and we won't be able to go much further until more combination vaccines are funded." Vaccines recommended for babies in 1990: Measles Mumps Rubella Whooping cough Oral polio Tetanus Diphtheria Vaccines recommended in 2004: Measles Mumps Rubella Whooping cough Injectable polio Tetanus Diphtheria Pneumococcal Meningococcal C Haemophilus influenzae type B Hepatitis B Chicken pox SOURCE: AUSTRALIAN STANDARD VACCINATION SCHEDULE Document TWAU000020040921e09l0004w

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Features;Letter Letters to the Editor MATP 3,202 words 13 December 2004 Daily Telegraph DAITEL 1 - State 28 English Copyright 2004 News Ltd. All Rights Reserved Surely someone must have seen something As a sister of Kevin Fisher, who was tragically killed in an accident on the M4 last Monday night, I must take to task a comment by Superintendent Allan Harding of Flemington police, that if someone had witnessed the accident they would have stopped (Daily Telegraph, December 8). I hope that, too. But realistically, I believe that no one stopped because people in the community today do not wish to become involved. How many times do you read or hear of the police asking witnesses of a particular incident to come forward, to no avail. Sadly, this is a sign of the times. Do we even know who our neighbours are? Our lucky country and all the goodness that Australia is known for are being lost by our apathetic attitudes. This has been a wake-up call for me to continue to take every day as it comes and enjoy life. This has been a tragic loss, not only for my brothers and sisters but also Kevin's partner and his adult children. We will come to terms with the loss, but there will still be the unanswered question of how it happened. I ask that if anyone was driving along the M4 last Monday night, December 6, and witnessed the accident, then please contact the Flemington police on 96468699. Sharon Weissel (nee Fisher), Glenmore Park Lose that sleigh On Christmas Eve, 1973, at Winmalee, dad took me and my sisters to the "Fire Brigade Park" to see Santa. The fire truck soon turned up with Santa on the back. He started calling out names and handing out presents. "Kevin Phillips," he called. I approached and he handed down a set of toy submarines with a clip-on motor. Wow -- Santa knew me . The next time I saw Santa with a fire truck was in 2002 at North Entrance. The truck had a generator and was all lit up with fairy lights. Santa, on foot, had a little bag and was collecting money. I raced out with my camcorder and $5. Even at the age of 35, I did not see a man in a suit -I saw Santa. "Here, Santa," I said respectfully, as I handed him the fiver. He posed for me to shoot some film. The money was for a child burns unit. Page 26 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

With the Easter bilby established, it is time to take the next step. On Christmas decorations, let's replace Santa's sleigh (purpose-built for snow) with a fire truck. Kevin Phillips, North Entrance Horrendous costs We need sound planning to consolidate urban sprawl to protect population health, water catchments, open space, biodiversity and the local food supply. But the NSW Government's plans to release land for development in western Sydney, at Bringelly and Marsden Park, means more pools, paving, palms and palaces. The external costs of the proposed land releases in ecological sustainability, infrastructure and transport terms will be horrendous and must be challenged. Lynne Saville, Chatswood Facelift scarcely worth the wait What a bore the Kings Cross Revisited Festival was on the weekend. I lived in Potts Point for 14 years and thought it would be interesting to pop back and see the all-new Kings Cross. But first, the streets looked little different after months of "work" -- same drab grey pavement (I'm sure grey bitumen is cheaper!) and little beautification and landscaping. Plus, almost every store owner I used to patronise had either left or lost lots of money during the makeover. And when will organisers realise that a few tacky food stalls and some not-so-well-known musicians do not a festival make. Hopefully, Santa will bring some joy to the merchants of Darlinghust Rd because Lucy Turnbull's "vision" certainly hasn't. Pity Clover Moore having to justify the final product. Stephen Cook, Bronte Absent foresight It is a disgrace that NSW is threatened with electricity blackouts because of the lack of planning and lack of action of the Carr Government. The last power station built in NSW was completed in 1992. As it takes at least seven years from the start of site work to the operation of the first generating unit, we could be in for many years of power shortages. The Government's solution is to charge us more for electricity. John Ferguson, Glenorie State's great As Maralyn Parker pointed out last week, not only does the private school system have troubled, dysfunctional students too, it also is exempt from the scrutiny of a centralised education authority and the transparency provided by the Freedom of Information legislation. As a parent of a student at Sydney Secondary College, Balmain, I am more than satisfied with the accountability of our state schools. Mary Bolt, Glebe Page 27 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

Star turn Elizabeth Fortescue reviewed the latest Egyptology exhibition now on display at the Australian Museum ("Deathly beauty shines," Sydney Live, December 10). Life Beyond the Tomb: Death in Ancient Egypt features Keku as its star attraction. "Mummy Fever" also enthralled Americans a generation ago. Visiting San Francisco in 1979, I noted a huge freeway billboard advertising a well-known liquor brand. Prominently featured alongside the bottle was the resplendent golden mask of the young Pharaoh, Tutankhamen. The sign carried a wistful message: "Welcome King Tut. We too are rare!" May Keku be similarly honoured. Mike Fogarty, Weston, ACT Simple fix for an old problem I continue to be amazed and disheartened by the writers describing the Mulan health deal as "patronising" (Letters, December 11). If the majority of children in my community were endangered by trachoma, I would call for such a simple solution, too. Maybe, besides having their sight saved, the youngsters of the remote desert community will have some pride in helping their elders achieve a goal. And yes, many whites, early settlers and stockmen, once suffered from what was known as "Sandy Blight". Chris Horn, Summer Hill Vaccine prudence The "yes" response by Meryl Dorey of the Australian Vaccination Network to The Debate question, "Should parents be overly concerned about their children reacting to immunisations?" (Daily Telegraph, December 9), is correct. This is an important debate for the health of children. Parents should be concerned about the ingredients in vaccines because, for decades, half of all childhood vaccines contained a neurotoxin preservative, thiomersal, which is a mercury derivative. Medical research speakers at the Autism.One conference in Chicago in May 2004 linked vaccines containing thiomersal with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. Details were given that autism among children has risen sharply since the mid-1980s. Some vaccines contain an aluminium adjuvant that is also a neurotoxin. Medical evidence is growing to implicate vaccines as a causative factor in the deteriorating health of children. There are now increases in autism, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, asthma, type 1 diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, bowel disorders and other health problems. Before vaccine manufacturers are allowed marketing rights to release vaccines, independent long-term studies should be done with an unvaccinated control group to avoid conflict of interest. Maureen Hickman, Brookvale Let him speak Page 28 of 33

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I have read Gary Burns's comments on Sam Newman, who has said that Sydney's gay people aren't welcome in Melbourne (The Debate, December 10). What needs to be said is that, while Mr Newman's views and comments do not reflect the whole community, he is still entitled to express his views. Gay and lesbian groups take over city streets for the Mardi Gras. They are out there expressing themselves and their sexuality on a broader community that does not share their lifestyle. However, heterosexuals do not want them prosecuted. Why is it that minority groups cry foul when standards are reversed? Maybe if Mr Burns stopped bringing such blatant attention to the gays and lesbians, then the more mainstream they would become. Graham Shute, Emu Plains Word power GIRNING Brent Richards of Kincumber writes: "Alexander Crerar (Word power, December 7) has incorrectly placed Welsh, Cornish and Breton in the Goidelic (Q-Celtic) division of modern-day Celtic languages. They are Brythonic (P-Celtic) languages." Will this be the last word on the matter? Stay tuned. WOWSER and SOCCER Dawn Bates of Dorrigo knows "wowser" is an acronym, but she does not know what it stands for. She also seeks the origins of the word "soccer", as football is called in this part of the world. Kind words I would like to express my appreciation to Premier Bob Carr for implementing the Premier's Reading Challenge. My six-year-old daughter, Madelyn, has recently completed the challenge, reading 40 books in 2 1/2 weeks. Not only has her reading and comprehension developed immensely, she was also motivated by the knowledge that she will receive a special reward. As a proud parent, my appreciation for initiating the program is immeasurable. Also, a special thank you to the Bald Face Public School librarian, Mrs Jacques. Jenny Metropolis, Blakehurst I recently enjoyed a Countrylink train trip from Taree to Sydney and return that was above reproach. It was an outstandingly punctual, pleasant and relaxing journey. Many thanks to all the staff. They spend a lot of time away from home, and this life must be taxing. Victoria Hobbs, Old Bar A big thank you to the wonderful motorist who stopped to help us change our tyre on Wednesday, December 1, in the searing heat on the F3 to Newcastle. Not only did he help push our car and fix our puncture, he then followed us to the nearest service station so we could inflate the spare. Our thanks and gratitude. Cathy Chiddy, Forestville I would like to thank the CFMEU for organising a great picnic day on Monday, December 6. The CFMEU provided tickets for three different venues. I chose to go the Taronga Zoo and my family had a great time. The union even organised for Santa to come and give lolly bags to all the children. Karen James, Sydney What's news 1 What reason has been given for the shooting attack on rock band Damageplan in an Ohio club, in which guitarist Darrell `Dimebag' Abbott was one of four people who died before police killed gunman Nathan Gale? Page 29 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

2 What legislation went into effect late last week in New Zealand affecting pubs, restaurants, cafes and sports clubs, as well as most workplaces? 3 Which Australian city has been handed the coveted new franchise in rugby union's expanded Super 14 competition, to begin in 2006? 4 Radio announcer Clive Robertson's contract has not been renewed for next year. Which station had been his home for the last three years? 5 Who is the author in the latest of the long-running Rumpole series, Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders? 6 Cate Blanchett has bought a six-bedroom house at Hunters Hill. How much did she pay for it? ANSWERS 1:It is believed Gale was upset because Abbott's former group, Pantera, had broken up. 2:The legislation makes all indoor venues smoke-free. 3:Perth. 4:ABC Classic FM. 5:John Mortimer. 6:$10.2 million. In search GOING SANE I am trying to track down a video copy of a 1985 Australian film called Going Sane, starring Judy Morris and John Waters. Am happy to pay. Phone 0413687902. RPAH RADIOTHERAPY DEPT Meg Pike nee Brown and Dee Chrystal ex White nee Clover would like to contact any colleagues who worked with them in the Radiotherapy Dept at RPAH in the 1960s, especially Catherine Costin (married name unknown) and Lorraine Moss, nee Andrews. Anyone knowing their whereabouts, please contact Dee on 43431903 or e-mail dolthedoll@hotmail.com.au HAZELBROOK PS Missing classmates. Seeking information from family members or friends of Yvonne Wallace, Barbara Howe, Fay Hoskins, Marie Edwards (maiden names) and Richard Tonkin. The only pupils of 5th/6th Class 1960 still to be found. Please contact Norma (Wymer) on 96706683 or lordy@bigfoot.com.au 1953 AJS (OHC Twin Porcupine) Recently I had the pleasure of visiting the Nabiac Motorcycle Museum, NSW, in the hope of seeing the above motorcycle, but was disappointed at one not being there. Would any of your readers know if one of these fine racing motorcycles was ever brought to Australia? If so, is it still here, and would I be able to view it at its present location? I only have a sketch of it in my Encyclopedia of Motorcycles. Is there any magazine available where I could see an actual photo of the AJS? Any information most welcome. Mitch Miller, 2 Bottlebrush Ave, Bradbury, NSW 2560, or e-mail mitchklmiller@optusnet.com.au CHER PHOTOS If anybody could help me with some photos of Cher as research material for a sculptor, please send to Lesley Pennell, PO Box, 46 Kandos, NSW 2848. CECIL STANTON Searching for information re 17th Infantry Battalion 1st AIF, 33rd Infantry Battalion 1st AIF and 9th Field Ambulance 1st AIF. My half-brother, Private Cecil Stanton, Army No 5087. Service records show he died of wounds suffered in action 16/2/1917 while serving with the 33rd Infantry Battalion in the field, in Belgium. Searched library books in vain for histories of the above. Need help. Please forward replies to Mr W. Stanton, 3/5 Iverison Rd, Sussex Inlet, NSW 2540. BEVERLEY COOPER Searching for Beverley Cooper, parents Wal and Gert, formerly of Regents Park 1950s. Have photos which may be of interest. Beverley Patrick, 96542224. Page 30 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

DOUG JOYCE I am searching for a Mr Doug Joyce and Elsa. I migrated in 1962 with Doug but lost contact after I had a nervous breakdown around 1978. He was in Oak Flats, NSW. Just would like to hear from him again. Jack A. Frazer, phone 62972218, e-mail jackf354@tag.com.au and fax 62972218. DEBORAH ROBERTSON I am looking to contact three girls with whom I went to Dapto High School and have not seen for about 35 years. They are Deborah Robertson, Sandra Stevens and Lynette Woodley. Would appreciate any information regarding these girls. Contact 0411063444. HALSTEAD FAMILY Would the person from Albion Park inquiring about the Halstead family of Lavender Bay please contact Barbara Willis, 25 Eynham Rd, Milperra 2214, or phone 97735651. If you have a reunion or are seeking information, send the details to In Search, Letters Editor, PO Box 2808, GPO Sydney, NSW 2001 or email us at letters@dailytelegraph.com.au. Include a contact name and phone number. Emails should not include attachments. In search COONABARABRAN HIGH SCHOOL Class of 75 (4th form/Year 10) celebrates its 30-year reunion on Saturday, January 22, 2005, at Coona Bowling Club followed by a homes and away swimming challenge at the pool on the Sunday. Contact Robyn Hennessy on 68422694 or Adrian Rovere on 0417424932. RSVP by December 31. MACQUARIE CRICKET CLUB, DUBBO The club will hold a reunion on the weekend of January 29-30, 2005, at Dubbo. The reunion will celebrate the club's 25th anniversary of competition in the Whitney Cup. All past and present players and supporters are invited to attend. Please phone Craig Dyball on 0437822141 or 68822141, or Geoff Morrison on 68827912. STENGERT FAMILY Descendants of Wilhelm Stengert and wife Louise (nee Munchenberg) are planning a reunion on February 19, 2005, in Manilla NSW. This would mark 100 years since the arrival of this family to the Attunga/Manilla area from South Australia. (Both Wilhelm and Louise's family lines had emigrated earlier from Prussia in the early days of the South Australian colony.) Families descended from this family line include the names: Hallinger, Warden, Jolliffe, Forward, Irwin, Knight, Battle, Swan and Abberfield. Anyone interested may contact one of the following persons for further information. Dorothea Vaux, PO Box 102, Moonbi, NSW 2352, phone 67603948; Helen Ajani, 26 Matthew St, Tamworth 2340, phone 67652437; Trevor and Annette Maher, 15 Southview St, Tamworth 2340, phone 67654507. O'BRIEN STAFF I am trying to arrange a 20-year reunion in 2005 of all the staff of Edward H. O'Brien Pty Ltd who travelled to, and re-established, the Papua New Guineau telephone directory from 1985. I request that all the 1985-86 O'Brien's trailblazers interested in attending a reunion at the Kirribilli Club around February next year contact Jim O'Brien on jobrien@synergyccs.com.au or 82747009. BIG BROTHER MOVEMENT We are looking to contact men who came to Australia from England under the auspices of the Big Brother Movement. We landed at Pyrmont on board the Strathnaver on March 13, 1955. A reunion is being organised in Sydney for March 13, 2005. George Bradley on 65825056, gbradley@ hn.ozemail.com.au or 40 Waniora Parkway, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444. MERVYN HENRY Quite a few years ago in The Land newspaper, an article appeared relating to Mervyn Henry of Trunkey Creek. I recently found the clipping and would like to hear from some of his family, as Mervyn bears a resemblance to my late grandfather, Samuel T. Henry. As far as I can find out, Samuel's father, Christopher James Henry, was born in Bathurst in 1852 and died at Burrangong in 1926. He had three sisters: Catherine, Mary Ann and Margaret. Christopher's father was Hugh Henry, born in Ireland in Page 31 of 33 2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

1807. Contact Barbara Brennan (nee Henry) by phoning 63823441 or writing to 3 Dairymans Lane, Young 2594. EDWARD KING Seeking information on death date and place of burial. Born c 1832 Woolwich, Kent, married Ann Ewan 10/11/1859, no certificate sighted for this marriage. Ann born Moama, Victoria. Children of marriage: Margaret b 1861 Wagga, Edward b 1862 Wagga, David T. born 1865 Wagga, Amelia born and died 1867 Hay. Wife Ann died 1867 after birth of Amelia (Balranald), Edward believe to have married a second time. Wendy Stalker, 96272198. INNES PETER MILLER and GEORGE EDWARD THOMPSON Bankstown Historical Society would like to contact members of the family of Alderman Innes Peter Miller (1840-1926), the second Mayor of Bankstown 1896-98. We would like to contact the family of his son-inlaw, George Edward Thompson, health inspector with Bankstown Council from 1909-30. Contact Research Officer, Bankstown Historical Society Inc, PO Box 928, Bankstown 1885. ERNEST HARDING I am looking for descendants of Ernest Henry and Jessie Una Harding nee Hedger. Ernest and Jessie were married on April 19, 1924, at Manly, NSW. Ernest's parents were George Harding and Edith Hilda Joel. Jessie's parents were George Hedger and Edith Turrell. Please contact Helen Smith at PO Box 386, Blaxland, NSW 2774, or 47393996 or smiths@pnc.com.au _____________________________ Mail PO Box 2808, GPO Sydney, NSW 2001 Fax Letters Editor, Daily Telegraph, 01-9288-2300 Phone 1900-969545. Calls cost 82.5 cents including GST per minute. Mobile and pay phones extra. Email letters@dailytelegraph.com.au Letters should be no more than 250 words, clearly typed or neatly hand written. Name and address and phone number must be supplied for verification. Letters may be edited. [DTM_T-20041213-1-028-764128 ] Photo Document DAITEL0020041212e0cd0001t

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News Soldier ill from anthrax vaccine Paul Pottinger Sydney 390 words 22 February 2004 Sunday Mail SUNMAI 1 - State 20 English (c) 2004 Advertiser Newspapers Limited AUSTRALIAN Army personnel were injected with out-of-date anthrax vaccine containing the carcinogen formaldehyde in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympics, an army medical officer says. In a submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Major Brett Laboo said he had suffered ongoing health problems which resulted in his being put on lighter duties for medical reasons. His claim is significant because it dates from 2000, almost two years earlier than other reported cases of side-effects from vaccines. The scope of the vaccine problem and the numbers of military personnel affected may therefore be greater than previously thought. Major Laboo said that almost immediately on receiving two of a planned six vaccinations against the deadly germ warfare agent in March, 2000, he was wracked by sneezing and coughing so violent that he ruptured a disc in is back. He said he also suffered from a chronic viral ear infection and protracted fatigue consistent with an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Major Laboo said he was one of about 30 soldiers at the Regimental Aid Post of the 2nd Combat Engineers at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, to be vaccinated against anthrax. "The medical officer did not tell us the vaccine contained a suspected carcinogen (formaldehyde), nor that it was out of date, nor that there were over 150 adverse reactions already recorded in the US," he said. Major Laboo discovered from published sources that formaldehyde was used in the vaccine as a preservative. It is standard additive, says the Australian Vaccination Network. Meryl Dorey, vice-president of the network, said yesterday formaldehyde was a "poison". "There is no safe level," she said. Major Laboo claims an army medical officer also failed to inform them that the "cold chain of custody was broken" or that the vaccine was not registered in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Authority. The vaccine, which must be kept between 2C and 8C, had been transported in a small styrofoam cooler. Last week, Air Commodore Tony Austin acknowledged the submission before the the committee but said he was "not aware of anyone who required a prolonged period of time away from duties as a consequence of anthrax vaccination in the ADF". Personnel currently deployed in the Middle East do not receive anthrax vaccination. Document SUNMAI0020040222e02m00011

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