Universal Flu Vaccine Shows Promise in Mouse Study
A study in mice shows that a new flu vaccine may help guard against many influenza types, though it's probably several years from becoming available for human use, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Experiments indicate that the vaccine was useful even against flu strains that mutate. The vaccine was developed by researchers at Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, chemical maker NOF Corp., Hokkaido University, and Saitama Medical University—all working under the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry in Japan. The team developed the vaccine by targeting proteins inside the flu virus because those proteins don't change much over time; it focused on three strains of the flu: the H5N1 bird flu, Hong Kong A, and the Soviet A types, the Mercury News reports. Earlier flu vaccines were created by targeting proteins on the virus's outer surface, and the shape of those proteins varies between different types of flu. And because the proteins can rapidly change shape, new vaccines must be created annually.
The universal flu shot may be a long way from commercial availability, since it hasn't been tested in humans, so annual flu vaccinations are still recommended to help prevent the flu. Last year's flu vaccine was a poor match for circulating strains of the flu, but health officials note that it is still worth being vaccinated during such years, because doing so may keep you from getting as sick as you would otherwise and may shorten the duration of your illness if you do get sick. If you're a parent, explore U.S. News's Deborah Kotz's take on whether flu vaccines are necessary for kids. Her colleague Nancy Shute also offers advice on whether you should vaccinate your child against the flu and explains how to keep your family safe from bird flu.
Obama's Stance on the Legalization of Marijuana
President Barack Obama recently made it clear that he is against legalizing marijuana. His message was delivered on his website, Change.gov, even before he placed his hand on the Lincoln Bible. Among the thousands of possible actions voted upon on the website by the public, legalization of marijuana ranked as Priority No. 1. Yes, even above stem cell research, the war in Iraq, and Wall Street bailouts, Bernadine Healy reports. Obama's prompt "No" to the query "Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion-dollar industry right here in the U.S.?" dashed the hopes of many who thought our young, hip, new president—who long ago dabbled in the stuff and, by his own admission, inhaled—would come to marijuana's rescue.
Scientific research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and elsewhere leaves little doubt that marijuana abuse is bad for brains, particularly younger ones. The heart can also be stressed by marijuana, which elevates levels of the triglycerides that contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. And here are 10 questions kids have about marijuana (and 6 about alcohol).
New SCHIP Law Gives Kids Mental-Health Coverage
Hidden in the new children's health insurance plan signed by President Obama is a gift to millions of low-income parents: increased insurance coverage for children with mental-health problems. Before, 60 percent of the states had more limited coverage for mental health, Nancy Shute reports. The new law for the State Children's Health Insurance Program not only expands health coverage to 4 million more children beyond the 6 million already covered but also brings mental-health parity to the state programs that provide insurance for children in low-income families, requiring that they get the same access to treatment for bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and other serious disorders as they do for physical ailments. About 20 percent of children and teenagers have a mental-health problem at any given time, or about 8 million to 13 million people. Two thirds of them are not getting the help they need. Despite this, many pediatricians don't routinely ask parents about kids' mental health.
The need for mental-health treatment is great, but health coverage for these disorders often falls far short. Reauthorization of SCHIP is an important first step in making good on President Obama's campaign pledge to cover all Americans. If you don't qualify for SCHIP or other government health coverage programs, consider using U.S. News's list of America's best health insurance plans to help find a health plan that works for you.
—January W. Payne
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