A symposium was held at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health today titled “Measles Rises Again: The Science and Policy of a Preventable Outbreak.”
Among the speakers were retired U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman, ABC Chief Health and Medical Editor Richard Besser and experts at the Bloomberg School, including Neal Halsey, Daniel Salmon, Diane Griffin and Josh Sharfstein.
The speakers discussed the resurgence of measles following full elimination back in 2000. With more than 600 cases last year and more than 100 people in 14 states infected since the spread at Disneyland in late-December, the issue is of utmost importance now.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
The whole conversation obviously centers around vaccine safety and acceptance. People spoke out on Twitter with #measles2015 during the symposium, and Johns Hopkins documented some notable moments during the talks. If all goes well, the anti-vaxxer mentality will continue to be broken down with pure evidence and activism.
Children whose parents exempt them from vaccines are 20-30 times more likely to get sick #Measles2015
— Joshua Sharfstein (@drJoshS) February 9, 2015
“The idea that getting the disease is better than being vaccinated doesn’t have much validity.” — Dr. Griffin (#JHSPH) #measles2015
— JHU Public Health (@JohnsHopkinsSPH) February 9, 2015
BioLabs Pegasus Park Cultivates Life Science Ecosystem
Gabby Everett, the site director for BioLabs Pegasus Park, offered a tour of the space and shared some examples of why early-stage life science companies should choose North Texas.
Fmr. US Rep. Henry Waxman: Vaccines are the most effective public health intervention in history #Measles2015
— Brian W. Simpson MPH (@briansimpson99) February 9, 2015
“The point of the vaccine is not just to protect your own child … but to protect the public” — Rep. Henry @WaxmanClimate, #measles2015
— JHU Public Health (@JohnsHopkinsSPH) February 9, 2015
“Propagating falsehoods about vaccines can have consequences. We’re now seeing them.” — Rep. Henry @WaxmanClimate, #measles2015
— JHU Public Health (@JohnsHopkinsSPH) February 9, 2015
15 million reasons measles vaccination is important=15 million deaths prevented since 2001 due to immunizations #Measles2015 @MeaslesRubella
— Luke Greeves (@Luke_Greeves) February 9, 2015
@JohnsHopkinsSPH @WaxmanClimate American emphasis on “individualism” sometimes overshadows what is best for all #measles2015 #IAMTHEHERD
— Nicholas Teodoro (@nsteodoro) February 9, 2015
Anti-Vax Parent Logic: Don’t wash your hands because the soap contains chemicals. #JennyMcCarthy #Measles2015
— Mike Oldfield (@TheMikeOldfield) February 9, 2015
