News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms July 28, 2008

News to know:

Kids' cell phones: Cancer caution adds to debate
Last week, the head of a prominent cancer research institute advised his faculty and staff to limit cell phone use because of the possible cancer risk.
The warning gave parents another reason to resist their children's demands for cell phones.

FDA, CDC back Gardasil shot as safe
After reviewing more than 9,700 reports of health problems, U.S. officials say the Gardasil vaccine is safe and effective for protecting women and girls from a virus that causes cervical cancer.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said the most serious adverse events did not appear linked to the vaccine.
Gardasil, manufactured by Merck and Co., targets four strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted virus that causes genital warts and most cases of cervical cancer. It is approved for women and girls ages 9 to 26.

'Most Prolific Mom' gives birth to 18th child
Livia Ionce, 44, gave birth to her 18th child July 22nd, according to her husband Alexandru. The Ionces are Romanian immigrants living in British Columbia, making her the province's most prolific mother in 20 years. Including their newest daughter, the family now has 10 girls and 8 boys. The 17 other children range in age from 20 months to 23 years old.

News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms, June 30, 2008

News to know:


Grandmother, 47, gives birth to naturally conceived triplets

Janelle Perry, a grandmother from Queensland, Australia, has given birth to naturally conceived triplet boys. Cooper, Kyle and Jordan were born at 34 weeks' gestation by caesarean section last week.
Doctors are "99.9 percent certain" the boys are identical. Perry now has eight children: four children in their 20s from a previous marriage, a daughter, Rebecca, 4, with her husband Robert, and two grandchildren.

U.S. panel gives OK to 2 new combo vaccines

A federal advisory panel endorsed two new combination vaccines designed to reduce the number of needle sticks young children must endure to get the recommended immunizations. The vaccines are:

• a four-in-one shot made by GlaxoSmithKline, offering protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, which is given to preschoolers
• Sanofi Pasteur's five-in-one shot for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and illness due to Haemophilus influenzae type b, or HiB. Children get four doses by age 2.

Cervical cancer shot not cleared for older women

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has not approved Merck's application to expand marketing of its cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil to women ages 27 through 45. The agency said there are issues which prevent approval at this time.

Jardine cribs recalled after 4 children trapped

About 320,000 Jardine cribs sold by Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores were recalled because four children became trapped.
The wooden slats and spindles on the crib frames can break, allowing children to get trapped in the remaining gap.