Topic: Narcolepsy

The FDA has approved a GlaxoSmithKline H5N1 bird flu vaccine containing the adjuvant AS03 for the national stockpile. The hosts discuss the history of adjuvants like squalene and link them to cases of narcolepsy in European children following the 2009 swine flu vaccinations.

The inclusion of "caffeine withdrawal" as a mental disorder in the DSM-5 is mocked as a way for the medical industry to pathologize everyday habits. The hosts contrast the cost of a cup of coffee with the high price of prescription stimulants like Provigil. They argue that the medicalization of behavior is a growing trend driven by pharmaceutical interests.

A retrospective on the 2009 H1N1 swine flu outbreak examines how the World Health Organization changed its definition of a pandemic to fit the event. The discussion covers the aggressive marketing of vaccines, reports of narcolepsy in Norway linked to the shots, and the introduction of the "Dracula sneeze" (sneezing into the elbow) as a cultural meme.

Baxter International recalled 300,000 doses of flu vaccine in Europe due to adverse reactions, including narcolepsy and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Meanwhile, rapper Jay-Z is criticized for selling "Occupy All Streets" t-shirts through his Rocawear brand without donating proceeds to the movement. The hosts also mock high-priced "union-made" hoodies sold by Free Speech TV.

A new study suggests that Alzheimer's disease may be transmissible via brain tissue, which the hosts interpret as a potential setup for a new vaccine. Meanwhile, in Finland, the government is providing compensation to victims of the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine who developed narcolepsy. The hosts contrast this with US laws that protect pharmaceutical companies from similar lawsuits.

The hosts discuss reports from Northern Ireland linking the swine flu vaccine to narcolepsy. They also mock a California politician's "better safe than sorry" justification for banning the pesticide methyl iodide, comparing it to the FAA's baseless ban on laptop use during flights in the early days of computing.

The World Health Organization investigates reports of narcolepsy in children following the administration of swine flu vaccines in Finland and Sweden. Additionally, the European Union announces a safety review of the artificial sweetener aspartame.

The United States has joined a World Health Organization framework for global vaccine sharing, which involves donating surplus drugs to poorer nations. Meanwhile, the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine Pandemrix has been linked to cases of narcolepsy in children in Finland and other countries. Legal protections generally prevent pharmaceutical companies from being sued for vaccine-related injuries, leading to mandatory label changes rather than litigation.

Health authorities in Ireland and Finland have moved to withdraw stocks of the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine. The decision follows clinical evidence linking the vaccine to the development of narcolepsy, a disabling sleep disorder, in children and adolescents.

The hosts analyze a shift in the marketing of the shingles vaccine. After reports indicated low uptake among seniors, mainstream media outlets like USA Today began reporting a "short supply" of the vaccine. The hosts argue this is a manufactured PR tactic to create artificial demand, comparing it to previous strategies used for the H1N1 swine flu vaccine.

AS&E Corporation has been awarded a contract to develop backscatter screening systems for general aviation aircraft. Meanwhile, health officials in Finland have confirmed a link between swine flu vaccinations and narcolepsy in children. The hosts criticize the World Health Organization for targeting young people for the vaccine and promote "Nap for Humanity" as a satirical response.

A national panel in Finland has confirmed that the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine increased the risk of narcolepsy in children by nearly tenfold. Despite 52 Finnish children developing the lifelong condition, the hosts note that the story has received very little mainstream media coverage in the U.S. They discuss an article suggesting that manufactured epidemics are used for "demand destruction" and population management.

New law enforcement technologies include a laser-based "assault intervention device" that causes intense heat. Meanwhile, the USDA is training dogs to sniff out swine flu at airports, and Finland has suspended H1N1 vaccinations following reports of narcolepsy in children.

Lawrence Summers, head of the President's Economic Advisory Board, reportedly fell asleep during a financial summit. This incident is compared to the Japanese finance minister's recent public struggles. The G20 nations are noted to be coordinating a secretive response to the global financial crisis.