Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Yesterday I appeared on Local TV Station WUSA – Channel 9 News at 7:00 PM to discuss the recent outbreak of meningococcal meningitis at Princeton University. Since March, 2012 that have been a total of seven cases of meningitis among Princeton students. Six of the cases were among resident students and one was a case from a visitor. The type of the meningitis was meningococcal type B, which is not contained in the vaccine that is distributed generally among students and young people in United States. The standard vaccine contains types A, C, Y, and W-135.. None of the students died from the meningitis. I will be appearing today on the radio WTOP to discuss the situation. The FDA has given approval for importation of type B vaccines from Novartis Company in Switzerland. It still remains to get approval from the institutional review board of the CDC. As usual HHS Public affairs has balked at my going on the media because they consider this a CDC issue. This time with support from John Burklow, we asked for permission, they said no, and I went on TV last night anyway. I am going to appear on radio this morning again. This is a turning point in our relationship with HHS who continue in a completely crazy way to rty to block our going on the media in situations that they feel belong to CDC even though the Media specifically ask for me.