To the Point
H1N1: What You Need to Know, What You Need to Do
As the US government prepares to hand out more than 250 million free doses of vaccine for the H1N1 virus, health officials are confronting fear and misinformation. What is the H1N1, or swine flu, as it's commonly known? Who should take a vaccine against it? By taking early precautions to combat the flu, has the government caused more anxiety than necessary? Also, Also, terror suspect, Najibullah Zazi, enters a plea, and startling news about the placebo effect. Sara Terry guest hosts.
By Sara Terry • • 50m ListenAs the US government prepares to hand out more than 250 million free doses of vaccine for the H1N1 virus, health officials are confronting fear and misinformation. What is the H1N1, or swine flu, as it's commonly known? Who should take a vaccine against it? By taking early precautions to combat the flu, has the government caused more anxiety than necessary? Also, Also, Afghan terror suspect, Najibullah Zazi, enters a plea in federal court, and placebos, or sugar pills, are making people feel better. Pharmaceutical companies want to know why. Sara Terry guest hosts.
Banner image: A dose of flu vaccination is administered during an exercise at TC Williams High School September 11, 2009 in Alexandria, Virginia. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesTerrorism Suspect Pleads Not Guilty
In New York today, a man suspected of plotting to set off a bomb near the anniversary of 9/11 has pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy indictment . Afghan immigrant Najibullah Zazi was arrested last week in Denver on charges of lying to the FBI, before being transferred to New York.
Read the story8 minH1N1: What You Need to Know, What You Need to Do
By early next week, the first batch of some 250 million swine flu vaccine treatments will be available free, paid for by the American government. In an unprecedented preventive campaign, health officials are trying to blunt the impact of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, as it’s commonly called. But symptoms are described as a mild influenza.
Read the story35 minBig Pharma and the Placebo Effect
A funny thing keeps happening on the way to getting new drugs approved by the FDA. Placebos, or sugar pills, are beating out new blockbuster medicines in test trials, causing a series of setbacks for big pharmaceuticals. Steve Silberman is a senior writer at Wired magazine.
Read the story8 min