According to the Independent, health secretary Jeremy Hunt is coming under pressure to back the UK-wide introduction of a newly licensed meningisitis B vaccine which is estimated to offer protection for 88% of cases.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation will meet next week to revaluate their stance on whether the Bexsero vaccine should be made available on the NHS. Last month over 100 medical scientists and researchers wrote to the health secretary urging him to ‘act swiftly’ as it was ‘vital the JCVI’s interim conclusions are re-evaluated’.
The Telegraph reports that upping our yoghurt consumption to four and a half pots a week could cut the risks of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 28%.
The study from the University of Cambridge assessed the consumption of 4,255 participants – including 753 who developed type 2 diabetes – over 11 years and also found a benefit from other low-fat, fermented dairy products. Dr Nita Forouhi, from the university’s Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit said that while sugars can increase risks: ‘It is very reassuring to have messages about other foods like yoghurt and low-fat fermented dairy products, that could be good for our health.’
The Guardian launches a campaign against female genital mutilation today and includes a report that doctors are ‘failing’ vulnerable young patients by not reporting suspected cases.
Head of Scotland Yard’s FGM team, Detective Superindendent Jason Ashwood, ‘What we need is to get our people in the public sector to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities. It’s child abuse.’
And finally…
As first revealed in Pulse… RT @suttonnick Thursday’s Daily Mail front page – “GPs revolt on patient records” pic.twitter.com/fehkWhQJr0
— Steve Nowottny (@stevenowottny) February 5, 2014
