Health Highlights: May 1, 2008

ByABC News
May 1, 2008, 2:58 PM

May 2 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

More People Fainting After Vaccinations

Since 2005, there's been a rise in reports of people in the United States fainting after receiving vaccinations, according the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. The increase has occurred primarily among adolescent females and, in some cases, patients have suffered significant injuries.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration analyzed the data and identified 463 reports of post-vaccination fainting among people over age five between Jan. 1, 2005 and July 31, 2007, compared to 203 reports during 2002-2004.

In some 63.1 percent of the 463 reports during 2005--2007, fainting was associated with at least one of the following recently approved and recommended adolescent vaccines: MCV4, Tdap, and HPV.

The findings appear in this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by the CDC.

The study authors said fainting-related injuries could be prevented if vaccine providers follow the recommended 15-minute post-vaccination observation and waiting period.

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House Passes Genetic Anti-Discrimination Bill

A bill to protect people from discrimination based on their genetic information was approved by the House Thursday in a 414-1 vote. Last week, the Senate passed the legislation 95-0. President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.

The bill would forbid companies from using genetic information to make hiring, firing or promotion decisions, and would prohibit insurers from using genetic information to set premiums or determine enrollment eligibility, the Associated Press reported.

The only member of Congress who voted against the bill was Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas).

Proponents say the legislation will help ease people's fears about having genetic testing to determine if they're at increased risk for a wide range of hereditary diseases.