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Primary Care

Vaccination against meningitis B: is it worth it?

Authors: Peter English

When a new vaccine is licensed having passed the tests for efficacy and safety, governments who have to pay for it to be used, as in the UK, will carry out a careful economic appraisal before making it generally available. In this challenging article, Dr Peter English discusses whether or not a new vaccine for meningitis that has just been licensed and that could save lives is actually worth it.

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Is ‘GOLD’ standard for the management of COPD in clinical practice?

Authors: Barbara P Yawn

Primary therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the removal of the toxic agent (in most cases, tobacco smoke). Additional therapy includes bronchodilators. Inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators can be used to prevent and reduce the risk of exacerbations. COPD is a systemic disease and often requires therapy of its protean-associated morbidities from depression to osteoporosis and muscle wasting. Despite pessimism from some, COPD is treatable.

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