AIDS TREATMENT NEWS #138, November 1, 1991
John S. James
The flu season may be more severe than usual this year (although no one knows for sure), and the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services has recommended that "everyone at particular risk...should get vaccinated soon." We called the office of Marcus Conant, M. D., who has a large AIDS practice in San Francisco, and learned that physicians are recommending flu shots for patients with AIDS or HIV, except for those allergic to eggs, or who are pregnant, or who have some special medical reason for not receiving the shot. Most physicians in San Francisco at least are providing the shots to their patients for a nominal charge to cover the cost of the syringe, since physicians get the vaccine free from the Health Department.
If you cannot get the flu shot through your primary care physician, it is also available at public clinics in many areas.
Note that the U. S. Centers for Disease Control also recommends that persons with HIV have an annual TB screening, and a one-time Pneumovax (pneumococcal vaccine) injection.
** Sarasota, Florida: AIDS Treatment Conference, November 15 and 16
Leading physicians and other AIDS experts will speak at the third annual "Until There Is a Cure" conference, sponsored by AIDS-MANASOTA (a coalition of people with AIDS) in Sarasota, Florida on November 15 and 16. Scheduled speakers include: Marcus Conant, M. D., and Larry Waites, M. D., both from San Francisco; Larry Bruni, M. D., from Washington, D. C.; Bernard Bihari, M. D., from New York; Paula Sparti, M. D., from Miami; Dr. June Osborne, chair of the National Commission on AIDS; nutritionist and author Dr. Lark Lands; and Martin Delaney of Project Inform. Chairman of the conference is Peter Uitdenbosch of AIDS-MANASOTA.
The registration is $30 for persons with AIDS (many scholarships are available), and $75 for healthcare workers; this includes lunches on both days. Delta Airlines has special fares, and hotel rooms start at $25 per night.
For more information, call AIDS-MANASOTA at 813/954-6011, or fax them at 813/951-1721.
** Secret Treatment in Switzerland: Investigative Article Published
A number of people with AIDS have flown to Switzerland for an expensive (over $3,000) treatment by Dr. Josef Roka; the treatment consists of plant-extract products called Rovital and Carciviren, and also ozone infusions. The interest in this treatment seems mainly due to some very positive anecdotal reports. But there are also reasons to be suspicious -- especially the fact that the herbal formulas are secret, which largely removes this remedy from the scrutiny of the AIDS medical and research community. The information which people would need in order to evaluate this treatment has not been available.
On October 24 the San Francisco Bay Times published an in- depth article on Dr. Roka's treatment by reporter Tim Kingston, who contacted AIDS experts throughout the United States and abroad (Dr. Roka himself refused to discuss the treatment with Mr. Kingston, or to answer questions faxed to his office). The article begins and ends without preconceived conclusions, but it raises many questions. We still do not have answers, but at least an overview of the little information which has reached the AIDS community is now available.
For a copy of "Cure or Quackery? Dr. Roka's Secret Swiss HIV Treatment" send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Tim Kingston, San Francisco Bay Times, 288 7th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.
** San Francisco: Early Intervention Center Opens
The Center for Positive Care, a collaborative effort of 16 different AIDS agencies, has opened an early-intervention resource center for anyone who is HIV-positive, but targeting especially those who have been under-served, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, those who do not speak English, injection drug users, youth, undocumented immigrants, those without health insurance, and the homeless. Funding is provided in part by the agencies and in part by the San Francisco Department of Health.
Services include anonymous HIV testing, case management, client advocacy, benefits counseling, health and psychosocial counseling, crisis intervention, seminars and information workshops on early treatment, clinical trials, nutrition, etc., and referrals to medical, substance-abuse, and other services. The center includes a library, developed with assistance from AIDS TREATMENT NEWS. All services are multilingual.
There has been some controversy about the center, since due to funding limitations it does not include medical treatment, but must refer clients to treatment elsewhere.
The agencies providing services are: AIDS Benefits Counselors, AIDS Health Project of the University of California San Francisco, AIDS Indigent Direct Services, American Indian AIDS Institute, California Prostitutes Education Project, Community United in Response to AIDS/SIDA, Early Advocacy and Care for HIV (EACH), 18th Street Services, Filipino Task Force on AIDS, Gay Asian Pacific Alliance Community HIV Project, Glide- Goodlet AIDS Project, Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, National Task Force on AIDS Prevention, Perinatal HIV Reduction & Education Demonstration Activity, Project AHEAD/Special Programs for Youth, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
For more information, call the Center for Positive Care at 415/476-3644, or visit the Center at 3180 18th Street (near Folsom) in San Francisco. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, noon to 8 on Tuesday, and 9 to 5 on Saturday.
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