Every Child By Two: A Front Group for Wyeth

Managing Editor's Note: That's a photo of the board of Every Child By Two, you can click HERE to see a larger photo and a list of the members and their affiliations.  (10/14/08, ECBT asked us to remove the photo as it is copyrighted. We replaced it with a similar photo.)

By J.B. Handley

17 years ago, in 1991, the DTP Vaccine was under fire for the high rate of autism, brain injury and death it was causing in children. Lawsuits were mounting. In fact, DTP was why Congress created the 1986 Vaccine Injury Compensation Program in the first place. As Barbara Loe Fisher, co-author of A Shot In the Dark, a book chronicling the problems with DPT, said, "it is important to note that the vast majority of vaccine injury awards in the VICP have been for children suffering DPT vaccine brain injuries and deaths…of all the vaccines which have been routinely used by children in the past century, the brain damaging effects of the pertussis (whooping cough) portion of DPT vaccine is among the most well documented in the scientific literature."

On the firing line was Lederle Laboratories of Wayne, NJ, one of the largest manufacturers of DTP vaccine at the time. A spokesperson for Lederle was charged with working the press to try and defend DTP, mercury, and vaccines in general--he was the Paul Offit of his time. This spokesperson, in January 1991, was quoted in the New York Times saying, "Any chemical product, because it is a chemical substance, does produce some side effects. The current vaccine [DTP], as far as we are concerned, is a very safe and efficacious vaccine."

As we all know, the DTP vaccine was soon replaced with DTaP because of safety concerns.

So what, you say?

Well, there's more to the story. In 1994, Wyeth bought Lederle Laboratories and the Lederle spokesperson--the Paul Offit of his time—went with Lederle to the new owner, Wyeth.

This spokesperson, Craig Engesser, he still works for Wyeth, his job title today is Senior Director, Professional Affairs.

And, he sits on the Board of Every Child By Two.

When I watched CBS rip apart the conflicts (HERE) that vaccine promoters and vaccine makers have, I was left with a nagging question: who the hell is Every Child By Two? Yes, I knew Amanda Peet was their new spokesperson. I knew Paul Offit had recently joined their board. But, who the hell were they?

Doing some research, it turns out these "Special Interest Dot-Orgs"—SIDs for short—are nothing new. Unfortunately, the 501(c)3 code of the IRS is very vague on what constitutes a non-profit organization and there are very few disclosure requirements for funding sources any public filings nonprofits have to make. As an example, if you wanted to find out where Generation Rescue gets its funding, you wouldn't be able to. No filing requirements exist.
As you might expect, drug companies have taken full advantage of this murky area. To my surprise, the press has been covering this story for years, just not specific to vaccines. In a 2005 expose titled, "A little too cozy? Not-for-profits may have undisclosed funding ties to for-profit drug companies", Sacramento Bee reporters Dorsey Griffith and Steve Wiegand went after the practice:

"The public may be getting hoodwinked because they may think these nonprofits are independent," said Daniel Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy, a watchdog group that provides information about nonprofits. "But how can they do it independently if they are paid by the drug companies?"

Borochoff and other critics say that even the best-intentioned advocacy groups can ignite public fears about conditions that may not be medical problems, divert attention from more serious health issues and put pressure on doctors to prescribe medications that may not be necessary.

While some of these advocacy organizations begin as true grass-roots associations that later come to rely on financing from the pharmaceutical industry, others sprout directly from drug company seed money. And some are hybrids.

A Boston Globe investigation in 2007 revealed similar concerns:

But little attention has been paid to smaller nonprofits, especially patient groups that are largely funded by the drug industry. Public Citizen's Peter Lurie, who testifies frequently before FDA panels, noticed a shift as public hearings "were becoming contaminated by people who didn't represent the public in any way. They represented particular moneyed interests." Lurie, deputy director of the consumer advocacy organization's health research group, said, "It's a fair question: Who represents patients and how they come to call themselves" patient representatives?

In 221 advisory committee meetings scrutinized, 32 of 44 speakers representing patients said they had received funding from a company that would be affected by the FDA's decision, according to a recent journal article that Lurie coauthored about conflicts of interest on FDA advisory panels.

And, The Philadelphia Inquirer also posted an investigative piece on the practice saying, "Although patients seldom know it, many patient groups and drug companies maintain close, multimillion-dollar relationships while disclosing limited or no details about the ties." The Inquirer also explained that the money to support these nonprofits often comes "from the companies' marketing or sales divisions, not charity offices, company and nonprofit officials said."

Wow. Of course, none of us are surprised. Back to Every Child By Two.

In the CBS Evening News piece on the APP, Paul Offit, and Every Child By Two, CBS was unable to provide any details on ECBT's ties to vaccine manufacturers beyond a confirmation from the organization that they did take money from vaccine companies. But, it's right there in black & white, it just takes a little digging.

First, a little background. By nonprofit standards, ECBT is a rat-shit organization. With a grand total of 3 employees, a tiny office suite in a crummy Washington D.C. neighborhood, and an annual budget under $1 million, they are a blip on the radar screen. As usual, the devil is in the details.

Let's look first at their total revenues for the last 3 years (we only have numbers through 2006. Numbers for 2007 will probably be public in October):

Every Child By Two, Total Revenues:

2006: $752, 631
2005: $836,690
2004:$485,155

Within ECBT's revenues is a long-term contract they have had with Public Health Solutions, another SIDs which is a front for the NY Department of Health. This is effectively a long-term government contract that ECBT has had for years. Focusing on 2006 and removing this piece of their revenues, ECBT looks like this:

Every Child By Two, Total Revenues, excluding PHS:

2006: $513,011

So, the question is, where did the half million bucks come from? If you looked at their 2004 Form 990, you would never know. If you looked at their 2005 Form 990, you would never know, either. But, in 2006 something changed. Either a new accounting firm, a new accountant, a request from the IRS, I don't know. I just know the form is longer and has more disclosure. On Page 23, in black & white, it reads:

"Wyeth Vaccine: Ensure all children from birth to Age 2 are fully immunized."

And, how much did Wyeth give ECBT?

Wyeth gave $350,769. That's 68% of their non-contract revenue and 48% of their total revenue. From one company. A vaccine manufacturer named Wyeth. And Craig Engesser, a Wyeth spokesperson, has been on the board of ECBT for as long as I can track it. He even served as the organization's treasurer!

Every Child By Two. Amanda Peet. Paul Offit. Craig Engesser. Wyeth. Lederle. DTP. Rat-shit.

J.B. Handley is co-founder of Generation Rescue and Managing Editor of Age of Autism.

Comments

[Twyla]

Kim, you are hilarious!

[Becky]

Hey, I just want to know how they can say we're neglecting our children by NOT getting them vaccinated. They're poisoning our children! Of course we don't want them to have any part of it. I seen one comment about having our children vaccinated before age 2 because that's when they can't talk. You are so right! They get fevers and cry all the time after it's done and we have no clue what's wrong with them. It's a disgusting world we're living in. These children are vulnerable and they take advantage of it. I hope they get what they deserve someday. Does anyone know if we really have a choice whether or not our children get vaccinated? Can you email me: becky_n_bryne@yahoo.com

[angie]

Thanks for spending the money to make this link appear on my gmail page... I hope this reaches many, many more people who know a lot less than we do. Thanks!

[Lee]

Thanks for this site. No vaccines what-so-ever for me and mine. Unvaxed kids are much more healthy than vaxed kids and so what if they get the chickenpox and mumps? Much better than cancer.

[Linda]

I find this all very interesting. My son is 32 years old and suffers from severe depression (especially body dysmorphic disorder). When he was a baby and had the immunizations he would get very ill. He had the injection in his leg. It would get very swollen and very red. He always got a fever. He was given the injections in two parts which was suggested by his doctor. He thought my son wouldn't get so sick if the immunization was given in two injections a few weeks apart. Through the years my son has been diagnosed with ADD, bipolar disorder, depression, body dysmorphic disorder. He is extremely intelligent and has set out to find out what he has these mental conditions. (Some of them I feel are just a title and he really doesn't have them - such as the ADD and bipolar disorder. I have often thought his problems may have been caused by the immunizations. Has anyone else heard of this or suspected the immunizations could cause mental health problems?

[Alix]

OMG, JB, you rock! Age of Autism has the best investigative reporting, bar none. That goes, too, for the recent Olmsted article about the Wyeth documents showing they split lots to avoid having a local "outbreak" of vaccine-related illness, injury or death. Keep it up. The truth is out there, and this ain't the fictional X files. Hi to Lisa. (Maureen's friend, Alix)

[anti-peet]

I love your website, the truth will be heard! pro-vacciners read ROBERT F. KENNNEDY JR'S (DEADLY AMMUNITY) AND PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER, INVESTIGATE BEFORE YOU VACCINATE!

[Dana Sturdivant]

Thank's for all your hard work digging! I really don't think they have a leg to stand on!
Meanwhile, we all have severely damaged children to take care of thank's to the damn vaccine's and all of the underhanded cover-up's by the drug companies, CDC and everyone else that profit's...
Keep up the good work!

[Daniel Faiella]

We believe that the DTaP shot is what cause Matthew Autism!!!

www.recoveringMatthew.blogspot.com

[Jack]

So, per FDA's guidance 21 CFR 201.57 on labeling adverse events is defined as:
"(g) Adverse Reactions. An adverse reaction is an undesirable effect,
reasonably associated with the use of the drug, that may occur as part
of the pharmacological action of the drug or may be unpredictable in its
occurrence."

So, it isn't just a matter of reports being made, somehow it was considered that autism was reasonably associated with Tripedia (DTaP) for that to get in the package insert. I tried to find when this happened (it wasn't listed in the original approval) on the FDA website. It should include all package insert updates, but I can't find it.

[Craig Willoughby]

So, can I call this Craig Engesser the Anti-Craig then? Has a nice ring to it :P

[Kelli Ann Davis]

For the Record:

Craig (Not THAT Craig) -- YOU ROCK (after all, you're willing to hold your wife's purse when she wants ya to -- how many other guys would do that? :-)

Update: Gals - 2, Guys - 1 (because of the good Craig)

[Jack]

So, I found it pretty surprising to see autism listed in the post-marketing adverse events, but not that surprising. I thought it was just a technicality and that some of us had filed an adverse event and they were required to list it no matter the merit or the number or anything.

But, I went looking at the package inserts of other ped. vaccines...nothing. No other mention of autism in any other inserts. If it was just a techinicality and without any real merit, I would have expected that statement in all of them to be honest. So, something had to be different in the post-marketing reporting for this vaccine than others. I find that very interesting...and disturbing.

[Jack]

Holy crap, it really is in the package insert for Tripedia. Of course, this just means that a parent reported it to VAERS. But still to read it there was something.

on Page 11, "Adverse events reported during post-approval use of Tripedia vaccine include idopathic throbocytopenic purpura, SIDS, anaphylactic reaction, cellulitis, autism, convulsion/grand mal convulsion, encephalopathy, hypotonia, neuropathy, somnolence and apnea. Events were included in this list because of the seriousness or frequency of reporting. Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequencies or to establish a casual relationship to components of Tripedia vaccine (2).

The reference is to unpublished Sanofi data.

[alison MacNeil]

Wow.Roslynn Carter is keeping lousy company these days. Such a shame. I always admired her.

[Mother Knows Best]

I know many autism Moms who say, "I brought him home from the hospital this way." Yes, dear. You did. That doesn't make it genetic.

[Craig (Not THAT Craig)]

Kelli Ann said,
"This corruption absolutely sickens me and I hope Craig understands that he will ultimately be held accountable for his actions which allowed a generation of children to be injured and maimed."

But...but....I didn't do it!!! It wasn't me!!!

Ugh...why do I have to share a name with a pHARMa-slime (tm) who is so similar to Pauly prOffit. I's sad nows :(

[Lisa]

Wow. Thanks for doing the digging and finding out what we all suspected was true. There is no "public interest group" but a pharmaceutical interest fronted by a bunch of people who benefit by joining public interest groups. Amanda Peet? I cringe at the arrogance of a brand new mother bringing forth her one year old as an example of how vaccines are safe. I hope that her child (a girl, and therefore more likely to be one of the lucky ones) doesn't start to show the signs of all these wonderful vaccines by the time she's two.

Keep up the good, hard work.
Lisa

[Richard]

Of course every child by 2.After 2 years of age many children are verbal and can say mommy,mommy I feel sick and dizzy from the shot the Dr gave me my head hurts.When this happens the damage can be effectively linked to the vaccine. When the shots are given before a child is verbal then the medical community can simply say 'we are sorry your child was born damaged but it had nothing to do with us" and how do you prove otherwise?
This is why they do not want to spread out the vaccines because there would be lawsuits galore!!!!!!

[nhokkanen]

What's pathetic is that an inspiring group name like ECBT or V4V is sometimes enough to satisfy podunk state legislators looking to hastily make up their minds on a bill. Group enough of those group names on a letterhead and you might even sway the head of the health committee (yup, that's Minnesota fer ya!) who's too lazy to look at toxicology reports and the like.

Getting a well-meaning former First Lady to support your questionable cause is the icing on the cake. What a disappointment, but sadly understandable. Clinging to illusion is endemic in our consumer culture, and quite predictable from someone whose husband was surrounded by demagoguery.