NEJM Article Perpetuates Distrust by Mislabeling Victims of Vaccine Adverse Reactions “Antivaccinationists”
By Nancy Hokkanen
The January 13 NEJM column, “The Age-Old Struggle against the Antivaccinationists” by Gregory A. Poland, M.D. and Robert M. Jacobson, M.D., absolves vaccine developers from responsibility for product safety. Both authors receive funding from vaccine manufacturers. (HERE)
The vast majority of parents of children with autism have had their children vaccinated, but noted side effects. Parent observations have been ignored and the newest label of “antivaccinationists” adds to mistrust of the intent of vaccine scientists and federal government’s oversight. The transference defensively employed by Poland and Jacobson may reflect personal views, but has a distinct slant toward policies that would protect vaccine developers and diminish accountability for product adverse reactions or side effects.
The NEJM article is a disappointment to all consumers who continue to hope that researchers will transcend hostile rhetoric and investigate reports of vaccine reactions without causing fear or intimidation to families. Poland’s previous paper on Vaccinomics and Adversomics left us hopeful it could happen. But the current NEJM paper is distinctly different. The Antivaccinationists paper patronizes readers and re-victimizes families who reported side effects following vaccinations, observing and recording abrupt changes that have persisted, which create significant daily challenges.
Vaccines are a $27 billion global market that is growing annually, aided by the near total
Relentless attacks on the credibility of the lead author mirrors tactics used to discredit Dr. Herbert Needleman, the physician who bravely reported that lead was poisoning children. Poland and Jacobson’s not-so-veiled threats urge others to abridge the freedom of speech of vaccine safety advocates; such attempts at repression sound more like a pharmaceutical company press release than a scholarly paper. Indeed, that is possible considering JAMA’s 2009 estimate that 10.9% of NEJM’s articles are ghostwritten. Such PR tactics are described in books by former NEJM editors Dr. Jerome Kassirer and Dr. Marcia Angell, which heavily criticize pharmaceutical company corruption in medical journals.
Drs. Poland and Jacobson do admit that vaccines pose risks and cause legitimate injuries, yet they also claim that many vaccine injury victims are “substituting emotional anecdotes for data.” But there is very little data on the individual cases of children with vaccine-related illness, and none of the studies used to justify vaccine safety have looked exclusively at children with reported vaccine adverse events. And how can one calculate the actual magnitude of vaccine injuries if physicians don’t recognize the symptoms, or have financial incentives for denying them?
Unlike the E.Coli 0157 illness and many other public health outbreaks, there is no organized clinical investigation of vaccine adverse events. America’s vaccine-injured children have not been given the same attention from disease detectives at the CDC and other public health officials as non-vaccine related illnesses have.
As case reports to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System pile up and gather dust, parents who dutifully vaccinated their children are left alone to struggle with health damage, family stress, and financial loss. Those parents are not anti-vaccine, but with so little accountability of vaccine developers and manufacturers with regard to adverse events those parents have logically become mistrustful of public health policymakers.
The authors do suggest one policy reform – that VAERS offer a financial compensation program. But their reference is incomplete and unclear: Would a VAERS program augment or supplant the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program? Also deeply concerning is the authors’ failure to mention urgently needed medical treatment for vaccine injury victims, and research into the prevention of such injuries.
In their summary, Drs. Poland and Jacobson assert that “the loudest voices” should not decide what is right regarding public health policymaking. The truth is that families devastated by vaccine side effects wouldn’t make so much noise if vaccine stakeholders were listening.
__________
Nancy Hokkanen is the parent of a child with autism who suffered adverse reactions to infant vaccines and has a case filed in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program’s Omnibus Autism Proceeding. Since 2002 she has advocated for autism groups, and co-moderates a biomedical treatment listserv.
Dear Drs. Poland and Jacobson, You are like so totally right. You really socked it to those antivaccine guys who are putting us all in danger. Now, could you please go after all those ignorant, selfish doctors and nurses who refuse to take the flu vaccines. Ive heard that there are a whole bunch of them who do that, because the vaccines have mercury in them and dont work anyway- or some crap idea like that. You guys have such a way with words - Im sure those medical personnel will smarten up fast ! Go to it docs !
Posted by: Cherry Sperlin Misra | January 20, 2011 at 01:59 PM
Who is the uneducated lunatic here? The parent who refuses vaccines or the doctor who insists that no harm can come from a 25 mcg ethylmercury hepatitis B vaccine given to a newborn baby?
You dont do that any longer in the United States? Maybe not, but the doctors who know that this is done in the third world, not only are saying nothing about it, but continue to insist that vaccines are safe. Hello,Dr. Margaret Chan and your colleagues- Im talking about YOU now.
Posted by: Cherry Sperlin Misra | January 20, 2011 at 01:39 PM
What is causing the vaccine adverse reaction in not just children but the civilian populations?
I received a DPT shot as a child, as did my husband and although our parents said it did cause us to have a fever we got through it pretty good. My husband had almost 6 shots in 10 years in his twenties of just tetanus shot alone. At least that is what he was told.
Then the DPT shot start causing problems sometimes in the late 60's?
For sure problems were getting bad by the middle 70's and we have Congression Hearings and a Vaccine Compensation Court by 86.
Let me repeat my husband had lots of tetanus shots through his teen years and early twenties with nothing happening untill that one in the 80's a couple of years after my daughter had Kawasaki disease right after her DPT shot.
My theory is now it was not a tetanus shot but the same DPT shot that my daughter received.
In the middle 90's I hurt my hand at school were I was teaching and had a tetanus shot. I thought it was just a tetanus shot. I can't say I felt anything much afterwards, but I did start having headaches, and heavy monthly flows and finally years after the shot my thyroid crashed. I laid it onto stress, but my life was not any more stressful my parent's generation of depression, struggle to get out of proverty, and a big war. I am taking a heavy dose of thyroid while every older family member I have on my hertiage tree is into their late 90s with no problem or little problem with their thyroid.
Now that I am thinking hard, I received not a tetanus shot but the DPT shot instead of just tetanus - just like my son did when he was small, and he suffered immediate high temperature, heart murmur, stroke and seizures.
the NIH, the miltitary - DOD right out lied to the soldiers that sequalene was in the anthrax vaccine, even after researchers found antibodies for it in soldier's blood, even after papers were uncovered. The antrhrax vaccine was only a few antigens and squalene - no viruses or contaminants. All these soldiers had atutoimmune diseases, many symptoms are exactly what I would describe in my family.
I am tired of not having the answers. I am sick and tired of trying to guess if we are fighting a virus or an autoimmune disease, or an autoimmune disease that is allowing viruses - like weak viruses from an MMR shot to fester and grow!
There is something in the pertussin vaccine that they changed back in the early 70's and they kept it in the newer pertussin vaccine that they changed from whole cell to partial cell. I think whatever they added is also in the Hep B shot too, and maybe in the flu shots.
The only adjuvant approved by the FDA is alum - hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate.
Is there any studies ---ANY that they inject hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate into guinea pigs all by itself and what happens to guinea pigs, rats, mice, rabbits, dogs???????
Posted by: Benedetta | January 19, 2011 at 12:45 PM
The NEJM article says, "Today, the spectrum of antivaccinationists ranges from people who are simply ignorant about science... to a radical fringe element who use deliberate mistruths, intimidation, falsified data, and threats of violence in efforts to prevent the use of vaccines and to silence critics." What planet are these authors living on? I'm seeing highly intelligent, hard working, idealistic, good, educated, selfless, generous people advocating on behalf of vaccine injured children! Yes, there is anger -- understandably -- but for the most part chanelled into constructive action!
What a terrible article! Thank you, Nancy, for writing about it so well!!
Posted by: Twyla | January 19, 2011 at 01:53 AM
I could write a book why I am antivaccine, and have come to that stance not only by sad experience and first hand experience, but by these couple of paragraphs as well. By directly injecting the antigen, no generalized inflammation response, IgA tagging or eventual shedding of the
virus occurs. In other words, the immune response has no clear
beginning, middle ...and end.
As doctors give more and more vaccines to induce more “diseases”
artificially, a greater and greater part the immune system could
be forever committed. According to Dr. Harold Buttram, who
has been following vaccine complications for over 20 years, only
three to seven percent of the immune system is permanently tied
up if a youngster contracts childhood illnesses naturally. On the
other hand, vaccines designed to protect against the illnesses by
introducing the illnesses artificially by injection permanently
recruit 30-70% of the immune system.
No wonder our children have an increasing susceptibility to
infections, higher rates of life threatening allergies, rising brain
cancer rates and more immune deficiency syndromes. Their
immune systems are used up. And so, if we follow this line of thought through...that having the REAL disease prevents diseases in your future, your correct. And, if you think this is why your child can never mount an immune response against candida, or lyme, or XMRV, DING DING DING DING. Our kids are being set up for immune failure for their entire lives, but, more, they are being set up for brain inflammation their entire lives as well. Brain inflammation stops neuronal or normal neuronal development cold. It sets up excited, over excited immune response to self tissue, brain myelin, and organs throughout the body. But don't take my word for it, ask a DAN doctor about brain inflammation, gut inflammation, constant infections, hypoammaglobulenmia, AIDS like immune responses, thyroid dysunction, liver dysfunction, kidney problems, malapsortion, allergens, mast cell inflammation/mastycytosis, etc, etc. There is so much science that explains the stance of anti vaccine, it's not even funny. I am anti disease promotion, period.
Posted by: kathy blanco | January 19, 2011 at 12:51 AM
Garbo: "how have they managed to manipulate the message for so long in the face of such obvious and overwhelming suffering?"
Because the longer it goes, the tumor-of-ignorance grows. As more time passes, the suffering is greater, and taking responsibility for the disaster becomes increasingly more impossible. The stake-holders have much more to lose now than ever before!
Like Newton's third law, the harder we push, the harder they push. It will always be a draw; it's the law of physics. We both have too much to lose. But if you want to see them fall flat on their face, remove your resistance (educate others and take away their customers) and they will collapse under their own weight.
Posted by: Cynthia Cournoyer | January 18, 2011 at 10:25 PM
"And our ranks will continue to swell because we have an unsafe, unchecked vaccine program in this country. The damage also continues."
Very well said, Anne!
Our lawmakers need to understand (and anticipate) that soon, in the very near future, we will outnumber them. Our motives are pure. We have always had the high ground, morally, ethically, and spiritually.
We will never stop! They best not underestimate our resolve! Some ideas are worth dying for. I pray it doesn't come to that.
Those of us who don't vaccinate don't want to force our views on anyone - we just want to be left alone without being accused of spreading disease or FORCED to receive vaccinations.
Our position is not in any way "extreme". In fact, I would call it a moderate, well-reasoned, non-negotiable position - a position that respects everyone's right to medical freedom.
VACCINES CAUSE AUTISM
MAKE AUTISM STOP
MEDICAL FREEDOM NOW
END MEDICAL FASCISM NOW
EDUCATE BEFORE YOU VACCINATE
Posted by: patrons99 | January 18, 2011 at 09:38 PM
In the 1951 film Trial At Nuremberg, Spencer Tracy portrays a post-World War II judge pressured to exonerate Nazi collaborators. But in Judge Dan Haywood’s final ruling scene he makes clear that one cannot be excused from acting on personal ethics and conscience by ascribing atrocities to government responsibility.
Judge Haywood states, “This is what we stand for: Justice, truth, and the value of a single human being.”
Later the defense attorney gloatingly predicts that all the sentenced collaborators will be out of jail in five years. Judge Haywood responds, “It is logical in view of the times in which we live. But to be logical is not right. And nothing on God’s earth could ever make it right.”
Nothing on God's earth can ever make it right for vaccine policymakers to continue denying vaccine injuries and ignoring those who suffer from them.
Posted by: nhokkanen | January 18, 2011 at 09:09 PM
Thank you, Nancy for not allowing these authors to get away with sensationalistic fabrications. They can be added to that list of lazy, ignorant or cunning truth evaders that are called "the media."
It it is so wrong and we, the people, deserve so much better.
Posted by: Teresa Conrick | January 18, 2011 at 08:38 PM
Thank, you for this great story Nancy.
My favorite line in the NEJM story was this question...
"What can we do to hasten the funeral of antivaccination campaigns?"
Seriously? Does anyone in their right mind think any of us will ever stop?
And our ranks will continue to swell because we have an unsafe, unchecked vaccine program in this country. The damage also continues.
Anne Dachel
Media
Posted by: Anne McElroy Dachel | January 18, 2011 at 08:02 PM
Their whole strategy to use the media to villify parents, children, and any doctor who dares support them has become nothing more than closed loop echo chamber. The media are so blatantly out of touch with the reality on the ground, fiddling pharma's tune while Rome burns, that even average joes are starting to recognize that something's rotten. I'm just amazed they've been able to keep it up as long as they have. It really is the $250million question -- how have they managed to manipulate the message for so long in the face of such obvious and overwhelming suffering?
Posted by: Garbo | January 18, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Thank you, Adam M.
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | January 18, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Thanks Sandy for this article. Well said.
http://www.vaccinationnews.com/20110118AndTheyWonderWhyGottsteinS
Posted by: Adam M | January 18, 2011 at 07:39 PM
Poland and Jacobson essentially deny that anyone has been harmed by a vaccine, referring to "anecdotal claims of harm from vaccines" and "adverse events purportedly associated with vaccination."
That some people have been harmed by vaccines is UNDENIABLE and to suggest otherwise shows
"low cognitive complexity in thinking patterns."
Posted by: Carol | January 18, 2011 at 06:14 PM
Who cares what the NEJM thinks of anti-vaccine advocates. Who cares what the media, politicians or anyone else thinks of anti-vaccine advocates.
As one Anti-Vaccine Advocate we go directly to the public. Let them say what they want about us because it doesn't mean spit. We under-mind them every day by telling the public the truth.
Who gives a crap what they think. We don't!!!
Only the political correct care that are on the fence about vaccines and don't know whether they are pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine.
Posted by: Autism and Anti-Vaccine Advocate | January 18, 2011 at 06:08 PM
I do think that perhaps we have to make some effort to directly respond to these arrogant, bogus articles and publications. I admit to feeling somewhat powerless, but I recently heard someone say that congressmen, etc, are very sensitive to how many comments, or objections that they get on different topics. This may be true with NEJM. Perhaps, as one comment suggested, it is time to really write directly to these publications. It may have more reverberations than we think. I also feel that the readers of AofA are amazingly articulate--let's move some of those views a bit out into the world.
Posted by: Jersey Joe | January 18, 2011 at 05:56 PM
@ Kathy.
"it's amazing that such educated people can be so completely, thoroughly and absolutely closed minded."
This quote also comes to mind: ""... Wakefield "is not a scientist," Offit said. "He is fanatical." ...."
Who is the fanatic? What about all those people who excoriated people like Semmelweis, Holmes, Lister and Pillemer - just a few amongst the mountains?
Medical history is littered with examples where the blind (but supposedly intelligent) majority, consider Copernicus’s of the world to be "fanatics". Obviously it's not just restricted to medicine. Science in general has the same mindset, as Marconi discovered.
The military has the same mindset, as Barnes Wallace (bouncing bomb) discovered.
But I have only one thing to say to Gregory Poland, and all the other "fanatics" who have vested interests draped around them up to their eyebrows, and what I have to say, are the words of Dr Oliver Wendell Holmes (born 1809) in 1855 to the blind majority of fanatical doctors who indulged in “denialism, low cognitive complexity in thinking patterns, reasoning flaws, and a habit of substituting emotional anecdotes for data” and who continued to murder babies and mothers at childbirth, through not washing their hands.
He said:
"If I am wrong, let me be put down by such a rebuke as no rash declaimer has received since there has been a public opinion in the medical profession of America; if I am right let doctrines which lead to professional homicide no longer be taught from the chairs of these to great Institutions. Indifference will not do here; our Journalists and Committees have no right to take up their pages with minute anatomy and tediously detailed cases, while it is a question whether or not the "black-death" of childbed be scattered broadcast by the agency of the mother's friend and adviser.. Let the men who mould opinions look to it; if there is any voluntary blindness, any interested oversight, any culpable negligence, even, in such a matter, and the facts shall reach the public ear; the pestilence-carrier of the lying-in chamber must look to God for pardon, for man will never forgive him".
And he also said to his fanatical colleagues who continued their homicidal ways; “I do not expect ever to return to this subject. There is a point of mental saturation, beyond which argument cannot be forced without breeding impatient, if not harsh feelings towards those who refused to be convinced. If I have so far manifested neither, it is well to stop here, and leave the rest to those younger friends, who may have more stomach for the dregs of stale arguments.”
..... So from 1855, he refused to discuss the matter again. The constant slandering, pillorying and excoriating of Oliver Wendell Holmes resulted in one of the most intelligent andable doctors USA ever saw, leaving practicing medicine in disgust. In 1857 he helped found the Atlantic Monthly, and wrote a series of articles under the title of “The autocrat of the breakfast table”. He later wrote what has to be said was generally – mediocre poetry and novels though some showed his characteristic wit and brilliance of thinking.
Dr Oliver Wendell Holmes died in 1894.
So Kathy. Someone can be intelligent. Even brilliant. Even belong to Mensa, yet in reality be as practically useful as a derelict brick wall.
But when someone who is truly brilliant and who can see the wood for the trees, steps out of the conformed mindset, they are not only fanatics, they are treated as the medical profession has always done, to those whose work might reveal the rest to be fools.
And unfortunately, history shows that even contemporary medicine is littered with "experts" with conformed mindsets, who have a very high opinion of their own ignorance.
Definition of ignorance. Inability to know, that you don't know what you don't know.
Posted by: Hilary | January 18, 2011 at 05:28 PM
Doesn't it always comes to that foxes gaurding the henhouse quote, their reputations, their careers, etc. Obviously, if there wasn't one penny to be made on vaccines, do you really think this would be so pushed on children? That people would line up for vaccines? Really, really really? I think not.
I buy this theory...
The current working hypothesis is that XMRV infection of B, T, NK and other cells of the innate immune response causes the chronic inflammation and immune deficiency resulting in an inability to mount an effective immune response to opportunistic infections. "On that note, if I might speculate a little bit," Dr. Mikovits said, "This might even explain why vaccines would lead to autism in some children, because these viruses live and divide and grow in lymphocytes -- the immune response cells, the B and the T cells. So when you give a vaccine, you send your B and T cells in your immune system into overdrive. That's its job.
Well, if you are harboring one virus, and you replicate it a whole bunch, you've now broken the balance between the immune response and the virus.
So you have had the underlying virus, and then amplified it with that vaccine, and then set off the disease, such that your immune system could no longer control other infections, and created an immune deficiency.
Hm, why did that come about the SAME time as AIDS? Think about it people...this is an organized effort to get our population reduced, to maim them so they are chronically unwell for life (what a rackett)., and on and on the money wheel turns.
I am antivaccine not only because of the science which derides their "truth" but also the "aim and focus" is obiously not keep us from disease, but to keep us WITH disease. They have a vested interest to a billion dollar industry, and they have known for decades they DO harm. Thats like putting my kids into a PINTO with FORD retredded tires on them with no seatbelts while I text someone and ignore red lights. I for one, won't give one more damn dime to pharma. There is no possible way to green or make safe vaccines, ever. I have no interest in going against God's immune system design, to conquer and mount against innocuous baby viruses that can be dealt with, with good nutrition, sunshine, hygeine, not living in crowded corridors, love, a less than Western Diet approach, and full on homeoapthy and naturopathy. I am not afraid of the big bad wolf called childhood diseases. However, I am afraid of man made ones like Autism, Alzheiemrs, and the rest of the DSM book.
I am afraid of nut jobs that tell us we are less than intelligent (tell that to a number of us with PhD's), and that we can't see the scientific, er hum, or should I say, non vested/conflicted scientific facts.
Doctors are indeed endangerous, they are not so slick in the nutrition department as well. Great at sowing on arms, putting a pacemaker in, etc, but not so good with chronic diseases, cancers, autoimmune neuroimmune ones. Looking away is there best strategy, and or throwing more pharma coverup bandaid drugs. Hey, if I need an antibiotic once in a while (with great distress), sure, but for the most part, it's all crap.
Posted by: kathy blanco | January 18, 2011 at 04:26 PM
Patrons99 - I couldn't agree more. Chose not to deal with that in this column. Hopefully someone will soon.
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | January 18, 2011 at 04:02 PM
Poland and Jacobson say: "What can we do to hasten the funeral of antivaccination campaigns?" I say: "What can we do to hasten the funeral of Gardasil campaigns, and all other fallacious vaccine campaigns?"
Posted by: Not an MD | January 18, 2011 at 03:43 PM
While it is all well and good to discuss this here...go to the NEJM and DEMAND that the disclosures of the docs be discussed right underneath their rant. The reason...the audience...doctors are NOT going to click on the disclosure page to see what, if anything they have to disclose. However, these guys are working as paid consultants for Merck and just like Offit, bought this page and probably even signed their name to the ghost written rant. Call the journal on it. Load the site with calls and emails. That is what the oracacites do. That is what the offiteers do. Make them work harder for their paycheck. Insist they treat all authors the same, not just the ones that actually want to put in the science. They are the only ones who actually have to go through hell to get something in.
And, while your at it, call Offit and ask him if he cares so much for the "children" at risk, why doesnt he donate all his "lottery" money every year to give to third world countries where the benefit might actually outweigh the risk (oh, thats right...because then there would not be any lottery money would there?)
Posted by: vaccinesmakenomoney | January 18, 2011 at 03:39 PM
Sandy - Gregory A. Poland's disclosures are simply breath-taking in their scope and grandeur. He is VERY deserving of permanent membership in the medical Hall of Shame, along with Paul Offit. The Dark Lords of the vaccine industry belong in a rogue's gallery which include such notables as Billionaire Bill and the Rockefeller's. J. Craig Venter is certainly vying for consideration, too.
Sadly, there is no shortage of amoral, sociopaths, who seek to impose their will over us. Some of us may wish to opt-out of their global vaccine agenda.
Posted by: patrons99 | January 18, 2011 at 02:54 PM
Same old story:
Disclosure: Dr. Poland has disclosed an affiliation with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Merck & Co., Inc., National Institutes of Health (NIH), Novavax, Inc., Protein Sciences Corporation, University of Minnesota, VaxGen Inc, and VTEU/Emory University (Grants/Research Support); CSL Biotherapies, Dynavax Technologies, Dyncorp International, Emergent Immune Solutions, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Vaccines, Novavax, Inc., and PowderMed, Ltd. (Consultant)
Posted by: Sandy | January 18, 2011 at 02:01 PM
Apparently, Gregory A. Poland, M.D., and Robert M. Jacobson, M.D. can't read. And neither can the editors of the New England Journal of Medicine.
"The 1998 publication of an article, recently retracted by the Lancet, by Wakefield et al.3 created a worldwide controversy over the measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine by claiming that it played a causative role in autism."
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1010594
From the Wakefield et al. 1998 article: "We did not prove an association between measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and the syndrome described."
http://www.generationrescue.org/pdf/wakefield2.pdf
Posted by: Kristina | January 18, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Thanks, Nancy, as always!
Also wanted to let everyone know that I just published my response on Vaccination News to the NEJM article called "And They Wonder Why We Don’t Trust Them". http://www.vaccinationnews.com/20110118AndTheyWonderWhyGottsteinS
Posted by: Sandy Gottstein | January 18, 2011 at 01:33 PM
I'm anti-vaccine. Even people who think vaccines could be good in theory, should be anti-vaccine. Because a safe vaccine, if possible, is so far off in the future that it's almost not even worth thinking about. Technologically, it might be possible, but not in our corporate-political-scientific climate. And I don't see any signs of that changing. Just say no to vaccines.
Posted by: Kristina | January 18, 2011 at 01:21 PM
Carol - great comments! Thanks for the link to the Shoenfeld, et al article.
I would add that our environmental exposure to the multiple toxins in the vaccine schedules and mandated inoculations is a systematic exposure, i.e. non-random exposure, as opposed to the somewhat random environmental exposures related to stress, side-stream tobacco smoke, pesticides, plasticizers, fluoride, mercury amalgam fillings, etc. This distinction should and probably is, having a non-random, systematic detrimental effect upon our immune systems. There should be a dose-response relationship.
Dr Obomsawin’s mortality graphs demonstrate increased mortality in relation to increased number of mandated inoculations. See especially pages 26, 27, and 33 of the Immunization Graphs PDF file. Why is the cummulative incidence of IDDM increasing in the U.K.? Could aluminum and polysorbate 80 have anything to do with it?
According to the CDC, “Excipients are inactive ingredients of a drug product necessary for production of a finished pharmaceutical formulation.” It is so wrong to call them “inactive”. LD50's, both alone and in combination, need to be defined for many of them. How can a toxin ever be considered inactive?
http://www.thenhf.com/article.php?id=2550
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-1.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/b/excipient-table-2.pdf
Posted by: patrons99 | January 18, 2011 at 12:42 PM
According to the NEJM article, vaccine safety advocates (to use the more accurate, non-pejorative term instead of the inflammatory one used by the authors of the article) tend toward "low cognitive complexity in thinking patterns." In my opinion, it reeks of "low cognitive complexity" to be unable to attempt to convince people that you are right if you have to so quickly resort to name-calling. As usual, they are ignoring all the very intelligent doctors and scientists who also question vaccine safety.
The article also states that "the resulting outbreaks of measles and mumps have damaged and destroyed young lives". Adherence to the vaccine schedule has also "damaged and destroyed young lives." 1 in 100 have autism, NEJM, how many children have been permanently damaged by measles and mumps? Children with autism have been severely damaged; they frequently have gastrointestinal tract dysfunction, seizures, immune system dysfunction, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Finally, I am wondering about their sentence: "Syncretism between the scientific method and unorthodox medicine can be dangerous." The dictionaries I have define syncretism as: "1. the combination or reconciliation of differing beliefs in religion, philosopy, etc. or an attempt to effect such compromise." (The other definition given applies to philology.) I thought the authors of the article were suppoosed to be discussing "science"; did they just admit that their views on vaccination amount to a religion or a philosopy and are not science-based at all?
Posted by: Carolyn M | January 18, 2011 at 12:24 PM
The NEJM is a trade journal and is likely dependent on ad revenues from the usual suspects. Ho Hum!
Posted by: Theodore Van Oosbree | January 18, 2011 at 12:03 PM
The vaccine damage denialsts are on the defensive. Good. Let them scream. You can't turn back the clock and people are going to become more suspicious of vaccines and conventional medicine in general. Not less. This year's flu terror bombed. Parents are staying away from Gardasil. Even mainstream media like Vanity Fair and 60 Minutes are starting to question Big Pharma's practices. All they have left are name-calling and scare tactics.
Posted by: julie | January 18, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Kathy - Thanks for posting the link. The last line really sums up their thinking:
"Ultimately, society must recognize that science is not a democracy in which the side with the most votes or the loudest voices gets to decide what is right."
Notice how "most votes" is conflated with "loudest voices". It is a subtle swipe at the entire premise that the rubes actually get a say in how their lives are run. Vote in the last election? You are no different from some activist with a bullhorn or a Washington lobbyist trying to influence policy.
Fortunately, people seem to be realizing that the self-appointed experts don't always have their best interests at heart. "Science" is not synonymous with public policy. A PhD from Harvard Medical School doesn't confer the right to pass decrees us lowly slobs must abide. If they are so convinced of truth of their cause, then use their knowledge and experience to convince the public why they are right. If the public agrees, they will elect like-minded individuals to set public policy.
Unfortunately, that is hard work. It is much easier to pack the CDC schedule, pressure the states to mandate new vaccinations, lobby for repeal of vaccine exemptions, and call for regulation of "dangerous" (in their opinion) speech. Why try to convince someone that disagrees with you when you have the legal authority to gag them?
Posted by: Jeff C. | January 18, 2011 at 10:43 AM
I realize that I should have included the introductory paragraph in my previous excerpt from "The Mosaic of Autoimmunity" because it dovetails so well with the NEJM article which starts out talking about smallpox.
"Since 1796, when Edward Jenner inoculated cowpox material and prevented smallpox in 12 people, vaccination has been used as an indispensable tool against infectious diseases. In fact, it may be considered one of the greatest medical discoveries since it succeeded in totally eradicating some diseases around the world (plague and smallpox) and consequently improved the quality of life and survival of entire populations.
However, several adverse effects can ensue from the vaccination, ranging from local reactions to systemic side effects, such as fever, flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal disorders, and, in the last two to three decades, the most serious--autoimmune diseases. Considerable data have recently been gathered with regard to involvement of the immune system following vaccination, although its precise role has not been precisely elucidated. Several authors have postulated that the autoimmunity process could be triggered or enhanced by vaccine immunogen content as well as by adjuvants, which are used to increase the immune reaction.
A target for the occurrence of autoimmune complications is the central nervous system, with the appearance of demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions, e.g., Guillain-Barre syndrome and autism."
From "The Mosaic of Autoimmunity: Hormonal and Environmental Factors Involved in Autoimmune Diseases -- 2008" by Shoenfeld et al.
http://www2.kenes.com/autoimmunity/Documents/Articles/Mosaic_of_AI_Hormonal_and_Environmenta_IMAJ.pdf
Posted by: Carol | January 18, 2011 at 10:11 AM
"....However, several adverse effects can ensue from the vaccination, ranging from local reactions to systemic side effects, such as fever, flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal disorders and, in the last two to three decades, the most serious--autoimmune diseases. Considerable data have recently been gathered with regard to involvement of the immune system following vaccination, although its precise role has not been fully elucidated. Several authors have postulated that the autoimmunity process could be triggered or enhanced by vaccine immunogen content as well as by adjuvants, which are used to increase the immune reaction.
A target for the occurrence of autoimmune complications is the central nervous system, with the appearance of demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions, e.g., Guillain-Barre syndrome and autism.
Other autoimmune diseases that may occur after vaccination include arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, SLE, diabetes mellitus, thrombocytopenia, vasculitis, Reiter's syndrome, dermatomyositis, and polyarteritis nodosa. Other vaccines reported to be associated with the onset of autoimmune disorders are the following: rubella, mumps and measles; influenza; diptheria, pertussis and toxoid; typhoid; hepatits A and B; tetanus; Meningococcus; Bacillus Calmette-Guerin; rabies; smallpox; and poliovirus vaccines (practically all types)."
From "The Mosaic of Autoimmunity: Hormonal and Environmental Factors Involved in Autoimmune Diseases -- 2008" by Shoenfeld et al.
http://www2.kenes.com/autoimmunity/Documents/Articles/Mosaic_of_AI_Hormonal_and_Environmenta_IMAJ.pdf
The article was co-authored by twenty-one autoimmunity specialists in Israel, Italy and Brazil
Posted by: Carol | January 18, 2011 at 09:54 AM
“the loudest voices” should not decide what is right regarding public health policymaking.
I agree, especially when the loudest voices are those who promote, administer, produce and profit from vaccines!
Posted by: Tim Kasemodel | January 18, 2011 at 09:42 AM
I am beginning to think I should do with this label what I have done with my other label, take it and turn it into my strength. After all, I was never one to follow the herd anyway. In fact in highschool I went out of my way to dress in clothes that would make me stand out!
Why? Because I had creativity and this thing called a brain. I have the ability to think for myself! I don't trust any of these politicans as far as I can throw them, and considering everything pharma has put me through, that goes double for them! In fact I think this Groucho quote is their motto!
"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made."
Their only problem is that the veil is being pulled back from over their lies. As more and more people are exposed to them, I wonder just how desperate they will become. If calling me antivax is the worse they can do, well, that just makes me laugh! I have taken far worse than that and I'm still standing!!
Come on pharma!! Try something new!
Posted by: Theodora Trudorn | January 18, 2011 at 09:23 AM
“Both authors receive funding from vaccine manufacturers.”
That says it all doesn’t it all, doesn’t it? Let’s see now. Hmmmm. Does the term of endearment “pharmawhore” come to mind?
What’s the difference between Poland, Jacobson, and Deer? Not much, really. They are just shamelessly “whoring” for pharma. It is delusional to believe that they are acting on behalf of the public interest. Why doesn’t the public call them on it? Their disclosures are well-known. One need not speculate as to their disclosures. And these are just the conflicts of interest that we know about, the direct transfers of value. What about all of the indirect transfers of value from pharma, to the medical journals and to the academic medical centers, for their conduct and publication of pharma’s medical “research”? What about all of the so-called CME and medical practice guidelines that have been totally corrupted by pharma?
How many new medical school graduates have even heard of the terms zeta potential, colloidal stability, synergistic toxicity, microvascular ischemia, toxin-induced damages at a distance? How many have even heard of the self-organized criticality theory of autoimmunity?
The current vaccine schedules in place worldwide are effectively using the public to determine the composite, cumulative LD50 in humans for the combination of toxins and “excipients” in the schedules, e.g. mercury, aluminum, tween 80, formaldehyde, etc. We are the canaries in the coal mine! We are the guinea pigs for pharma’s Social Darwinism! They have not asked for our consent. There have been no warnings as to risk. There is no meaningful informed consent. It’s time to stop blaming the victims for pharma’s epidemic of iatrogenic diseases!
http://www.toxi-health.com/adversereactionstovaccines.html
http://www.toxi-health.com/falseaccusationsofsbs.html
http://www.freeyurko.bizland.com/albayatisum.html
One can liken NEJM to BMJ. Like BMJ, NEJM doesn’t want to lose it’s share of the action from pharma. The days of the so-called pretigious medical journal are numbered. It’s quite clear now that none of them can be trusted. With few exceptions, the last 30 years of published medical research can be piled up and burned because authors and medical journals receive funding from manufacturers. Ghost-written research publications by pharma begets academically-sinecured “experts”. These financially conflicted “experts” promote (whore) pharma’s agenda to politicians, medical societies, and the public. It’s a self-perpetuating viscious cycle, that has been in place and optimized over quite a long time.
Their use of the term “anti-vaccinationist” is simply an attempt to divide and conquer. We are not a monolithic, one size fits all group, in our opposition to vaccines. Some of us take a nuanced approach to vaccine safety. Some of us want to “green” our vaccines. Others of us question the presumption of vaccine safety, citing the underlying physicochemical, biochemical, and toxicologic effect of biotoxins on our bodies. Others of us stand on the principle of Informed Consent and application of the Precautionary Principle in all areas of preventive health. Others of us stand on religious principles which are found, for example, in both the Old and New Testaments.
VACCINES CAUSE AUTISM
END AUTISM NOW
MEDICAL FREEDOM NOW
END MEDICAL FASCISM NOW
EDUCATE BEFORE YOU VACCINATE
Posted by: patrons99 | January 18, 2011 at 08:54 AM
Here is a link to the article so readers can see for themselves. It is amazing that such educated people can be so completely, thoroughly and absolutely closed minded:
http://tinyurl.com/5sxc7ue
Posted by: Kathy | January 18, 2011 at 07:28 AM
Why is being called anti vaccine bad? I consider it like being called "informed, intelligent and free thinker." Call me anti vaccine all day and night, I LOVE it.
Vaccines are a hoax.
A friend recently had surgery and asked for a tylenol afterwards. Guess what? Because of the dangers, this hospital no longer stocks acetomenophin. THIS was the same hospital that gave my son tylenol many times in the emergency room. Doctors have always been wrong about everythiing but especially vaccines. Doctors are a danger to your health.
Posted by: Mary | January 18, 2011 at 06:26 AM