CNN and Fox Guarding the Vax House
On August 27, CNN aired an exchange between news anchor Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta called, Vaccination myths vs. reality.
Sanjay Gupta: "[Measles] is very contagious. If kids are not vaccinated and they come in contact with it, they are going to get measles. ...And of a thousand kids that will get measles, about one to two will die of it."
Anderson Cooper: "And this misperception that vaccines cause autism has been around for awhile... Is there any reason not to get your child vaccinated?"
Gupta: "There is no reason not to get your child vaccinated...."
And the two of them continued to talk. Gupta infered the issue was only the number of antigens kids receive.
Gupta: "We used to do far more and we didn't see the rates of autism that we do now."
Cooper: "So people used to get more vaccines than they do now."
Gupta: "They used to create a more antibody response.... It's one of the areas of those areas of concern people have raised.... So the vaccines themselves, the schedule of vaccines themselves, the components of the vaccines themselves, none of these things seem to have a link to autism. And people need to say it that clearly. I think there's so much wishy washiness even among colleagues in the medical community: it's okay to delay vaccines. It's not okay because if your kid gets exposed during the time that you delayed that vaccine, you can get a very sick child from a preventable vaccine."
Cooper: "So why do you think this misperception is out there."
Gupta: "I think there's two reasons: one that there was this now widely discredited paper that came out in the late nineties, that made this astounding link. You and I both spoke to Dr. Wakefield about some of his findings at that time. He subsequently lost his medical license a few years ago. He probably had good intentions, Dr. Wakefield, but the science did not make any sense. There have been literally hundreds of studies that have looked at this questioning: Is there a link between vaccines and autism? The most recent one, ...looked at a thousand children, and this was the American Academy of Pediatrics, and really tried to follow these children out through years and put this notion to rest. And the American Academy of Pediatrics looking at this science...has been able to say that."
To the casual observer, it seems the science is in and non-vaccinating parents are putting their kids and everyone else at risk from a disease that could kill.
Look at what else these two have said about autism and vaccines.
April 4, 2008, CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviewed Dr. Jon Poling
Gupta on Hannah Poling: "Her case of autism diagnosis was conceded by the federal government as having been contributed to by vaccines. That was a pretty startling thing for a lot of people to her. ...
Jon Poling: "You bring up a very important point that the government, actually the department of Health and Human Services, conceded that my daughter's medical problems, which are autism, encephalopathy, seizures, were brought on by vaccination."
Anderson Cooper interviewed Dr. Andrew Wakefield on Jan. 5, 2011
Cooper called Wakefield's findings, "bogus data" and he said he "confronted" Dr. Wakefield. He accused Wakefield of fraud and cut him off at every opportunity. Wakefield told Cooper that the facts were in his book, Callous Disregard. Cooper said he'd read what Brian Deer wrote and he rudely told Wakefield, "I'm not here to let you pitch your book."
Clearly, Cooper was not interested in looking into both sides of this heated debate. He gave no indication that he'd read Callous Disregard or ever talked to a single parent of the children Wakefield treated.
Jan 5, 2011 Sanjay Gupta interviewed Dr. Wakefield
Wakefield strongly urged Gupta to read his book. "Please, I'll send you a copy. Take the book and read it. You will understand the truth."
I doubt if Dr. Gupta ever read Wakefield's book. In fact, he seems to have forgotten about his talk with Jon Poling. (Cooper seemed lost in the argument, as shown by the fact that he wondered if people used to get more vaccines than they do today.)
Looking back over the five years since the original interviews, things have only gotten worse as far as the press is concerned. Hannah Poling's story disappeared almost immediately and we certainly are never told about all the research raising serious concerns about vaccine side effects.
Right now the message is universal: VACCINES ARE SAFE AND UNVACCINATED CHILDREN THREATEN THE HEALTH OF EVERYONE..
It should be pointed out that back in 2008, the autism rate was one in every 150 children. Today, it's one in every 50. I'm sure Sanjay Gupta and Anderson Cooper aren't worried. Autism is never a problem at CNN.
Not be outdone, on August 28, Dr. Manny Alvarez at Fox News talked about the measles outbreak in the story, Texas measles outbreak shows growing battle between parents and doctors.
"This problem is occurring for a number of reasons. First, parents are relying more on information they find on the Internet, and that information is sometimes not legitimate. Anyone with a computer can voice his or her opinions in public forums, and they often blog about personal experiences that may or may not be factual. Unfortunately, the reader doesn't know how to legitimize the content, and that is why it's very important for people to go to trusted websites to get medical information, whether you're talking about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, or even Fox News Health, where we interview medical physicians and opinion makers that can analyze information in a useful way.
"Secondly, I think there is a lot of distrust in the health care industry, especially when it comes to pharmaceutical companies, which have been vilified by a lot of folks. Many consumers see the health care industry as a for-profit operation that is not properly balancing the benefit-to-profit ratio it is expected to maintain, and they think these companies simply push drugs that are creating more harm than good. And yes, there are examples of medications that have been recalled after causing damage, but we have many systems in place to prevent that from happening as much as possible.
"Finally, you have to look at the rising levels of autism, GI intolerances, asthma and allergies that children are experiencing. People are becoming increasingly worried that the unregulated toxins in many of our products - whether you're talking about contaminated foods or disposable plastics - might be harming their children more than they think.
"But this atmosphere of worry and misinformation creates an environment in which children may not be getting the medical protection they need - especially when it comes to vaccinations - and that's going to create huge pockets of problems down the road. As with this measles outbreak in Texas, some of the infectious diseases we thought we had under control are going to start popping up again in significant numbers.
"My advice to worried parents is to gain confidence in your physician. You should work with your physician in order to find the best game plan for your family. And if you don't have a physician you can trust, then look around and find someone that makes you feel comfortable. We have to make the patient-doctor relationship a high priority once again.
"Also, stay informed, but always double check the facts, especially if you read them online. But most of all, please remember that there are some essential vaccines that protect children, and you should always consider them as the first line of defense for keeping your children safe."
I always marvel when doctors advise parents to talk to their physician if they're worried about vaccines. What do you think the doctor who makes a living vaccinating children and who has been trained to believe that a one-size-fits-all vaccine schedule is safe for every child is going to say? This same doctor has also heard endless times from the AAP, that "studies show no link." This is the same doctor who just had a pharma rep drop by that morning. It's also the doctor who has never asked who funded all the studies that show no link, nor has the doctor ever looked at the mounting research showing we all should be worried about what an ever-expanding vaccine schedule is doing to our children.
No matter, Dr. Manny makes it sounds like YOUR DOCTOR is going to have THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH ABOUT VACCINE SAFETY.
I remember back in 2010 Alvarez raised a lot of concerns over vaccines and autism when he discussed the Hannah Poling concession with Alisyn Camerota.
Based on his own science, Alvarez claimed that it was just her "underlying mitochondrial disease--a type of genetic disease if you will--that got exacerbated by the vaccines."
Camerota: "Sure, but nobody knows how many other kids have that underlying mitochondrial..."
Alvarez: "That is true. ...Autism for a lot of parents...sometimes they don't even know when it really comes on. Was it right from the beginning? My son has autism ...at the age of two. Prior to that, when he was a year old, he acted like a normal baby.
"This is important. I think it's going to bring out a lot of interest because ... Perhaps it's going to create scenarios where we have to test children a little more careful before we start, sort of, giving them so many vaccines or exposing them to some types of diets. It's interesting. The funny thing is, nobody is saying that vaccines really created the autism. ..."
Camerota disagreed and referred to the "very fishy legal language" saying "it resulted in," instead of saying it caused autism.
Alvarez: "That's exactly right because they don't want an avalanche of other people...many, many cases have been dismissed, by the way. Parents who have sued the pharmaceutical industry and they have gotten nowhere."
It seems that Dr. Alvarez and Dr. Gupta don't really know what to do with a Hannah Poling. While they acknowledge the connection is real in HER CASE, they're quick to bury the story and never speak of it again. Instead of thorough, fair and balanced reporting, I guess we get selective journalism that only gives us what pharma wants us to hear.
Anne Dachel is Media Editor for Age of Autism.
Maybe when the autism rate is 1/25 we can get the government to declare it a national emergency or am I being delusional.
Posted by: Rich | September 08, 2013 at 08:59 PM
"Based on his own science, Alvarez claimed that it was just her "underlying mitochondrial disease--a type of genetic disease if you will--that got exacerbated by the vaccines."
NO, no and NO. Doctor Boyd Haley has shown that a single atom of mercury will disrupt the electron transport chain required for the continuation of mitochondrial function. Thus "vaccination" is an independent cause of mitochondrial disease. Like most disease it is INDEPENDENT of genetics.
“The “dysfunctional mitochondria” can cause autism as they are producing more damaging free radicals than normal mitochondria. Mitochondria made toxic by ethylmercury, released by thimerosal, would do the same thing as the tightest binding site for mercury in the body is in the “iron sulfur centers” of the electron transport chain that carries the ‘electron’ used normally to produce the mitochondrial pH gradient that makes energy in the form of ATP. Ethylmercury blocking of this transport chain leads to the production of hydroxyl free radicals by release of the electron to react with water. This causes oxidative stress and low reduced glutathione levels as observed in autism and many neurological illnesses.” Doctor Boyd Haley PhD
http://healthyprotocols.com/2_mercury.htm
Posted by: Lou | August 31, 2013 at 03:32 PM
Birgit, thank you. Dr. Gupta is a neurosurgeon, thus should take an interest in how the brain might be affected by vaccines and/or their components. I left a comment in response to his comments about the nerve gas Sarin at
http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/29/sanjay-gupta-on-sarin-gas-its-pretty-gruesome-stuff/
Why only 5 responses to this important issue, compared to over 2000 on marijuana? CNN states that they welcome lively discussions. I would like to see more on nerve gas effects on the brain, which are similar (but more severe) to neuropathology caused by alcohol abuse, mercury or lead poisoning, mitochondrial disorders, thiamine deficiency, anti-cancer drugs, diverse other poisons like methyl bromide (an herbicide), and asphyxia at birth.
Anne, I asked yesterday, but could you try to get an interview with Dr. Gupta?
Posted by: Eileen Nicole Simon | August 31, 2013 at 10:27 AM
The other day Dr. Gupta showed that he can change his mind. He had an hour-long show about medical marijuana and he suggested that there are conditions where marijuana is indicated.
So let's keep on working on him. He may need to be given really strong evidence and a lot of it. He still needs to be educated. I think he may be the one person whose mind can be changed. Mindsets are hard to change. However just like "little strokes fell big oaks" people's minds can be changed bit by bit. Gupta doesn't know the "new" bowel disease that affects autistic kids. Wakefield wrote up his case study in order to describe something new. It often takes a long time before a new theory is accepted. So let's keep working on him.
Posted by: Birgit Calhoun | August 30, 2013 at 08:16 PM
I'd love to see Fox's Alisyn Camerota interview Dr. Gupta and Dr. Sears. I'm betting that Dr. Gupta would come across very differently in that situation.
I also expect that he's taking a lot of heat from the medical industry for his current stance on marijuana. He's clearly not an idiot, and not afraid to admit error. Maybe, just maybe, he also has a better understanding of how to bring down Big Pharma than Andy Wakefield did, and he realizes he can't do a 180 on marijuana and vaccines at the same time, and still be effective in turning things around.
We are up against such Goliaths here. Andy Wakefield's one flaw was that he thought that if he just told the truth, it would be enough; he was naive enough to believe he could take in the pharmaceutical industry. thats like taking on the mafia; if Sanjay has any brains, he'll have learned from Andy's sad experience.
Posted by: Taximom5 | August 30, 2013 at 05:48 PM
I have to wonder if Dr Gupta has some NEW recent associations (maybe drug companies), or some inducements.....
I watched this clip, and, as I have never watched more than a minute of Anderson, it was on flipping channels. I caught the first part of what he stated (Dr Gupta), and was stunned...absolutely stunned...
re Measles and deaths, well, I suppose I AM a bit older than Dr Gupta, but I come from the prehistoric time period when NO ONE vaccinated for measles. NO ONE.
and I do recall it was something everyone was "expected to catch"...However, even having said that, being in a home of four children, it did not even happen that we all caught it at the same time, nor that our school all had it at the same time...so. NO , exposure is not the only reason to catch it..
also, it was not until I was a teenager, that I even heard of ANYONE getting sick enough to hospitalize.... and that person was fully recovered.
so, again, I question, if there is such a high rate of death from measles, is it possible that the serious illness/deaths are actually caused by something besides the Measles?
mmmm how about, because it is fashionable to bash those who don't vaccinate for measles, as soon as a Doctor sees a unvaccinated kid with measles, the Dr ships said kid off to hospital? Hospitals are filthy, these days. there is barely a day goes by when I don't see a news headline of some new hospital born outbreak/illness/antibiotic resistance...Maybe the kid who is hospitalized with measles gets sicker/dies from this new hospital problem????
Posted by: Flabergasted | August 30, 2013 at 05:34 PM
Anne, would Dr. Gupta agree to an interview with you? He is a neurosurgeon. Therefore, he should be able to talk about the effects on the brain of mercury and other possibly toxic components of vaccines (and other substances used as medications).
I left a comment on the CNN site following Gupta’s discussion of the dangers of Sarin nerve gas (versus more than 1800 on his ideas about marijuana). CNN claims they welcome lively discussion, and I hope discussions of the brain can be started.
Sarin, Soman, Mercury, Lead, Methyl Bromide, Lindane, anti-cancer agents, and more all have a primary effect on the inferior colliculi in the midbrain. The inferior colliculi provide an alerting system for the brain. Put deoxyglucose midbrain toxicology in PubMed, and read the abstract of the paper by Bakke and Horsberg on Atlantic salmon. They describe the midbrain of this lower vertebrate species as the center of central integration and cognition.
The vulnerability of the midbrain to toxic substances and anoxia should be common knowledge. Anyone who can rattle off names of SSRI drugs etc. ought to be able to comprehend this much about the brain.
Posted by: Eileen Nicole Simon | August 30, 2013 at 05:03 PM
Gupta's claim is totally false on deaths. It contradicts the documented evidence in medical journals:
"And of a thousand kids that will get measles, about one to two will die of it."
And we also have the UK evidence of approx 80,000+ measles cases since 1992 and there have been only 3 deaths in that time none of them in previously healthy children - all 3 individuals in the past 21 years were extremely sick, immunocompromised and could have died from anything.
That does not justify causing 1 in 60 US/UK children getting an autistic condition.
As for the science not making sense Gupta interviewed CDC Director Gerberding in 2008. He was told by Gerberding that vaccines can cause autistic conditions.
You can watch the interview and see much more here:
http://wp.me/pfSi7-10j
And you can also see and download at that link the HRSA email in which they confirmed in 2008 to Sharyl Attkisson of CBS that vaccines can cause encephalopathy which can result in autistic conditions.
So US medical officials know vaccines can cause autistic conditions and said so in 2008 - yet Dr Gupta today ignores that and he was Obama's nominee for Surgeon General.
Who is the fraud?
Posted by: ChildHealthSafety | August 30, 2013 at 12:56 PM
Dr. Manny;
Is not just any doctor -- he is a magic doctor, a wizard, a sooth -sayer like those old prophets in the Bible.
He knows his baby was born with autism - even before the day one Hep B shot!
It came out of the channel, and -- did it not cry or what? Wonder how he knew?
Posted by: Beyond a Mad, Mad World | August 30, 2013 at 12:45 PM
I think Gupta is talking about this study, which is actually a CDC study, which makes me wonder how closely he looked at it: http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476%2813%2900144-3/fulltext
This study was critiqued by Dr. Brian Hooker who said, "Of all of the papers I have reviewed over my 26-year career as a research scientist, this is perhaps the most flawed and disingenuous study I have encountered. The Destefano et al. 2013 study is to science what the movie Ishtar was to cinema."
and
"...the 186 aforementioned controls (25% of the control group) were not controls at all but instead had some underlying developmental deficit (all of which are features of autism or autism spectrum disorder). Unlike the study design described (i.e., where autism cases were matched to neurotypical controls), autism cases were matched with 'cases' of other, similar neurodevelopmental maladies. Thus, you would expect to see no difference between the two groups."
and
"Next, the basis of the study was to confirm or deny a correlation between the 'number of antigens received' and the incidence of autism. The possible number of antigens per given vaccine was reported in Table 1 of the study. However, the term 'number of antigens' is a complete white-wash of what is actually in these vaccines, their concentrations and their relative strengths in terms of inflammatory response, and is not an accurate predictor of how the body will respond to specific antigens."
and
"Also, the analysis is plagued with a statistical error called 'overmatching.' For a comprehensive analysis of the previous CDC study completed on the same data set (Price et al. 2010 Pediatrics), regarding thimerosal exposure rather than the number of vaccine antigens, please see Chapter 6, 'Vaccine Safety Study as an Interesting Case of Over-Matching' by M. Catherine DeSoto and Robert Hitlan...."
Dr. Hooker's analysis can be read here: http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/can-we-trust-the-cdc-claim-that-there-is-no-link-between-vaccines-and-autism/
Posted by: Carol | August 30, 2013 at 12:04 PM
I happened to chance upon the Cooper/Gupta interview the first time live on CNN(believe me, only in flicking my remote by accident as I detest CNN). Imagine my response to myself at home out loud. Fortunate I didn't axe my TV.
I wish I could say "we are winning the war." Guess I read too many history books to be optimistic. The vaccine controversy is history repeating itself. I recommend "Dr. Mary's Monkey" if you think it's not repeating itself. Then look at the stock market and see how the drug companies
are always on top, not matter how the rest of the economy is doing.
Maurine
Posted by: maurine meleck | August 30, 2013 at 11:42 AM
"If so .. please .. man-up doctor .. actually INFORM parents the HEP B within hours of birth is the most obvious NON-ESSENTIAL VACCINE ON THE SCHEDULE."
Love this!!!
Can't believe Dr. Manny sold out on his own child.
Posted by: Dana | August 30, 2013 at 11:14 AM
How can we not trust a doctor who says "So the vaccines themselves, the schedule of vaccines themselves, the components of the vaccines themselves, none of these things seem to have a link to autism. And people need to say it that clearly."
Wow..."SEEM" ...
Posted by: barbara j | August 30, 2013 at 10:40 AM
All of the science points? Since the sequester, all of the science has dried up. Can you blame a scientist for taking on a job funded by the institutions that are receiving pharmaceutical money. It's the only money out there. Didn't they notice (or are we to assume they are stupid) the government spends millions to scientists overseas on autism research designed to clear vaccines. The "newest science suggests", is no longer relevant to the "best" science. These people have to feed their families. Unless we are to believe the honor system is alive and well, believing in science is believing in santa claus. It feels good.
Posted by: barbara j | August 30, 2013 at 10:20 AM
What are the links to those other papers concurring with Wakefield?
Posted by: Skeptical Parent | August 30, 2013 at 10:19 AM
I'd like this stated for record. Mr. Cooper, Dr. Gupta. Kiss my hiney. You know NOTHING about vaccine safety issues. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. Time to educate yourselves and stop being dutiful spokespeople for the vaccine industry.
Posted by: Erik Nanstiel | August 30, 2013 at 09:51 AM
I wonder if CNN is working with eh authors of this report?{he he}
Conspiracy Theories May Put Children's Health at Risk
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130827204042.htm
Posted by: Visitor | August 30, 2013 at 09:02 AM
Hi Anne
I posted this article challenging Gupta back in February 2011
http://www.ageofautism.com/2011/02/mr-gates-dr-julie-gerberding-told-dr-gupta-vaccines-cause-autism-did-you-forget.html
Looks like Gupta is going for a smokescreen strategy over Andy rather than reviving the fraud allegations (Nancy Snyderman also seems to have recently opted for this). But it is Gupta who is incoherent in a schmoozey sort of way. Meanwhile, Anderson Cooper is just gormless - typical news editor clutching on to whatever is safe (but he is a stooge). None of these people can square the circle so they appeal to conventional wisdom.
Perhaps, when in 5 years time every second child gets an autism diagnosis they will notice something is amiss. The expansion of the vaccine program is set on its inexorable course. Still a way to go before we get to Paul Offit's magical 10,000 vaccines in one go.
John
Posted by: John Stone | August 30, 2013 at 08:22 AM
"I always marvel when doctors advise parents to talk to their physician if they're worried about vaccines. What do you think the doctor who makes a living vaccinating children and who has been trained to believe that a one-size-fits-all vaccine schedule is safe for every child is going to say?"
Yes, a "duh" fits there. Yet, one person asked their Doc to take a closer look at vaccines and this was the result:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dtr879drsDw/Tc4_QuOzsBI/AAAAAAAAJaA/_n9dORy13Ag/s400/i+monster+needle.JPG
The Doc then responded saying the vaccine in question appeared safe and that they actually knew the vaccine maker and vouched for them.
http://wearemoviegeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/tt17.jpg
Who here vilifies drug companies?
Way over the top, but humor is hard to resist at times.
Posted by: Visitor | August 30, 2013 at 07:58 AM
They only talk about the one Wakefield paper... 5 other reaserch papers have come up with the same "vaccine strain measels" in the gut of Autistic children conclusion.
*****
Any Fox News stories yet on Dr. Thorsen of Denmark ???
Dr, Poul Thorsen of Denmark was so good with Autism studies, that he started his own university...or at least a university bank account... to deposit American CDC funds.
******
With fewer vaccinations, is your child's school safe?
20% vax rates at private schools... (medical kids ?)
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-shapiro-schools-and-vaccination-rates-20130811,0,4512282.story
*********
Dr. Andrew Wakefield of the UK Speaks to the
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
The first 5 minutes covers quite a bit...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l67fWVrw8xU
The Chinese director of pediatrics has an Autistic son, following a MMR vaccine....
*******
However, Vaccine safety and wisdom in the United States is based on
UK Murdoch news reporter Brian Deer / found here with friend Dr. Nancy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX2Rq1jM0mU
Brian Deer has spent 7 years trying to discredit a 5 page 1998 Andrew Wakefield paper on 12 children.
200 British children with similar symptoms followed...
*******
The Today show, January 2011
Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Matt Lauer & Brian Deer on the MMR vaccine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4mDLIug6f0
Posted by: cmo | August 30, 2013 at 07:42 AM
Fox news Dr. Manny Alvarez:
"Finally, you have to look at the rising levels of autism, GI intolerances, asthma and allergies that children are experiencing. People are becoming increasingly worried that the unregulated toxins in many of our products - whether you're talking about contaminated foods or disposable plastics - might be harming their children more than they think."
Duh .. most people who have become .. justifiably so .. reluctant to vaccinate their child as recommended and approved by the CDC .. ARE .. INDEED .. INCREASINGLY WORRIED THAT UNREGULATED TOXINS .. SUCH AS .. MERCURY, ALLUMINUM OR FORMALDEHYDE .. TO NAME JUST THREE OF MANY MORE KNOWN TOXIC SUBSTANCES .. THAT ARE COMMON INGREDIENTS IN CHILDHOOD VACCINES.
Someday .. hopefully soon .. someone will FINALLY ask Dr. Manny how he believes mercury, alluminum or formaldehyde have been approved to inject directly into children?
Dr Manny again:
"But most of all, please remember that there are some essential vaccines that protect children, and you should always consider them as the first line of defense for keeping your children safe."
Would you PLEASE explain what you mean by "some essential vaccines"? Are you suggesting the recommended and approved schedule for childhood vaccinations contains at least SOME NON-ESSENTIAL VACCINES?
If so .. please .. man-up doctor .. actually INFORM parents the HEP B within hours of birth is the most obvious NON-ESSENTIAL VACCINE ON THE SCHEDULE.
Posted by: Bob Moffitt | August 30, 2013 at 06:42 AM