Couric & Co.
July 25, 2008 4:56 PM

The "Independent" Voices Of Vaccine Safety

By
Sharyl Attkisson
Topics
Follow The Money
(CBS)
Sharyl Attkisson is investigative correspondent for CBS News.
For years, members of Congress have been investigating financial ties between pharmaceutical companies and the government, doctors and researchers, research hospitals, colleges and universities. Sen. Charles Grassley, who has most recently been digging into money links between drug companies and the American Psychiatric Association, puts it this way: "I have come to understand that money from the pharmaceutical industry can shape the practices of nonprofit organizations that purport to be independent in their viewpoints and actions."

In a letter to its members, the APA says it supports complete transparency and plans to provide Grassley with the information he's requested: "a complete accounting of APA revenues, except from advertising in our journals, from pharmaceutical companies, starting in 2003." The APA notes: "We are not alone; recent public focus on relationships between medicine and the pharmaceutical industry is a challenge for the whole field of medicine."

Indeed, the APA is not alone in being the subject of public focus and scrutiny for its relationships with the pharmaceutical industry. Tonight, on the CBS Evening News, we dig into the allegations of financial conflicts of interest among some widely-quoted "independent" voices in the debates over vaccine safety. We weren't as lucky as Grassley: The groups we approached refused to provide us with a full accounting of their financial relationships. Although two of the groups receive tax benefits for their non-profit status, they are not required to file such details with the IRS and would not provide them to us, either.

In the case of a prominent vaccine specialist who is routinely offered up as an "independent" voice to speak on vaccine safety, he, too, was unwilling to disclose to us how much remuneration he's received from the vaccine industry.

And the vaccine companies we asked? They said they would not, or could not give such information as: financial support they give to educational institutions, physicians and research projects; a list of outside physicians who are on the payroll as researchers, speakers, advisors or consultants; and an accounting of funding provided to non-profits, medical organizations and government entities such as IOM, NIH, CDC and FDA. With all of those refusals, you might be surprised to find we had enough information to put together a story for tonight's CBS Evening News. But you might be more surprised at what we did find. And we'll show you tonight.

  • Sharyl Attkisson

    Sharyl Attkisson is a CBS News investigative correspondent based in Washington. All of her stories, videos and blogs are available here.

Add a Comment See all 55 Comments
by P1AutismMom August 30, 2009 11:53 AM EDT
Simply, Thank You!!!!


http://p1autismmom.blogspot.com/
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by wildman440 May 27, 2009 8:34 PM EDT
Please go to www.brainguardmd if you want to know about the latest technology and information on vaccine damage. Dr Andrew Moulden of Canada. You can view his videos on youtube.com as well. He has three sets from his seminars, and three are short version samples of the DVD's he has. www.drbuttar.com is very good as well.
Reply to this comment
by rayyne99 May 21, 2009 12:56 PM EDT
In response to Hobiemiller commenting on Katie Couric's information regarding the DANGERS OF VACCINATIONS!!!

HOBIEMILLER WROTE: What a one-sided, POS story. I forgot that Jenny McCarthy is a doctor and that she can prove scientifically that vaccines and autism are related. Oh wait, SHE''S NOT. Guess what...my kid was vaccinated and she doesn''t have autism. In fact, she doesn''t hav a lot of things, like meningitis, pertussis, tetanus, etc. Thanks to CBS News and Katie Couric for another stellar piece of crack journalism. ____________________________________
AND MY RESPONSE TO YOU IS: WOW!!! YOU NEED TO PULL YOUR HEAD OUT!!! YOU obviously have NO CLUE what you are talking about!! It is appalling to see someone who is fortunate enough to have a healthy child, yet obviously taking it for granted. AND for you to sit back in your perfect little naive world , and speak out so loudly, about something that has even never tainted your life! I am sure there are thousands of parents that would love to be knocking down your door right now, screaming their horrifying & heart wrenching stories in your face of how both them and their kids lives have been literally destroyed all because they went to a routine Dr?s appt one day, opted to get their childinoculated. You spoke of Katie Couric providing a ?ONE SIDED STORY?!!!! OMG, I PRAISE HER & Put her up on a Pedestal for attempting TO GET THE VACCINATION MSG OUT to the PUBLIC/Parents. Her goal was to help other Parents such as yourself * TO OPEN THEIR EYES*. She planted the seed for parents to be smart, do some research, before heading the to the Dr and getting a shot on that routine day, because it may be one of the most devastating turning points in their lives. The Agonizing Guilt &Pain that these parents must live with, and the WHAT IFS (?) Have got to be an almost unbearable burden for them to carry. You do not understand how many Parents out there are now trying to deal with Autistic children , ADD, ect, all simply because they made an uneducated decision before getting that 1 shot, that 1 day. AND _____ NOBODY SAID IT HAPPENS TO ALL CHILDREN, & YOU SHOULD BE ON YOUR KNEES THANKING GOD THAT YOUR DAUGHTER IS NOT ONE OF THESE TRAGIC " VACCINE" TRAGEDIES. It is only by the Grace of God that she is not!! I highly suggest that you get a book called "A SHOT IN THE DARK" & start educating yourself there, especially if you plan to have more children. Take off your Rose Colored Glasses, realize that our Govt and Medical entities, do all they can to cover up their mistakes. HOWEVER, with all the documented evidence correlating Autism, ADD, ETC.... with Vaccinations, the Govt is now being forced to reckon with all their cover ups, and come forward admitting their wrongs within the public eye. This Thimerasol Vaccination Issue is literally causing us to raise a generation of Mentally Challenged Children, and the record numbers are still climbing. The child is perfectly normal one day, and sanctioned into a life of Mental issues within a matter of seconds. And looking back in hindsite, had the Dr's truly advised the parents of ALL the High Risk Factors associated with Thimersol tainted Vaccinations, many parents would have opted not to have their kids vaccinated. ALWAYS REMEMBER, ONCE ANY Substance is INJECTED INTO YOUR BODY, YOU CAN NEVER REVERSE IT!! Once its in, , Its In!! You can always add, but you can never take away with injections. You should take heed yourself, with any medication that someone is recommending, you accept a foreign substance injection directly into your body. Medicine is a VERY GREY FIELD!! And Yes....there are many Fantastic Medical Discoveries, but keep in mind, we learn by trial and error on everything. Its naive people such as yourself, who are truly in danger, because you just trust everything your Dr. Says. Well Guess WHAT?? DR's ARE HUMAN & MAKE MISTAKES TOO!!!!!!!!! I pray that you never have to endure the emotional or physical distress such as other parents and kids are suffering around the world, but I also pray that you are able to OPEN YOUR EYES, because this is a very very serious issue!! Get Smart Please or Shut UP !!
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by hobiemiller July 28, 2008 12:00 PM EDT
What a one-sided, POS story. I forgot that Jenny McCarthy is a doctor and that she can prove scientifically that vaccines and autism are related. Oh wait, SHE''S NOT. Guess what...my kid was vaccinated and she doesn''t have autism. In fact, she doesn''t hav a lot of things, like meningitis, pertussis, tetanus, etc. Thanks to CBS News and Katie Couric for another stellar piece of crack journalism.
Reply to this comment
by momtoxinhunt July 28, 2008 12:55 AM EDT
The same debilitating toxic chemical that is in the hepatitis b vaccine is also int the Gardasil vaccine. Two groups of the most vulnerable children in the U.S. are targeted. The chemical is called PMSF, phenylmethlysulphonyl flouride.
Per the patents, each vaccine is made in a very similar recombinant DNA method. All fact and NO Fiction. We have a hepatitis b casualty and I have been chasing this for the past 15 years.
NVIC will not speak to me for some reason. They would end politically if they actually offered science?
Now I will try CBS. The autistic community is connected genetically by science as well as these children cannot metabolize this same DNA :inactivator if they have a genetic polymorphism.(2D6CYP).
I was given the name of the toxin in an FOIA request received during our fraudulent Court of Federal Vaccine Claims which I lost-SEE 2/5/04 Special Master John Edwards and Elizabeth Schneider, Pro Se, John R. Schneider, Minor,Petitioner.
It is a long story that needs to be told now.
Sincerley,
E. O. Schneider
Reply to this comment
by momtoxinhunt July 28, 2008 12:54 AM EDT
The same debilitating toxic chemical that is in the hepatitis b vaccine is also int the Gardasil vaccine. Two groups of the most vulnerable children in the U.S. are targeted. The chemical is called PMSF, phenylmethlysulphonyl flouride.
Per the patents, each vaccine is made in a very similar recombinant DNA method. All fact and NO Fiction. We have a hepatitis b casualty and I have been chasing this for the past 15 years.
NVIC will not speak to me for some reason. They would end politically if they actually offered science?
Now I will try CBS. The autistic community is connected genetically by science as well as these children cannot metabolize this same DNA :inactivator if they have a genetic polymorphism.(2D6CYP).
I was given the name of the toxin in an FOIA request received during our fraudulent Court of Federal Vaccine Claims which I lost-SEE 2/5/04 Special Master John Edwards and Elizabeth Schneider, Pro Se, John R. Schneider, Minor,Petitioner.
It is a long story that needs to be told now.
Sincerley,
E. O. Schneider
Reply to this comment
by momtoxinhunt July 28, 2008 12:50 AM EDT
The same debilitating toxic chemical that is in the hepatitis b vaccine is also int the Gardasil vaccine. Two groups of the most vunerable children in the U.S. The chemical is called PMSF, phenylmethlysulphonyl flouride.
Per the patents, each vaccine is made in a very similar recominant DNA method. All fact and NO Fiction. We have a hepatitis b casualty and I have been chasing this for the past 15 years.
NVIC will not speak to me for some reason. They would end politically if they actually offered science?
Now I will try CBS. The autistic community is connected genetically by science as well as these children cannot metabolize this same DNA :inactivator if they have a genetic polymorphism.
I was given the name of the toxin in an FOIA request received during our fraudulent Court of Federal Vaccine Claims which I lost-SEE 2/5/04 Special Master John Edwards and Elizabeth Schneider, Pro Se, John R. Schneider, Minor,Petitioner.
It is a long story that needs to be told now.
Sincerly,
E. O. Schneider
Reply to this comment
by lisanagy July 27, 2008 8:52 PM EDT
I am a traditional physician, Lisa Nagy MD,(recently interviewed on Nightline) because I have recovered from Environmental Illness (related tangentially to autism). I am shocked at the inability to for us to heard when we learn about the efficacy of less traditional therapies or theories. Vaccines and their role in autism is a great example of the financial interests squelching information that doctors are trying desparately bringing to the public. We must take out the opinions of doctors and researchers who have vested interests because they are unaware or in denial of the fact that their opinions are corrupted by their financial ties.

I started a non profit (The Preventive and Environmental Health Alliance) which hopes to break down these barriers between traditional medicine the rest. Environmental medicine is for the altruists. The docs that make little and tackle complex diseases which creates havoc in patients whom no one wil treat. Those with chronic fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Chemical Sensitvity, mold induced illnesses and Autism - to name a few of the patient groups that seek treatment by environmental physicians (found at www.AAEM. com). I help people find a doctor for free (508 696 6998)(www.environmentalmedicineinfo.com)- Help me help society and give me your contacts and contributions please!

Environmental Medicine combines the teachings of functional medicine, anti-aging medicine, genetics, endocrinology, toxicology, integrative medicine.
Reply to this comment
by dr_am_mass July 27, 2008 1:59 PM EDT
response to: heartbreaki2 at 06:58 PM : Jul 26, 2008 statement below:

"i expect the person who can demonstrate with results that are REPLICABLE, the cause of autism will win the Nobel Prize."

My results are replicable, across infants and adults alike -in a pre-post vaccine protocol.... you have to use the indicidual as his/her own control and NOT population based data as the latter, buries the "signal" (the evidence of brain injury for the "few") with the noise (the majority in whom the vaccine did not cause morbidity). Sadly, the same physiological process that causes autism, also causes adeverse vaccine events in adults (and animals)as well as SIDS. Moreover, one does not need to be vaccinated directly in order to experience vaccine induced mrobidity. Moreover, vaccination is not the only way by whihc these pathological states emerge. I am not interested in the Nobel, I am only interested in bringing forth scientfific truth, preventing disease and disability, and helping those who have already been harmed. There is a way to better - I have found the way...and it is repolicable, prospectively and retrospectively.
Reply to this comment
by rjbates69 July 27, 2008 4:17 AM EDT
''The country is CURRENTLY in a Health Crisis''

''thousands of children becoming disabled following vaccines''

According to who? Diagnosis? Support infrastructure that didn''t exist 15 years ago? Geee, do you think...just for a second, it just might have something to do with the internet?

Nahhh! Of course not. Because the internet got hot...when exactly? Oh yeah. When this manufacture-versey got started.

There has always been a shot bus. Stop looking for someone else to blame.

Three words for you...learn them:
de novo mutations.

If this is confusing to you, use google scholar (the one that filters out the riff-raff and links you to science journals and not lawyer-sponsored websites). If you really, really are interested in finding a cure, look there...otherwise, go ahead and cast blame on others.
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