WASHINGTON, July 25, 2008
How Independent Are Vaccine Defenders?
Sharyl Attkisson Investigates Vaccine Advocates Taking Funding From The Companies Whose Vaccines They Endorse
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Play CBS Video Video Pediatrician, Vaccine Scrutiny Government officials and some scientists say there's no link between vaccines and autism ? and they're often backed by independent experts. But how "independent" are they? Sharyl Attkisson reports.
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(CBS/iStockphoto)
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Blog Primary Source Armen Keteyian and his investigative team keep you informed daily on their blog.
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E-MAIL US CBS News Investigates E-mail Armen Keteyian and the investigation team with your story ideas.
They're some of the most trusted voices in the defense of vaccine safety: the American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two, and pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit.
But CBS News has found these three have something more in common - strong financial ties to the industry whose products they promote and defend.
The vaccine industry gives millions to the Academy of Pediatrics for conferences, grants, medical education classes and even helped build their headquarters. The totals are kept secret, but public documents reveal bits and pieces.
Every Child By Two, a group that promotes early immunization for all children, admits the group takes money from the vaccine industry, too - but wouldn't tell us how much.
A spokesman told CBS News: "There are simply no conflicts to be unearthed." But guess who's listed as the group's treasurers? Officials from Wyeth and a paid advisor to big pharmaceutical clients.
Then there's Paul Offit, perhaps the most widely-quoted defender of vaccine safety.
He's gone so far as to say babies can tolerate "10,000 vaccines at once."
This is how Offit described himself in a previous interview: "I'm the chief of infectious disease at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of pediatrics at Penn's medical school," he said.
Offit was not willing to be interviewed on this subject but like others in this CBS News investigation, he has strong industry ties. In fact, he's a vaccine industry insider.
Offit holds in a $1.5 million dollar research chair at Children's Hospital, funded by Merck. He holds the patent on an anti-diarrhea vaccine he developed with Merck, Rotateq, which has prevented thousands of hospitalizations.
And future royalties for the vaccine were just sold for $182 million cash. Dr. Offit's share of vaccine profits? Unknown.
There's nothing illegal about the financial relationships, but to critics, they pose a serious risk for conflicts of interest. As one member of Congress put it, money from the pharmaceutical industry can shape the practices of those who hold themselves out to be "independent."Read more about this story at Couric & Co. Blog
The American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two and Dr. Offit would not agree to interviews, but all told us they're up front about the money they receive, and it doesn't sway their opinions.
Today's immunization schedule now calls for kids to get 55 doses of vaccines by age 6.
Ideally, it makes for a healthier society. But critics worry that industry ties could impact the advice given to the public about all those vaccines.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.
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See all 109 CommentsI have two children that I believe were born with no problems but have been injured by their vaccines. (Son with Aspergers Syndrome and daughter with ADD & seizures)
What has happened to our children is an international tragedy. These people (Offit and others) will burn in hell, I am convinced, but, oh, so many lives are being ruined--not just the children but the families struggling to cope with the situation; the marriages broken; the bankrupcies, in the meantime.
Thanks again, so much, for bringing a piece of the truth to light in this monumental crime against people everywhere.
Now I have a child w/ASD that was NT (neuro typical) pre MMR. Double go figure.
I just wish that I knew you were coming out
with this for my family to be alerted.
Instead they saw the praise of Offit (Satin)
and the demonization of Wakefield who has
brought this subject to light despite what
ever controversy surrounds him
THANK YOU CBS for truth in media
NBC obviously will have egg on their face and thank you CBS for taking the courage to bring this story forward now.
As parents that watched their perfectly healthy child regress into autism after numerous vaccines in one day in 1993, we want someone to finally admit that due to money, many children in this country have sustained medical damage.
It's about morals, ethics, and comes down to accountability.
For those that doubt that vaccines laden with toxins that will not cause damage, please realize parents that have seen it happen are not off the wall, uneducated or misinformed. We've been fighting to have this realized for fifteen years. We've done the research and people like Mr. Offit should not be seen, nor continue to portray himself as an "impartial" expert when he makes his living off vaccines.
And when that shot is given with others the results are again different. I think all MD''s were taught the rule of five!!!! One drug can give 5 results, 2 drugs X5 or 25 results, 3 drugs X5 or 125 results.
Lets get the same studies done by a group that questions the results, and compare. If you look deep enough sometimes you will find side effects that aren''t in the PDR. Don''t expect your MD to look for this, as they are lucky if the know whats on the label. Drug SALEMAN or the TV ads or demands from patients dictate his scrips. Lets start with banning all TV aids
Unsubstantiated myths about vaccine risks and conflicts of interest between industry and advocates lead increasing numbers of parents to choose not to vaccinate their children - placing them at risk for life-threatening diseases. Scientific data overwhelmingly shows that there is no connection between vaccines and autism. Autism is a heart-wrenching condition, and the upheaval felt by parents whose children suffer with autism is understandable %u2013 as is their search for answers. We absolutely need ongoing research into the causes of autism. However, we cannot let unfounded myths keep us from giving our children the proven protection they need against dangerous infectious diseases.
By AMA Board Member and Pediatrician Samantha Rosman, M.D.
"To imply that drs, nurses, researchers and other health professionals are involved in some sort of conspiracy to harm children and make themselves money is unbelievably insulting and extremely poor journalism on the part of CBS."
Sharyl Attkisson implied nothing of the sort - what she is doing is giving you informations about conflicts of interest and the response that we are not supposed to believe that money influences decisions.
It is my experience that drs, nurses, researchers and other health professionals are simply grossly misinformed by the very organizations discussed in this report.
We met with Commissioner Dr. Sanne Magnan of the Minnesota Department of Health in January 2008 to discuss mercury free vaccines legislation. She brought up that "Studies show there is no link to autism" even though we never brought up the subject. We asked her which studies and could, she name them, she could not. We asked heer if she had readthem completely, she had not.
And this is highest official at Mn Dept. of Health, who is simply taking the words of the AAP, ECBT and Dr. Offit.
This is not a conspiracy, it is disgusting laziness.
To imply that drs, nurses, researchers and other health professionals are involved in some sort of conspiracy to harm children and make themselves money is unbelievably insulting and extremely poor journalism on the part of CBS.
Our story has a happy ending, but unfortunately this is not the case for many others who do not have the resources we were fortunate to have.
Dr. Offit is a successful vaccine researcher. So we shouldn''t listen to him on vaccine related issues?
"Offit holds in a $1.5 million dollar research chair at Children''s Hospital, funded by Merck"
Leaving aside the odd grammar, there are a couple of points. First, the chair is $2M, with $500,000 from Children''s Hospital of Philadephia. tinyurl.com/5vqwwc
Second, consider how endowed chairs work. Dr. Offit does not %u2018own%u2019 the $2M. When he leaves the position, CHOP and Penn will keep the chair and give it to another researcher. Likely this pays his salary and gives him a certain amount of money for his research.
The money to "endow" a chair is given to the organization. Most likely Merck has no direct control over the money or who gets the chair in the future. Sure, CHOP and Penn will likely consult with Merck, but CHOP and Penn are in control.
Why is that important? Two reasons. First, the chair was really a reward to CHOP and Penn for promoting vaccine research, not to Dr. Offit. Second, and more important to this discussion, the chair actually makes Dr. Offit more independent. He has a source of funding that is constant and not controlled by company or government grants.
More independent. That''s a good thing.
ACTUALLY, THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE SPANISH FLU IS UNKNOWN; IT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ANYWHERE FROM 20 MILLION TO 100 MILLION WORLDWIDE (APPROXIMATELY 2-5% OF THE WORLD''S POPULATION)
"These days, most outbreaks kill the elderly and other vulnerable people."
NOT JUST THESE DAYS. OUTBREAKS HAVE ALWAYS KILLED THE MOST VULNERABLE BECAUSE OF THEIR WEAKENED DEFENSES. THE SPANISH FLU WAS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT KILLED MOSTLY YOUNGER PEOPLE, POSSIBLY DUE TO THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEMS BEING WEAKENED BY THE PHYSICAL TOLL BOUGHT ON BY WW1, OR POSSIBLY DUE TO CYTOKINE STORMS.
"Measles kills over 300,000 people a year worldwide, and can cause pneumonia and brain damage."
YES, IT KILLS THOSE WHO ARE MALNOURISHED AND DON''T HAVE ACCESS TO BASIC MEDICAL CARE. DON''T COMPARE THE CONDITIONS IN THE THIRD WORLD (WHERE THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT DEATH FROM MEASLES IS TO PREVENT THE MEASLES) TO THAT OF A HEALTHY, WELL-FED CHILD IN NORTH AMERICA. IN FACT, I''D BE HAPPY TO ALTRUISTICALLY SEND MY CHILDREN''S UNUSED MEASLES VACCINES OVERSEAS TO THOSE WHO TRULY DO NEED THEM.
"Small pox pustules can infect, leading to a systemic staph infection that can require hospitalization, and occasionally kills."
THAT''S A BIT OF A NULL POINT. IF MEMORY SERVES, THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY DECLARED SMALLPOX ERADICATED WORLDWIDE OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO.
What is it going to take for our Government agencies,Congressmen and Congresswomen to stop taking money from the big Pharmacutical companies,and stop passing legislation in favor of the Pharmacutical co. and against the injured children and their families. Start representing the people by holding these Pharma Companies accountable instead of rewarding them. Children are being injured and are dying from too many multiple vaccines all at once to these tiny bodies. New multiple vaccines are added every year to the already overloaded schedule. Please stop the business as usual in Washington and start really protecting our children. They don''t have money to buy your work on their behalf, only parents that vote. These children count far more than all the money you can get from the Pharmacutical companies. Thank you CBS for sharing this story.
The more we vaccinate the sicker we get.
congrats to CBS on this one."
Yes, congrats to CBS News for lending its legitimacy to a movement that seeks to demonize the vaccine program, with baseless accusations and improbable conspiracy theories.
All they do is deny it and add more vaccine''s to the schedule for pure profit, I wonder if they give these vaccine''s to their children??? Until it happen''s to your normal child, you''ll probably never believe it!
Thanks for the great coverage on this important issue!
We need large-scale, independent, randomized controlled trials to put this issue to rest. The researchers must have no financial ties to industry. The best way to study this is to compare a large group of totally unvaccinated children (which does exist in the US) with an equally large group of fully vaccinated kids. Let''s have the truth.
Why is the AAP and Dr. Offit afraid of this type of study? Every other study on this subject was funded by the CDC and the vaccine industry, and the researchers had severe financial conflicts. We must do this the right way, now!
Thalidomide wasn''t approved for use in the US. Get your facts straight, and watch who you''re calling scum.
"Flu is rarely deadly, measles aren''''t deadly, chicken pox isn''''t either. They are only inconvenient."
A flu epidemic killed over 100 million people in 1918-19. These days, most outbreaks kill the elderly and other vulnerable people. Measles kills over 300,000 people a year worldwide, and can cause pneumonia and brain damage. Small pox pustules can infect, leading to a systemic staph infection that can require hospitalization, and occasionally kills.
Spreading misinformation about an important public health program is more than inconvenient. It''s destructive and, quite frankly, inexcusable. If you don''t know what you''re talking about, you should post elsewhere. I suggest GOPUSA.com .
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