Re: Congressman Writes to CDC on mercury research and autism

HYPING VACCINES: AN INVESTIGATION

Chickenpox, Lyme, Rotavirus, And A Highly Revealing Analysis
Of Flu Statistics

By RFD Columnist, Dr. F. Edward Yazbak

TL Autism Research

Falmouth, Massachusetts

E-mail: tlautstudy@aol.com

Years ago, the description of diseases used to be accurate. Smallpox was a
very dreaded, serious, and often fatal illness. Certainly, no parent wished
smallpox on his children. Chickenpox on the other hand was a relatively benign
illness: a low-grade fever, an itchy rash and a week out of school. Like all
childhood illnesses, it was worse in adults and parents were actually hoping
that their children could “catch chickenpox” and be finished with it for the
future.

In 1995, chickenpox suddenly became a major health problem. Six children were
reported to have died from chickenpox; frequent and repeated TV coverage lasted
for weeks without anyone mentioning that two of the six children had leukemia
and the others were on cortico-steroids. Concurrently, chickenpox became a major
economical disaster that was gravely impacting the United States economy, as
working mothers stayed home to give their children Aveeno baths and syrup to
relieve itching. A short time later, the chickenpox vaccine was cheerfully and
successfully launched.

Historically, epidemics have occurred in cycles. Experts in infectious
diseases could often predict them. The number of unvaccinated children increased
during several successive years of low spread and when the reservoir was full,
an outbreak, an epidemic or a pandemic occurred. Children then developed a solid
immunity that was boosted successfully during subsequent outbreaks. Recently, in
the United States, a new epidemiological trend has become very evident: MBAs and
Marketing Directors predict epidemics that are then orchestrated to occur, on
cue, when a new vaccine is due to be launched.

A flurry of interest about Lyme disease started in the Northeast and Upper
Midwest in 1996-97. It promptly snowballed into a major news campaign in the
targeted areas, where indeed there were increasing numbers of cases, many with
serious long-term complications. In 1998, the LYMErix vaccine received
conditional approval by the FDA and was welcome in the geographical locations
where the disease was common and often devastating. Unfortunately, it was soon
discovered that the vaccine itself had major side effects and doctors became
disenchanted with its use. Since the manufacturer discontinued production of the
vaccine, the newspaper articles, experts’ interviews and television “health
minutes” on Lyme disease have completely stopped. It is almost as if the disease
has totally disappeared, when it obviously has not.

Years ago, we did not talk much about the rotavirus. Most people did not even
know the name and some thought that it was “RotoVirus”, because it kept
spreading “around and around” nursery schools. We were happy to tell the parents
the baby had “some kind of a virus”, that penicillin was not going to help, that
we were seeing many children with the same symptoms, and that they improved
after a few days. We then suggested liquids and a limited diet and the reassured
parents left with their little ones, to stop at their neighborhood drugstore for
Pampers and Pedialyte. We obviously were immensely more alarmed when a child had
salmonella, shigella, cholera, pathogenic E. Coli and staphylococcus
gastro-enteritis.

Rarely, the babies with rotavirus infections became dehydrated. They were
then brought to a holding unit at the hospital, given intravenous fluids and
discharged before 23 hours. Officially, they had not been actually “admitted” to
the hospital.  

Suddenly, in 1998, every newspaper and every TV news program started
continuous reporting on the rotavirus. Overnight, the rotavirus became a
household name and the most common cause of diarrhea. It also killed thousands
of babies. The fact that the deaths occurred in Third World countries was
rarely, if ever, mentioned. In addition, the news programs warned that the
economy of the United States was once more in dire danger, that HMOs were almost
bankrupt trying to keep up with the rising costs of hospitalizations and that
millions of hours were lost in the workplace during the rotavirus season; after
all, mothers of affected children had to stay out of work to care for them and
could not drop them off, as usual, at schools and day-care centers. In the midst
of that intense “information” campaign, the rotavirus vaccine “Rotashield” was
released to the joy and relief of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), pediatricians and parents. Because three doses were needed, the delight
of the manufacturer and stockholders was tripled. One could almost imagine them
visualizing a set of gorgeous blond triplets singing “Triple the Doses, Triple
the Dough” using the old and proven tune of “Double the Mint, Double the Fun”.

And then, something went wrong, very wrong. It became quickly evident that
some infants who received the vaccine developed intussusception, a form of
intestinal obstruction and that a few died. The CDC, to its credit, acted
promptly and suspended the administration of the Rotashield in July 1999, just a
few months after it was released. In October 1999, it issued a detailed
statement that started with the following two paragraphs: “The Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decided that Rotashield, the only
U.S.-licensed rotavirus vaccine, should no longer be recommended for infants in
the United States.   This action was based on the results of an expedited review
of scientific data presented to the ACIP by CDC in cooperation with the FDA,
NIH, and Public Health Service officials, along with Wyeth-Lederle.  Data from
the review indicated a strong association between Rotashield and intussusception
(bowel obstruction) among some infants during the first 1-2 weeks following
vaccination.  Use of the vaccine was suspended in July pending the data review
by the ACIP.  Parents should be reassured that their children who received
rotavirus vaccine before July and remain well are not at increased risk for
intussusception now. 

Rotavirus is a severe diarrheal illness in childhood that accounts for
more than 500,000 physician visits and approximately 50,000 hospitalizations
each year among children less than 5 years of age. Symptoms include fever, an
upset stomach and vomiting followed by diarrhea, which may lead to dehydration.
This results in $264 million in direct medical costs and $1 billion in total
costs to society.

The rotavirus media blitz came to a screeching halt and for four years,
interest in the “designer diarrhea” has ranged between nil and minimal. Children
with the disease had once again “some kind of a virus.”

However, this is due to change AGAIN. Yes indeed, very soon, we will be
undoubtedly bombarded once more with a barrage of relentless rotavirus
propaganda, diarrhea will become extremely serious in the United States and the
cost to the National economy will become even more staggering as the launching
of the “new, safe, effective and improved” rotavirus vaccine is carefully
orchestrated. This second vaccine has been developed for years and has been
ready to go. If rotavirus disease is so serious, the new formulation should have
been released already “to save lives”. But it was probably felt that releasing
it too soon after the first fiasco would not have been a good business move and
as it happens sometimes, when it comes to the care of children, MBAs may
overrule MDs. So everyone involved had to wait patiently for the opportune time.
Indications are that 2004 will be the year.

NEXT: THE FLU VACCINE

http://www.redflagsweekly.com/conferences/vaccines/2004_jan12.html

www.bobmantz.com