HYPING VACCINES: AN INVESTIGATION

[Guest guest]

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hotjobs: Enter the " Signing Bonus " Sweepstakes