CBS: How Independent Are Pediatric Vaccine Promoters / Defenders?
When a pharmaceutical company "contributes" money --whether the recipient is a doctor, a non-profit organization such as, a professional medical association, university, or advocacy group--a binding relationship is established with the funding corporation.
Doctors and non-profits alike always deliver the promotional services for which they are paid.
CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson has uncovered a portion of the multi-million dollar cash flow from pharmaceutical / vaccine manufacturers to childhood health experts who profess to be "independent." The cash "contributions" bind these "independent" medical experts to vaccine makers. Specifically, she has nailed three of the most influential promoters / endorsers of mandatory childhood vaccines in the U.S. to cash kickbacks from manufacturers.
1. The American Academy of Pediatrics: $342,000 payment from Wyeth, maker of the pneumococcal vaccine.
Wyeth makes $2 billion a year in sales.
$433,000 payment from Merck, the same year the academy endorsed Merck's HPV vaccine. Merck made $1.5 billion a year in sales.
Undisclosed amount from Sanofi Aventis, maker of 17 vaccines and a new five-in-one combo shot just added to the childhood vaccine schedule last month.
2. Every Child By Two, founded in 1991 by Rosalynn Carter, President, and Betty Bumpers, Vice President.
Both have been credited with the passage of U.S. laws mandating school-age vaccination requirements.
Rosalynn Carter is an active promoter for increased Mental Health services.
No coincidence that the Carter Center is a beneficiary of pharmaceutical industry "donations."
The ECBT website states:
"Every Child By Two has assisted in the development of programs and coalitions throughout the nation that seek to increase immunization coverage rates."
American children receive 55 vaccine doses by age 6. ECBT admitted to CBS that the group takes money from the vaccine industry - but wouldn't disclose how much.
ECBT board of directors includes:
Paul Offit, MD, Chief, Section of Immunologic and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Craig Engesser, Senior Director, Professional Affairs, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals...
Therese Hoyle, Past President, American Immunization Registry Association; Patti Mitchell, MPH, RD, Treasurer, who is Senior Program Analyst of the USDA Food and Nutrition Services.
ECBT works in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control to enforce compliance with mandatory vaccinations. Indeed, Anne Schuchat, MD, Director, CDC/Div. of Respiratory and Infectious Disease is an ex-officio board member.
ECBT prides itself on its electronic surveillance registries: "Much of our efforts focus on ensuring that electronic immunization registries are fully developed and implemented throughout our country. This electronic medical record helps physicians ensure that their patients receive all their vaccines on time and help parents keep track of their children's vaccines."
3. Dr. Paul Offit, the most widely-quoted defender of vaccine safety who declared that babies can tolerate "10,000 vaccines at once," regularly writes opinion pieces railing against legal action brought on behalf of vaccine-injured children. Though Dr. Offit presents himself as an academic authority, he is, in fact, a vaccine industry insider.
Not only does he fail to disclose that Merck finances his $1.5 million research chair at Children's Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, he does not disclose that he holds a patent for the rotavirus vaccine (Rotateq) which he developed with Merck. Nor does he disclose his future royalties for the vaccine which, CBS reports, were just sold for $182 million cash.
None of the above paid vaccine promoters agreed to be interviewed by CBS.
All of the above have served their own financial interest and that of their corporate benefactors--but have they served children's best interest?
From all indications the health of U.S. children is in crisis.
Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav
212-595-8974
veracare@ahrp.org