Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All

by Paul A. Offit M. D.

  55 War ended: G. Williams, Virus Hunters (New York: Alfred Knopf, 1960), 315.

  55 Cutter Laboratories tragedy: Offit, Cutter.

  55 Lubeck disaster: F. Luelmo, “BCG Vaccination,” American Review of Respiratory Diseases 125 (1982): 70-72.

  5. Make the Angels Weep

  57 Praise for A Shot in the Dark: P. Holt, “Shedding Light on a Drug Controversy,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 8, 1985.

  58 Sabin’s vaccine: Oshinsky, Polio.

  59 Egg protein allergy: B. Ratner and S. Untracht, “Egg Allergy in Children,” American Journal of Diseases of Children 83 (1952): 309-316.

  59 Gelatin allergy: M. Sakaguchi, T. Nakayama, and S. Inouye, “Food Allergy to Gelatin in Children with Systemic Immediate-Type Reactions, Including Anaphylaxis, to Vaccines,” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 98 (1996): 1058-1061; M. Sakaguchi, T. Yamanaka, K. Ikeda, et al., “IgE-Mediated Systemic Reactions to Gelatin Included in the Varicella Vaccine,” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 99 (1997): 263-264.

  61 Hib vaccine licensed: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Haemophilus B Conjugate Vaccines for Prevention of Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Disease Among Infants and Children Two Months of Age and Older: Recommendations of the ACIP,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 40 (1991): 1-7.

  61 Barbara Loe Fisher on TV: World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, February 16, 1998.

  61 Fisher and chronic diseases: H. L. Coulter and B. L. Fisher, A Shot in the Dark: Why the P in the DPT Vaccination May Be Hazardous to Your Children’s Health (Garden City Park, N.Y.: Avery Publishing, 1991).

  61 Classen patents: http://www.vaccines.net/patentin.htm.

  61 Classen Hib study: D. C. Classen and J. B. Classen, “The Timing of Pediatric Immunization and the Risk of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus,” Infectious Diseases Clinical Practitioner 6 (1997): 449-454.

  61 Classen on TV: World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, February 16, 1998.

  62 First Hib vaccine-diabetes study in American children: S. B. Black, E. Lewis, H. Shinefield, et al., “Lack of Association Between Receipt of Conjugate Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine (HbOC) in Infancy and Risk of Type 1 (Juvenile Onset) Diabetes: Long-Term Follow-Up of the HbOC Efficacy Trial Cohort,” Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 21 (2002): 568-569.

  62 Second Hib vaccine-diabetes study in American children: F. DeStefano, J. P. Mullooly, C. A. Okoro, et al., “Childhood Vaccinations, Vaccination Timing, and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus,” Pediatrics 108 (2001), http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/108/6/e112.

  62 Follow-up Hib vaccine-diabetes study in Finnish children: Institute for Vaccine Safety Diabetes Workshop Panel, “Childhood Immunizations and Type 1 Diabetes: Summary of an Institute for Vaccine Safety Workshop,” Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 18 (1999): 217-222.

  62 Heather Whitestone: http://bhamwiki.com/w/Heather_Whitestone; http://www.heatherwhitestone.com/site.content/bio.shtml; http://www.heatherwhitestone.com/site/content/faqs.shtml.

  62 Fisher regarding Whitestone: S. Evans, “How Safe Are Mandatory Immunizations? Doctors Stress That Dangers of Childhood Diseases Far Outweigh Risks of Shots,” Washington Post, September 27, 1994.

  63 Ted Williams and Whitestone illness: Ibid.

  63 Fisher regarding conspiracy: National Vaccine Information Center Archives, volume 1, number 1, March 1995.

  64 Hepatitis B disease in the United States: E. E. Mast and J. W. Ward, “Hepatitis B Vaccines,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  65 Hepatitis B vaccine policy in the United States: Ibid.

  65 Hepatitis B vaccine discussed on 20/20: ABC News 20/20, January 22, 1999.

  67 Fisher regarding hepatitis B virus infections in children: S. H. Trudeau, “Is There a Risk to Vaccines?” Copley News Service, January 12, 1998.

  67 Hepatitis B disease in children: G. L. Armstrong, E. E. Mast, M. Wojczynski, and H. S. Margolis, “Childhood Hepatitis B Virus Infections in the United States Before Hepatitis B Immunization,” Pediatrics 108 (2001 ): 1123-1128.

  67 Risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer following childhood infection: E. E. Mast and J. W. Ward, “Hepatitis B Vaccines,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  67 Risk of chronic disease: Ibid.

  67 Belkin holding CDC accountable: “Vaccine Safety Group Endorses Government Action to Eliminate Mercury in Childhood Vaccines and Roll Back Hepatitis B Vaccination for Most Newborn Infants,” PR Newswire, July 8, 1999.

  68 Belkin regarding junkies and homosexuals: M. Benjamin, “UPI Investigates: The Vaccine Conflict,” United Press International, July 20, 2003.

  68 Studies exonerate hepatitis B vaccine as cause of SIDS: E. A. Mitchell, A. W. Stewart, and M. Clements, “Immunisation and the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: New Zealand Cot Death Study Group,” Archives of Diseases of Childhood 73 (1995): 498-501; M. T. Niu, M. E. Salive, and S. S. Ellenberg, “Neonatal Deaths and Hepatitis B Vaccine: The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, 1991-1998,” Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine 153 (1999): 1279-1282; E. M. Eriksen, J. A. Perlman, A. Miller, et al., “Lack of Association Between Hepatitis B Birth Immunization and Neonatal Death: A Population-Based Study from the Vaccine Safety DataLink Project,” Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 23 (2004): 656-662.

  68 Biological arguments against hepatitis B vaccine as a cause of multiple sclerosis: P. A. Offit and C. J. Hackett, “Addressing Parents’ Concerns: Do Vaccines Cause Allergic or Autoimmune Diseases?” Pediatrics 111 (2003): 653-659.

  68 Studies exonerating hepatitis B vaccine as a cause of multiple sclerosis: A. Ascherio, S. M. Zhang, M. A. Hernan, et al., “Hepatitis B Vaccination and the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis,” New England Journal of Medicine 344 (2001): 327-332; C. Confavreux, S. Suissa, P. Saddier, et al., “Vaccinations and the Risk of Relapse in Multiple Sclerosis,” New England Journal of Medicine 344 (2001): 319-326.

  68 Experience with hepatitis B vaccine: E. E. Mast and J. W. Ward, “Hepatitis B Vaccines,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  69 Pneumococcal vaccine study: S. Black, H. Shinefield, B. Fireman, et al., “Efficacy, Safety, and Immunogenicity of Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Children: Northern California Kaiser Permanente Study Center Group,” Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 19 (2000): 183-186.

  69 TV report on pneumococcal vaccine: “New Pneumococcal Vaccine for Children,” World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, September 25, 1998.

  70 Pneumococcal disease: S. Black, J. Eskola, C. Whitney, and H. Shinefield, “Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine and Pneumococcal Common Protein Vaccines,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  71 Daum and “giant step”: L. Richwine, “FDA Panel Deems New Vaccine Safe: Experts Called It Effective on Resistant Bacteria That Kill a Million Youths a Year,” Philadelphia Inquirer, November 6, 1999.

  71 Fisher and not enough evidence: Ibid.

  71 Fisher and “post-marketing experiment”: “FDA Advisers Back Safety and Efficacy of Wyeth’s Pneumococcal Vaccine for Children,” Reuters, November 8, 1999.

  71 Effect of pneumococcal vaccine: S. Black, J. Eskola, C. Whitney, and H. Shinefield, “Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine and Pneumococcal Common Protein Vaccines,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008); T. Pillshvili, C. Lexau, M. M. Farley, et al., “Sustained Reductions in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in the Era of Conjugate Vaccine,” Journal of Infectious Diseases 201 (2010): 32-41.

  72 Rotavirus vaccine and disease: H. F. Clark, P. A. Offit, R. I. Glass, and R. M. Ward, “Rotavirus Vaccines,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  7
2 VAERS reports of intussusception following rotavirus vaccine: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Intussusception Among Recipients of Rotavirus Vaccine—United States, 1998-1999,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 48 (1999): 577-581.

  72 Rotavirus vaccine causes intussusception: T. V. Murphy, P. M. Garguillo, M. S. Massoudi, et al., “Intussusception Among Infants Given an Oral Rotavirus Vaccine,” New England Journal of Medicine 344 (2001): 564- 572; P. Kramarz, E. K. France, F. DeStefano, et al., “Population-Based Study of Rotavirus Vaccination and Intussusception,” Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 20 (2001): 410-416.

  73 HPV disease: J. T. Schiller, I. H. Frazer, and D. R. Lowry, “Human Papillomavirus Vaccines,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  73 HPV vaccine: Ibid.

  73 Fisher regarding flawed science: “Merck’s Gardasil Vaccine Not Proven Safe for Little Girls; National Vaccine Information Center Criticizes FDA for Fast-Tracking Licensure,” PR Newswire, June 27, 2006.

  74 Fisher and “death by Vioxx”: “HPV Vaccine Now, HIV Vaccine Next,” posted by Barbara Loe Fisher, August 16, 2006, http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com.

  74 Fisher and “the slut shot”: “The Slut Shot,” posted by Barbara Loe Fisher, August 17, 2006, http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com.

  74 Fisher and “the ‘cheaters’ vaccine”: “The ‘Cheaters’ Vaccine: HPV,” posted by Barbara Loe Fisher, October 3, 2006, http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com.

  74 Epidemiology of HPV in American women: H. Richardson, G. Kelsall, P. Tellier, et al., “Natural History of Type-Specific Human Papillomavirus Infections in Female University Students,” Cancer Epidemiology Bio-markers and Prevention 12 (2003): 485-490; R. L Winer, S. K. Lee, J. P. Hughes, et al., “Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection: Incidence and Risk Factors in a Cohort of Female University Students,” American Journal of Epidemiology 157 (2003): 218-226.

  74 Fisher on TV: CBS News Sunday Morning, April 1, 2007.

  74 CDC evaluates HPV vaccine safety: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety.vaers.gardasil.htm.

  74 HPV vaccine and GBS: Ibid.; S. L. Block, D. R. Brown, A. Chatterjee, et al., “Clinical Trial and Post-Licensure Safety Profile of a Prophylactic Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) L1 Virus-Like Particle Vaccine,” Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 29 (2010): 95-101.

  75 Fisher discounts coincidence: “Gardasil Vaccine: The Damage Continues,” posted by Barbara Loe Fisher, August 15, 2008, http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com.

  75 Fisher and HPV vaccine causing cancer: “Vaccine Safety Group Releases Gardasil Reaction Reports,” PR Newswire, February 21, 2007.

  75 Fisher and chickenpox vaccine: S. H. Trudeau, “Is There a Risk to Vaccines?” Copley News Service, January 12, 1998.

  75 Chickenpox: A. A. Gershon, M. Takahashi, and J. F. Seward, “Varicella Vaccine,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  75 Fisher and shifting burden of chickenpox by vaccine: S. H. Trudeau, “Is There a Risk to Vaccines?” Copley News Service, January 12, 1998.

  75 Chickenpox vaccine efficacy: A. A. Gershon, M. Takahashi, and J. F. Seward, “Varicella Vaccine,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  76 Fisher and herd immunity: H. Collins, “Life Giver or Life Taker: A Debate on the Value of Vaccines, Special Report, Immunizations: A Public Health Staple Comes Under Siege,” Philadelphia Inquirer, October 3, 1999.

  76 Measles outbreak in the Netherlands: S. von den Hof, M.A.E. Conyn-van Spaendonck, and J. E. van Steenbergen, “Measles Epidemic in the Netherlands: 1999-2000,” Journal of Infectious Diseases 186 (2002): 1483-1486.

  76 Fisher and unrealistic fear of disease: K. G. Goff, “Measles Makes Unwelcome Return,” Washington Times, May 6, 2009.

  76 Measles: P. M. Strebel, M. J. Papania, G. H. Dayan, and N. A. Halsey, “Measles Vaccine,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  76 Fisher on virtue of natural influenza infection: “Using Religion to Promote Flu Vaccine,” posted by Barbara Loe Fisher, January 20, 2007, http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com.

  76 Deaths from pandemic influenza, 2009: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm.

  77 Berkovic regarding guilt: Author interview with Samuel Berkovic, November 27, 2009.

  77 John Salamone’s background: National Italian-American Foundation: John Salamone, http://www.niaf.org/about/board_officers.asp.

  78 Salamone on son: “Injected Polio Vaccine Winning Support,” Baltimore Sun, March 29, 1999.

  78 Salamone and drunken sailor: Ibid.

  78 Salamone on son’s diagnosis: Author interview with John Salamone, December 4, 2009. All other quotes from John Salamone in this chapter were obtained from this interview.

  81 Fisher quotes Shakespeare: H. L. Coulter and B. L. Fisher, A Shot in the Dark: Why the P in the DPT Vaccination May Be Hazardous to Your Children’s Health (Garden City Park, N.Y.: Avery Publishing, 1991).

  81 Fisher accuses health officials of deception: “Babies Die After MMR,” posted by Barbara Loe Fisher, June 19, 2006, http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com.

  82 Fisher accuses experts of not caring: “Real Life Experience of a Vaccine Reaction,” posted by Barbara Loe Fisher, May 1, 2006, http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com.

  82 Fisher and Nazi Germany: “Doctors Want Power to Kill Disabled Babies,” posted by Barbara Loe Fisher, November 5, 2006, http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com.

  83 Fisher and pencil pushers: “Pencil Pushers Deny Vaccine/Optic Neuritis Link,” posted by Barbara Loe Fisher, June 19, 2006, http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com.

  83 Fisher and “bloodbath”: Wingspread meeting headed by Dr. Roger Bernier, July 2002; personal communication from Dr. Deborah Wexler, April 9, 2010.

  6. Justice

  86 VICP: G. Evans, E. M. Levine, and E. H. Saindon, “Legal Issues,” in Vaccines , 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  86 Rett Syndrome: Ibid.

  86 SIDS and vaccines: Ibid.

  86 DTP vaccine and attention deficit disorder: Allen, Vaccine, 287.

  86 Lawyer admission: Ibid.

  86 Dog gets stupider: Ibid.

  86 VICP change: G. Evans, E. M. Levine, and E. H. Saindon, “Legal Issues,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  86 Fisher regarding VICP change: Barbara Loe Fisher testimony before the U.S. House Government Reform Committee, “Vaccines: Finding a Balance Between Public Safety and Personal Choice,” August 3, 1999; and testimony before the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Drug Policy and Human Resources, House Government Reform Civil Service Compensation for Vaccine Injuries, September 28, 1999.

  86 Margaret Althen: Althen v. Department of Health and Human Services, 418 F.3d 1274 (Fed. Cir. 2005).

  87 Vaccine and demyelinating diseases: J. Tuttle, R. T. Chen, H. Rantala, et al., “The Risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome After Tetanus-Toxoid-Containing Vaccines in Adults and Children in the United States,” American Journal of Public Health 87 (1997): 2045-2048; T. Verstraeten, R. Davis, F. DeStefano, and the Vaccine Safety DataLink Team, “Decreased Risk of Demyelinating Disease Following Tetanus Immunization [abstract],” American Journal of Epidemiology 155 (2002): S52; C. Confavreux, S. Suissa, P. Saddier, et al., “Vaccinations and the Risk of Relapse in Multiple Sclerosis,” New England Journal of Medicine 344 (2001): 319-326.

  87 Rose Capizzano: Capizzano v. Department of Health and Human Services , 440 F.3d 1317 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (quotations regarding the case are from this document); G. Evans, E. M. Levine, and E. H. Saindon, “Legal Issues,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).
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  87 Hepatitis B vaccine and rheumatoid arthritis: E. E. Mast and J. W. Ward, “Hepatitis B Vaccines,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  87 Hepatitis B vaccine and paralysis: Stevens v. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, March 30, 2001.

  87 Hib vaccine and paralysis: Camerlin v. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, October 29, 2003.

  87 MMR and epilepsy: Cusati v. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, September 22, 2005.

  87 MMR and fibromyalgia: Zatuchni v. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, February 12, 2008.

  87 Hepatitis B vaccine and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Peugh v. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, April 21, 2006.

  87 Rubella vaccine and chronic arthritis: P. E. Slater, T. Ben Zvi, A. Fogel, et al., “Absence of an Association Between Rubella Vaccination and Arthritis in Underimmune Post-Partum Women,” Vaccine 13 (1995): 1529-1532; P. Ray, S. Black, H. Shinefield, et al., “Risk of Chronic Arthropathy Among Women After Rubella Vaccination,” Journal of the American Medical Association 278 (1997): 551-556.

  87 Evidence exonerating vaccines as cause of paralysis, epilepsy, and arthritis: Ibid.; E. E. Mast and J. W. Ward, “Hepatitis B Vaccines,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier /Saunders, 2008).

  88 Werderitsch decision: Werderitsch v. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, May 26, 2006.

  88 Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis and hepatitis B virus infections: E. E. Mast and J. W. Ward, “Hepatitis B Vaccines,” in Vaccines, 5th ed., eds. S. A. Plotkin, W. A. Orenstein, and P. A. Offit (London: Elsevier/Saunders, 2008).

  88 Hepatitis B vaccine not a cause of multiple sclerosis: A. Ascherio, S. M. Zhang, M. A. Hernan, et al., “Hepatitis B Vaccination and the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis,” New England Journal of Medicine 344 (2001): 327- 332; C. Confavreux, S. Suissa, P. Saddier, et al., “Vaccinations and the Risk of Relapse in Multiple Sclerosis,” New England Journal of Medicine 344 (2001): 319-326.