Archive for May, 2009

Pediatrics Study Exposes Dangers of Vaccine Exemptions

A study published in the June issue of Pediatrics discovered that children who are not immunized against whooping cough are 23 times more likely to contract the disease.

Much like the New England Journal of Medicine study on exemptors published earlier this month, the Pediatrics study, entitled “Parental Refusal of Pertussis Vaccination Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Pertussis Infection in Children,” received extensive coverage in the media. NBC’s “The Today Show” aired a segment and every major daily newspaper and wire service carried the story.

Outlets in Denver and Minneapolis used it as an opportunity to editorialize on the importance of vaccinations.

Oprah Documentary Reignites Blogger Outrage

An hour long documentary, “The Oprah Effect,” premiered last night, examining three businesses that Oprah Winfrey recommended on her show. The Chicago Tribune’s TV blog notes that “Winfrey’s seal of approval hasn’t just transformed businesses whose products appear on her annual ‘Favorite Things’ list, it’s also led to a wave of spinoff programs from the media titan’s Harpo Productions.” The post goes on to mention Jenny McCarthy’s deal with Oprah and notes, “McCarthy has said she is not ‘anti-vaccine’ and that she is advocating for improved vaccines. But she said in an interview on Oprah.com that if she ‘had another child, I would not vaccinate.’”

Bloggers have used this documentary as another opportunity to voice their concerns about Oprah’s support of Jenny McCarthy and her belief that vaccines cause autism. Dr. Janet Stemwedel, who writes a blog on ethics and science, wonders, “Is it acceptable to give any guest you please a soapbox without taking a position on the opinions they voice from that soapbox? Is reading official statements from the CDC and AAP enough ‘balance’ to Jenny McCarthy’s views on vaccines, or do you think the ‘Oprah Winfrey Show’ needs to do more? And, if Oprah and her producers are aware of the Oprah effect (which, really, they have to be, right?), should that awareness of their reach lead them to try to meet a higher ethical standard as far as the foreseeable consequences for giving Jenny McCarthy a soapbox?”

NVAC and ACCV Meet Next Week

The National Vaccine Advisory Meeting will take place in Washington, D.C. next Tuesday and Wednesday, June 2-3. To view the agenda, please click here. Pre-registration is required for both public attendance and comment. Those who wish to attend the meeting and/or participate in the public comment session should either e-mail nvpo@hhs.gov or call 202-690-5566 to register.

The Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV) meeting is on Thursday and Friday, June 4 - 5. To view the agenda, please click here. For further information, or to register to attend, please contact Michelle Herzog at 301-443-6593 or by e-mail at mherzog@hrsa.gov.

Media Backlash Against Celebrity Medicine Continues

The latest issue of Readers’ Digest was the first of many outlets this week to question the trend of celebrities offering medical advice. The article sets the record straight on vaccines and autism, quoting various doctors, including Dr. Nancy Snyderman’s thoughts on Jenny McCarthy’s campaign: “Jenny McCarthy is very well-spoken, but the science is not on her side…I worry that children are going to pay for this with their lives.”

Several Canadian outlets also picked up the story. The Vancouver Sun notes that “while Jenny McCarthy and other celebrities might have popular appeal, if we really want to know the truth about vaccines, and if we’re really committed to protecting public health, it’s better to look at the science.” The National Post reports that “[p]ediatric associations in Canada and the United States are worried that the actress and former Playboy bunny, Jenny McCarthy, will use a new deal with Oprah to promote her emotionally resonant vaccine-skeptical views, despite the fact that they are not scientifically backed.”

Tribune Runs Series on Dangerous Treatments

This week, the Chicago Tribune ran four articles denouncing the work of father-son team the Geiers and Dr. Mayer Eisenstein, coinciding with the Autism One conference in Chicago. Jenny McCarthy is the keynote speaker.

Two of the articles examine the use of Lupron in treating autistic children. Simon Baron-Cohen is quoted, declaring that “[t]he idea of using it with vulnerable children with autism, who do not have a life-threatening disease and pose no danger to anyone, without a careful trial to determine the unwanted side effects or indeed any benefits, fills me with horror.” Other experts agree, worrying about long-term effects on the children. Dr. Mark Geier defends his treatment by saying, “I wasn’t worried about whether he would have children when he is 25 years old. If you want to call it a nasty name, call it chemical castration. If you want to call it something nice, say you are lowering testosterone.”

The second series exposes malpractice at Dr. Mayer Eisenstein’s Homefirst practice, noting the many lawsuits that have been filed against the practice over the years. The piece notes that “Eisenstein, who calls the American Academy of Pediatrics the ‘American Academy of Pharmaceuticals,’ dismisses the many peer-reviewed studies that failed to find a link between autism and vaccines as ‘fake studies.’”

Other outlets, including NPR, have now picked up the story.

Please click on an article below to read each:
• “‘Miracle drug’ called junk science”
• “Physician team’s crusade shows cracks”
• “Autism doctor: Troubling record trails doctor treating autism”
• “Dr. Peter Rosi places blame on some parents for their babies’ deaths”

Blogs Continue to Attack Oprah

Bloggers have continued to criticize Oprah this week for her multimedia deal with Jenny McCarthy. Science bloggers have started a letter writing campaign, requesting their readers to contact Oprah and ask her to get the facts about vaccines and autism.

Dr. Rahul Parikh, a contributor to Salon.com, has taken issue with Oprah for her health advice beyond vaccines in an article titled, “Oprah’s bad medicine.” He notes that, “Her weekday show reaches millions of people, while each doctor can reach only one patient at a time. That could easily be corrected by Winfrey providing more thought and balance in her medical advice.”

Even popular, humorous sites such as Cracked.com, which attracts over 2 million readers a month, have taken issue with Oprah. Cracked contributor Daniel O’Brien has asked his readers to stop listening to Jenny McCarthy and is concerned that Oprah has given her such a large platform.

Maryland Case Against Thimerosal Thrown Out

Maryland’s Court of Appeals have ruled that experts in a case against Wyeth did not have the “knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, primarily in the field of epidemiology, to proffer reliable expert testimony on matters of complex and novel scientific inquiry, such as whether a causal connection exists between the preservative thimerosal and autism.” The case was originally dismissed in a Baltimore court in January 2008. You can read more about the case and opinion on Law.com.

West Virginia Mother Sues for Vaccine Exemptions

Jennifer Workman, whose 6-year-old is unvaccinated, has sued for the right to a religious exemption. Until a ruling is issued, she will have to home school her daughter. Currently, West Virginia only allows medical exemptions. This has received limited media attention.

President Obama Names CDC Director

President Obama announced today that he has selected New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden to serve as the next Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This appointment does not require Senate confirmation and he is expected to begin his new role at the agency next month. An infectious disease specialist, Dr. Frieden has served as New York’s top health official for the past seven years under Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

NEJM Study Shows Vaccine Refusers Increase Risk of Infectious Diseases for All

A New England Journal of Medicine study released this week determined that increasing vaccine exemption rates are leading to outbreaks of disease. According to the authors, “Children with exemptions from school immunization requirements (a measure of vaccine refusal) are at increased risk for measles and pertussis and can infect others who are too young to be vaccinated, cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, or were vaccinated but did not have a sufficient immunologic response.”

The media has been quick to pick up this story. Positive coverage includes Reuters, Bloomberg, and the Wall Street Journal.

Jenny McCarthy Wraps Up Media Tour, Signs Deal with Oprah

Jenny McCarthy’s final official media tour appearance for Healing and Preventing Autism aired on The Doctors this Wednesday. She appeared alongside co-author Dr. Jerry Kartzinel and Generation Rescue’s JB Handley, who got into a heated debate with co-host Dr. Travis Stork. The hosts did read a strong statement from the AAP. It was revealed that McCarthy and her team refused to allow a representative of the AAP to appear with them.

Earlier in the week, Reuters was the first to announce a deal between Jenny McCarthy and Harpo, Oprah Winfrey’s production company. The contract involves multiple platforms, including a possible talk show hosted by McCarthy. The actress has already begun blogging on Oprah’s web site.

The celebrity bloggers have not been impressed by this announcement. Gawker, a blog with over 2 million visitors a month, criticized the move saying, “Oh, good, Oprah is going to give Jenny McCarthy a talk show, because she wants your kid to die of the measles.” Other news-based blogs were equally dismayed. Arthur Allen of Slate.com asked Oprah to “think of the children” while Discover Magazine criticized the talk show host and media mogul for going “way, way too far.”

Additional plans for McCarthy’s deal have not been announced.

AAP Stands Behind Vaccines

Dr. David Tayloe, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, addressed the topic of vaccines in his regular letter for AAP News. In the piece, Dr. Tayloe emphasizes that, “Our vaccine safety system is excellent… Immunizations continue to be the hottest issue for our members, and the Academy will continue to do its best to assure the timely immunization of all children in a medical home.”

NVAC Safety Working Group Presents Draft Recommendations

The NVAC met yesterday via teleconference to discuss the draft ISO safety research agenda. The entire presentation as well as the recommendations can be found on their site. Most notably, a feasibility study of a vaccinated vs. unvaccinated study was proposed. Some of the research recommendations included exploring whether influenza vaccines or the meningococcal conjugate vaccine are associated with increased risk for Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Public comment was available, but only Jim Moody from SafeMinds and Rebecca Estepp from Talk About Curing Autism spoke. Mr. Moody suggested that the NIH National Children’s Study which would include about 5,000 unvaccinated children and span about 20 years would be a good way to conduct the vaccinated vs. unvaccinated study.

The NVAC will meet again to vote on the research agenda on June 2nd and 3rd.

H1N1 Dominates the Headlines

The outbreak of H1N1, or swine, flu has dominated headlines around the world this week. There is no vaccine currently available and government officials expect it would take months to create. A special report on NPR recounts the swine flu vaccine of 1976, noting that “testing the safety of [a new] vaccine will be a key component.”

Cases in the U.S. have now passed the 100 mark according to the AP but, as the New York Times points out, seasonal flu kills 36,000 and infects many more each year. We will continue to follow this story and offer updates as they become available.

New Research-based Autism Organization Launched

The Autism Science Foundation officially launched on April 18 at the Health Care Journalists’ Annual Conference. Alison Tepper Singer, former vice president of Communications for Autism Speaks and Karen Margulis London, co-founder of the National Alliance for Autism Research, have launched the organization to explore science-based explanations for autism. Updates on the latest in autism research can be found on their web site.

Vaccine Partners Host Congressional Briefing

Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Joseph Barton (R-TX) co-sponsored a briefing entitled “Vaccines: Communicating Disease Risks and Consequences to the Public” on Tuesday, April 28. Speakers included: Amy A. Pisani, Executive Director, Every Child By Two; Melinda Wharton, MD, Acting Director, CDC Immunization Safety Office; Mark Sawyer, MD, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, UCSD School of Medicine; Brendalee Flint, mother of Hib survivor, Julieanna Metcalf. The speakers addressed vaccine safety concerns as well as outbreaks across the country. Dr. Sawyer spoke to his experience treating the measles outbreak in San Diego last year. Brendalee Flint brought her daughter, Julieanna, and recounted her daughters near death experience with Hib meningitis. Various Congressional staffers who were unable to attend have since asked ECBT for copies of the briefing materials.

Co-sponsors of the briefing included: Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute • American Academy of Pediatrics • American Medical Association • Association of State and Territorial Health Officials • Association of Immunization Managers • Every Child By Two • Immunization Action Coalition • National Medical Association • Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases • Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society • Partnership for Prevention