Vienna, Virginia http://www.909shot.com
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#9119
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“Protecting the health and informed consent rights of
children since 1982.”
National Vaccine Information Center
421-E Church Street
Vienna, VA 22180
February 20, 2002
703-938-0342
Washington, D.C. – Responding to a report issued today by
the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM) on child
vaccinations and autoimmune dysfunction, the nation’s oldest and largest
vaccine safety and informed consent advocacy organization, the National Vaccine
Information Center (NVIC) endorsed IOM’s call for expanded basic science
research into the development of the human immune system and identification of
genetic and other biomarkers which could predispose some children to vaccine
based adverse events, including autoimmunity.
The report, issued by the IOM’s Immunization Safety Review
Committee, found that scientific evidence from epidemiological studies on
whether allergy, including asthma, can be caused by multiple vaccinations was conflicting
and concluded that the evidence “was inadequate to accept or reject a causal
relationship.” The Committee concluded that epidemiological studies to date
“favor rejection of a causal relationship between multiple immunizations and
increased risk for infections and for type 1 diabetes.” However, the Committee
also concluded that they did find some biological mechanism evidence that
vaccines could increase the risk of immune dysfunction in some children that
could lead to increased infections and allergy, including asthma. They stated
that “the biological mechanisms evidence regarding increased risk for
infections is strong.”
The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) has long
advocated increased basic science research into the biological mechanisms for
immunity and vaccine adverse events, with particular emphasis on identifying
genetic and other biomarkers that may play a role in increasing susceptibility
for vaccine-induced neuroimmune dysfunction. Acknowledging the absence of research
into this area, the Committee said, “The Committee was unable to address the
concern that repeated exposure of a susceptible child to multiple immunizations
over the developmental period may also produce atypical or non-specific immune
or nervous system injury that could lead to severe disability or death. (Fisher, 2001). There are no epidemiological
studies that address this. Thus, the committee recognizes with some discomfort
that this report addresses only part of the overall set of concerns of some of
those most wary about the safety of childhood immunizations.”
NVIC President Barbara Loe Fisher called the report “an
important step in acknowledging the very real basic science research needs of
our nation’s mass vaccination system. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to
the growing minority of children who, for biological reasons, are not able to handle
the increasing numbers of vaccinations routinely being given to all children.”
The IOM Committee pointed out that “as the array of
available vaccines and disease targets expands the current emphasis on
universal recommendations and state mandates for vaccine use should be
reassessed.” It encouraged “an exploration of the merits of accomodating requests
for alternative vaccine-dosing schedules and the development of appropriate clinical
guidance for any such alternatives. A more flexible schedule might allow for a
reduction in the number of vaccines administered at one time.”
Although the IOM Committee report did not recommend a
policy review by the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug
Administration or the American Academy of Pediatrics at this time, the
Committee report summary clearly recommended continued scientific research and
consideration of “new frameworks for immunization policy, particularly as the
number of licensed vaccines increases.”
“While we disagree with some of the Committees
conclusions regarding the
relative strengths and weakness of both the epidemiological
and biological
mechanism data that bears on proof of causality involved in
vaccine-related
autoimmunity and believe that specialized, methodologically
sound studies of
possible associations between multiple vaccinations and
immune system
dysfunction should be given a high funding and program
priority by federal
health agencies, we are pleased that this IOM report has
identified a number
of areas in which vaccine adverse event and policy research
should be
re-examined,” said Fisher. “We hope that both government
and industry will
pay attention to the signals given in this report and work
with parents of vaccine injured children to come to a better scientific
understanding of why, for some children, the risks of vaccination are 100
percent.”
A non-profit, educational organization founded in 1982 by
parents of vaccine injured children, NVIC serves as a consumer watchdog on
vaccine development and policymaking. NVIC advocates the institution of safety
and informed consent protections in the mass vaccination system and basic science
research into genetic and other biological factors which place some individuals
at high risk for vaccine injury and death.
To view the full report:
http://National-Academies.org and www.iom.edu/imsafety
Center and is supported through membership donations. Learn more about vaccines, diseases and how
to protect your informed
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NVIC is funded through individual membership donations and
does not receive government funding. Barbara Loe Fisher, President and
Co-founder.
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