Vaccines, Measles, Autism and the Rights of Parents. Mark F. Blaxill Health Choice April 30, 2017

Transcription

1 Vaccines, Measles, Autism and the Rights of Parents Mark F. Blaxill Health Choice April 30, 2017

2 Introduction Measles in the United States Autism in Minnesota Research fraud from the CDC in MMR-autism study Exemption rights

3 What the government says about the risks and benefits of vaccines Risks Benefits

4 What anti-vaxxers say about the risks and benefits of vaccines Risks Benefits

5 The risks and benefits of each vaccine are different Vaccine 1 Vaccine 2 Vaccine 3 Vaccine 4 Vaccine 5 Vaccine 6 Etc Risks Risks Risks Risks Risks Risks Benefits Benefits Benefits Benefits Benefits Benefits All vaccines have risks

6 The schedules many of us grew up with Year 1 Year 2 Y3 Y4 Y Birth M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 + M12 M15 M18-24 Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Polio (oral) Smallpox Year 1 Year 2 Y3 Y4 Y Birth M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 + M12 M15 M18-24 Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Polio (oral) Measles Mumps Rubella Year 1 Year 2 Y3 Y4 Y Birth M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 + M12 M15 M18-24 Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Polio (oral) Measles Mumps Rubella

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8 Once Quite Rare, Vaccine Adverse Side Effect Reports Have Risen Above 30,000/Year, With Over 200 Deaths/Year Pandemic flu effect Source: Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, July 27, 2015 Year of vaccination

9 Introduction Measles in the United States Autism in Minnesota Research fraud from the CDC in MMR-autism study Exemption rights

10 MEASLES MORTALITY IN THE 20 TH CENTURY Deaths per 100K Measles had ceased to be a deadly disease long before the vaccine was introduced Measles vaccine licensed

11 KEY FACTS ABOUT MEASLES RISK IN THE UNITED STATES The U.S population risk of dying from measles has fallen essentially to zero during the 20 th century, for one major and one minor reason 1. Most importantly, measles long ago became a self-limiting infection of short duration, moderate severity, and low fatality. 1 Death rates among those infected fell to very low levels 2. Of lesser importance, wild-type measles cases have also fallen to very low levels following the introduction of the live virus measles vaccine Since 2000, There have been over 2200 cases of wild-type measles in the U.S. There have been conflicting reports on the number of deaths CDC: spokeswoman in 2015: Zero deaths from wild-type measles since Latest updates to CDC reports: 11 deaths Over 170 cases of deaths related to measles containing vaccines have been reported to VAERS 3 1. Alexander D. Langmuir et al., The Importance of Measles as a Health Problem, 52 AM. J. PUB. HEALTH 1, 1 (1962). 2. CDC spokesperson Helen (Amy) Rowland to Health Choice, January 30, Search for measles-containing vaccines, vaccination years and death

12 THE CHANGING RISK OF DEATH FROM A MEASLES INFECTION: % 5.0% In the early 20 th century, measles was a dangerous illness, between 1-5% of those who caught it died 4.0% 3.0% 2.0% 1.0% After World War II, measles became a mostly benign childhood illness, with less than 1 in 1000 dying from it 0.0%

13 MEASLES INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY IN THE 20 TH CENTURY 15 Deaths per 100K Measles had ceased to be a deadly disease long before the vaccination was introduced Measles vaccine licensed Cases per 100K First measles vaccine licensed in 1963 but the measles vaccine did effectively eliminate a common childhood illness

14 THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL OR EXTREME ABOUT THE RECENT MEASLES OUTBREAK Total CA OH NY WA MN TX All Other (147 DL) NA (as of 4/28)

15 CDC DESCRIPTION OF RECENT OUTBREAKS MN 2011 The largest outbreak occurred among 21 persons in a Minnesota population in which many children were unvaccinated because of parental concerns about the safety of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. TX 2013 In an ongoing outbreak in Texas, 20 confirmed cases have been reported as of August 24 among members of a church community. NY 2013 A total of 58 cases* were identified, including six generations of measles infection in two neighborhoods of the borough of Brooklyn. All cases were in members of the orthodox Jewish community. No case was identified in a person who had documented measles vaccination at the time of exposure OH 2014 The U.S. experienced 23 measles outbreaks in 2014, including one large outbreak of 383 cases, occurring primarily among unvaccinated Amish communities in Ohio.

16 The Disneyland Measles Outbreak and it Aftermath An unknown individual (presumed to be an international traveler) infected with measles visited Disneyland around December 17-20, Approximately 40 California residents (and a smaller number of out-of state residents) were exposed to measles and infected during this period. These ~50 original cases eventually infected about 100 more, mostly California residents The CDC was first notified of these new cases in early January and began publicizing the outbreak aggressively soon after Intensive media coverage commenced in late January (January 21-24), peak coverage was reached in early February (February 3-6) and continued until month-end However, by mid February, measles infections were no longer spreading. The last reported California case connected to Disneyland caught the virus around February 20 Supported by the media hysteria over measles, a wave of vaccine antiexemption legislation was launched. In many states, legislators introduced new bills revoking exemption rights starting with a bill filed in Oregon on January 20 th

17 Within 6-8 weeks, the Disneyland outbreak had largely run its course, with few new measles rashes after February 11 CDC MMWR Early Release: February 13, Number of confirmed measles cases (N = 110), by date of rash onset California, December 2014 February 2015

18 In late January, CDC publicized reports from a Disneyland outbreak; by mid March, new reports ended Date of report Total cases New reports All US cases CA cases All US reports CA reports* (as of 1/7) MMWR Feb 20, 2015 /64(06); /23/2015 (as of 1/21) 2/13/2015 (as of 2/11) MMWR Feb 20, 2015 /64(06); /2/2015 (as of 2/27) (12/17-1/7) (1/7-21) (1/21-2/11) (2/11-27) 3/9/2015 (as of 3/6) (2/27-3/6) 3/16/2015 (as of 3/13) (3/6-13) 3/23/2015 (as of 3/20) (3/13-20) 3/30/2015 (as of 3/27) (3/20-27) 4/6/2015 (as of 4/3) (3/27-4/3) *CDC weekly reports lag behind the California DPH reports

19 The 2017 Minnesota measles outbreak

20 Since 2000, over 2200 reported measles cases, 11 reported deaths, no deaths in major outbreaks Measles cases OH MN TX/ NY CA/ Disneyland Reported deaths from measles

21 Since 2000, 172 deaths from measles-containing vaccines have been reported to VAERS Measles vaccines deaths reported to VAERS

22 Summary points The hysteria over measles was unfounded. Measles is not Ebola Measles has long since ceased to be a dangerous illness for healthy children. Most adults born before the mid-1960s acquired measles in childhood and experienced it as a minor inconvenience The experience of measles as a subclinical illness caused by live-virus injections has made wild-type measles very rare and easier to fear Measles should not cause panic The measles vaccine virus can shed and cause infections in unhealthy children. Vaccinees should avoid those at health risk of viral infections. Measles vaccination to protect the ill is not a civic duty Measles-containing vaccines like MMR now cause many more deaths than measles The Disneyland measles episode was neither larger nor more serious than other recent outbreaks

23 Introduction Measles in the United States Autism in Minnesota Research fraud from the CDC in MMR-autism study Exemption rights

24 SINCE 1990, AUTISM RATES HAVE EXPLODED: SOMETHING NEW AND TERRIBLE IS HAPPENING TO A GENERATION OF CHILDREN Autism cases per 10, All autistic spectrum disorders PDD/ autistic disorder Birth year 1 Rates of PDD/autistic disorder based on data from WI, UT, CA DDS and CDC ADDM network 2 Rates for Autism Spectrum disorder based on surveys of 8 year olds: MN from and CDC ADDM network from and 2004 birth year data are adjusted for downward biases in Utah and Maryland data

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26 The CDC report the Univ. of MN study was based on: ADDM autism rates by state in 8 year olds born in 2002 MN Somali MN White MN Black MN Hispanic New Jersey Utah North Carolina Maryland Arizona Georgia Arkansas Missouri Colorado Wisconsin Alabama 1 in 68 1 in 46 1 in 32 1 in Autism cases per 10,000

27 Autism rates in MN Somali children born ~2002 are the highest ever measured in the United States MN Somali MN White MN Black MN Hispanic New Jersey Utah North Carolina Maryland Arizona Georgia Arkansas Missouri Colorado Wisconsin Alabama 1 in 68 1 in 48 1 in 46 1 in 32 1 in Autism cases per 10,000

28 ADDM autism rates by state: 8 year olds born Autism cases per 10, WV 2000 report 2002 report 2004 results 2006 report 2008 report Birth year AZ UT PA FL NC MO SC CO NJ AL 2010 report MN Somali AR WI MD GA 2012 report 1 in 50 1 in 75 1 in in in 250

29 Introduction Measles in the United States Autism in Minnesota Research fraud from the CDC in MMR-autism study Exemption rights

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31 WILLIAM W. THOMPSON COMMENTING ON RESEARCH FRAUD IN THE 2004 MMR-AUTISM STUDY Oh my God, I cannot believe we did what we did. But we did. It s the lowest point in my career that I went along with that paper and why, I went along with this, we didn t report significant findings. I m completely ashamed of what I did. I have great shame now when I meet families of kids with autism, because I have been part of the problem. I was complicit and, uh, I went along with this. The higher ups wanted to do certain things and I went along with it.

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33 The Primary Outcome

34 THE FIRST ANALYSIS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS SHOWED MORE THAN A DOUBLING OF RISK WITH EARLY MMR EXPOSURE

35 This Excel File.. shows the RACE analyses that I had run using ONLY the BIRTH CERTIFICATE Sample --- the unadjusted RACE effect was statistically significant. (OR=1.51, [95%CI ]). At the bottom of Table 7, it also shows that for the NON-BIRTH Certificate Sample, the adjusted RACE effect statistically significance was HUGE. (OR=2.94 [95%CI ]). That is the main reason why we decided to report the RACE effects for ONLY the BIRTH Certificate Sample.

36 THE PUBLISHED ANALYSIS COULD HAVE INCLUDED A RACE EFFECT

37 BUT THE PUBLISHED RISK EFFECT INCLUDED ONLY AGE AND GENDER FOR THE FULL SAMPLE

38 AND PUBLISHED THE RACE EFFECT ONLY FOR THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE SAMPLE

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40 Introduction Measles in the United States Autism in Minnesota Research fraud from the CDC in MMR-autism study Exemption rights

41 Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights UNESCO resolution adopted on October 19, Article 6 Consent Section 1. Any preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic medical intervention is only to be carried out with the prior, free and informed consent of the person concerned, based on adequate information. The consent should, where appropriate, be express and may be withdrawn by the person concerned at any time and for any reason without disadvantage or prejudice.

42 CONGRESS CHOSE TO PROTECT VACCINE MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE VACCINES ARE UNAVOIDABLY UNSAFE Subsection (b) Unavoidable Adverse Side Effects; Direct Warnings. This provision sets forth the principle contained in Comment K of Section 402A of the Restatement of Torts (Second) that a vaccine manufacturer should not be liable for injuries or deaths resulting from unavoidable side effects even though the vaccine was properly prepared and accompanied by proper directions and warnings. The Committee has set forth Comment K in this bill because it intends that the principle in Comment K regarding unavoidably unsafe products, i.e., those products which in the present state of human skill and knowledge cannot be made safe, apply to the vaccines covered in the bill and that such products not be the subject of liability in the tort system. -The House Energy and Commerce Committee Report accompanying the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, H. R. Rep. No , pt. 1 (1986)

43 Minnesota state law grants exemptions rights to parents 121A.15 HEALTH STANDARDS; IMMUNIZATIONS; SCHOOL CHILDREN. Subd. 3.Exemptions from immunizations. (d) If a notarized statement signed by the minor child's parent or guardian or by the emancipated person is submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility stating that the person has not been immunized as prescribed in subdivision 1 because of the conscientiously held beliefs of the parent or guardian of the minor child or of the emancipated person, the immunizations specified in the statement shall not be required. This statement must also be forwarded to the commissioner of the Department of Health. (e) If the person is under 15 months, the person is not required to be immunized against measles, rubella, or mumps