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Many physicians consider vaccination extremely safe, and suppressed because these are seen as having a potentially negative parents or patients are not provided with information regarding impact on vaccination uptake rates. potential adverse outcomes. Since varicella disease is Rather than depicting a true cost-benefit scenario, public health relatively benign, only a few serious adverse reactions might officials in increasing numbers appear to be unduly influenced by offset the intended benefits. conflicts of interests with the pharmaceutical industry itself and the A post-marketing evaluation by Black et al. concluded that the —_ pursuit of profits regardless of the negative impact and adverse varicella vaccine is safe based on VAERS reports.* Admittedly, consequences to public health. These considerations are not the spontaneous reporting in general and VAERS in particular are limited solely to the Universal Varicella Vaccination Program, but unreliable. Thus it is illogical for the FDA and the CDC to to other vaccination and drug programs as well. What has been acknowledge these limitations, yet state that VAERS serves "to previously outlined represents merely the tip of the iceberg. reassure the general public concerning the safety of a new Cost-benefit analyses of varicella vaccination appear optimistic, vaccine"’*—basing assessment of the safety of the varicella but they fail to factor in the resulting deleterious effects. Analyses vaccine only on an analy: f VAERS.*° of the Universal Varicella Vaccination Program in the US have Clinical descriptions of five different serious adverse effects also failed to consider the potential effect on the closely related that followed varicella vaccination, as well as scientific literature shingles disease. concerning other adverse reactions and vaccine-related Outside exposures to children with natural chickenpox complications, are provided in the appendices of my complete previously contributed a significant immunologic boosting effect paper (see http://www.MedicalVeritas.com/FULLNEXUS pdf). that helped suppress or postpone the reactivation of VZV as . . . _, 7 shingles among adults. In the US where Table 2: VAERS reports associated with varicella, DTaP, hepatitis B, Hib and vaccination coverage is increasing, and MMR vaccines through December 2003. since natural chickenpox has been Vaccine No. of Date of Duration Mean dramatically reduced in many communities, type reports first report (years) cases/year immunologic boosting via periodic Varicella 20,004 12 May 1995 8.5 2,350 exposures to children with natural DTaP? 23,886 2 Apr 1992 11.4 2,080 chickenpox is becoming rare, causing a Hep B’ 41,708 25 Jan 1990 14.0 2,980 need for booster chickenpox vaccinations in Hibs 25,060 2 Jan 1990 14.0 1,790 children (recommended at four to six years) MMR? 31,132 17 Nov 1989 14.0 2,220 and shingles vaccinations among adults. There was a time not so long ago when parents could place their implicit trust in their healthcare provider to make the best informed choices with respect to recommended interventions and procedures. a. Diphtheria and tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis b. Hepatitis B c. Haemophilus influenzae type b d. Measles-Mumps-Rubella Source information from US Government VAERS database, 1990-2003, With conflicts of interest plaguing the http:/Avww.medalerts.org/vaersdb current healthcare system, studies often report flawed conclusions that are biased PART IV: Conclusions toward promoting pharmaceutical products. Public health policies Prior to the universal chickenpox vaccination program, 95 per based on study outcomes that are not objectively obtained and cent of adults experienced natural chickenpox (usually as school- which have been manipulated toward promoting vaccination based age children), which was usually benign and which resulted in on flawed underlying assumptions of vaccine policies are surfacing long-term immunity. with greater frequency—demonstrating the need for parents to This high percentage of long-term immunity has been exercise caution, do careful research and take a more prominent compromised by mass vaccination of children, which provides at role when it comes to making healthcare decisions for themselves est 70-90 per cent immunity that is temporary and of unknown and their loved ones. duration—shifting chickenpox to a more vulnerable adult A key that a problem exists is seen in the statistic from the US population, where it carries 20 times more risk of death and 15 Department of Education, indicating that the number of cases of times more risk of hospitalisation compared to children. autism among individuals aged six to 21 in US schools increased Add to this the adverse effects of both the chickenpox and from 12,222 in 1992-1993 to 118,602 in 2002-2003, an overall shingles vaccines as well as the potential for increased risk of _ increase of 870 per cent. shingles for an estimated 30 to 50 years among adults. Furthermore, despite its spending the most income per capita on The Universal Varicella (chickenpox) Vaccination Program now healthcare, the US is ranked lower than many industrialised requires booster vaccines that are less effective than the natural nations in infant mortality, at 6.63 deaths per 1,000 live births, immunity that existed in communities prior to licensure of the and is even ranked lower than some countries that are relatively varicella vaccine. Routine vaccination against chickenpox has poor, including Cuba at 6.45 per 1,000, according to a 2005 produced continual cycles of treatment and disease. estimate.* Public health officials claim the causes are largely Rather than information being presented so that the parent or unknown. public is truly informed, only selective information from studies is The journal Medical Veritas (where veritas is Latin for "truth") typically chosen for publication. was started in April 2004 to assist in the goal of providing research Data, analyses, results and conclusions that are supportive of a that is free from conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical firms vaccine are desired by the sponsoring agency to promote and fostering the belief that a better-informed public will help to vaccination; while deleterious aspects and e often rarely investigated ensure better medical practice. oo Ter hve No. of reports 20,004 23,886 41,708 25,060 31,132 Date of first report 12 May 1995 2 Apr 1992 25 Jan 1990 2 Jan 1990 17 Nov 1989 Duration (years) 8.5 11.4 14.0 14.0 14.0 Mean cases/year 2,350 2,080 2,980 1,790 2,220 Prior to the universal chickenpox vaccination program, 95 per cent of adults experienced natural chickenpox (usually as school- age children), which was usually benign and which resulted in long-term immunity. This high percentage of long-term immunity has been compromised by mass vaccination of children, which provides at best 70-90 per cent immunity that is temporary and of unknown duration—shifting chickenpox to a more vulnerable adult population, where it carries 20 times more risk of death and 15 times more risk of hospitalisation compared to children. Add to this the adverse effects of both the chickenpox and shingles vaccines as well as the potential for increased risk of shingles for an estimated 30 to 50 years among adults. The Universal Varicella (chickenpox) Vaccination Program now requires booster vaccines that are less effective than the natural immunity that existed in communities prior to licensure of the varicella vaccine. Routine vaccination against chickenpox has produced continual cycles of treatment and disease. Rather than information being presented so that the parent or public is truly informed, only selective information from studies is typically chosen for publication. Data, analyses, results and conclusions that are supportive of a vaccine are desired by the sponsoring agency to promote vaccination; while deleterious aspects are often rarely investigated and, in the few instances where they are objectively pursued by conscientious scientists and researchers, the results are often 24 = NEXUS JUNE — JULY 2007 Continued on page 77 www.nexusmagazi ne.com