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epidemic areas where mass immunization programs The committee went further and stated the following: were undertaken as emergency control measures. The "l. The extent of the associated risk is sufficiently low remaining 87 cases were widely scattered and occurred relative to the risk of naturally occurring illness in in nonepidemic areas usually following community-wide children to warrant continuation and intensification of oral poliomyelitis programs.” the poliomyelitis immunization program throughout the I find it hard to believe that, in a country with some __ nation, although with some changes in emphasis; 220 million people and 2.5 million live births per year, "2. Primary emphasis should be given in all here would only be some 200 cases of paralysis. Even communities to the immunization of all infants during if it were true, then the number certainly would be more _ their first year of life. All communities which have not han the much-quoted "one case ina million". already organized continuing programs for the effective Because of the continued incidence of vaccine- immunization of their infants and preschool children in associated cases, a committee was again convened by all socioeconomic groups are urged to do so. (The he Surgeon General to re-assess the problem and to success of such programs is requisite for attaining the develop recommendations for the future use of oral goal of the elimination of paralytic poliomyelitis since it poliomyelitis vaccines. The committee met on 17 and is primarily these younger children who serve to 18 July 1965. Its recommendations, as far as the _ transmit the natural infection within the community.) diagnosis of poliomyelitis is concerned, were as follows: "3. Communities which have not yet embarked upon "Il. Onset of illness between four and 30 days mass immunization programs are encouraged to do so ollowing feeding of the specific during the coming fall and vaccine in question, with onset . . winter (1964-65). (Such of paralysis not sooner than six ...polio vaccines...do cause programs will be of value only if ep Significant restfual-lower: major outbreaks of unimmunised persons motor-neuron paralysis; paralytic poliomyelitis, particularly preschool children, "3 Laboratory data not followin vaccination in lower socioeconomic areas. inconsistent with respect to . . Before embarking on mass multiplication of the vaccine drives, In areas that have programs, all communities virus fed; : hould develop definite pl "4. No evidence of upper- not had any polio cases for for continuing immunization motor neuron disease, defini e€ a number of years. programs ° pare for new sensory loss or progression or susceptibles born into or recurrence of paralytic illness moving into the community).” one month or more after onset.” The statements and conclusions in the above Of the 87 cases considered, 57 were judged paragraphs are important in that they started the "compatible" and 21 were excluded after carefu avalanche of denials of the causal link between the consideration. In nine of the cases, the data were documented administration of the offending vaccines considered insufficient upon which to make a _ and the resultant symptoms (paralysis)—which, in my judgement. The "compatible" cases occurred largely opinion, defies common sense. While it may be among adults, 44 being 15 years of age or older and partially true that the contemporary methods in the eight over 50 years of age. The onset of illness fel 1960s may have been insufficient to prove the causa between four and 28 days, with the majority of cases link, the obviously flawed methods and criteria for occurring within eight to 21 days following vaccine accepting causality developed soon afterwards. administration. There was no apparent association o Moreover, the repetition in innumerable countries o cases with specific lots of vaccine or vaccine produced documented outbreaks of polio within 30 days after by a particular manufacturer. vaccination drives is sufficient to see that polio vaccines It is obvious to me that this committee's main of all kinds (OPV, IPV) do cause major outbreaks o motivation was to exclude as many paralysis cases __ paralytic poliomyelitis, following vaccination drives, in associated with vaccination as possible. There was no areas that have not had any polio cases for a number o! concern for the affected recipients of the polio vaccines; years. they were discarded and left to fend for themselves. A The most important development was the publication truly mediaeval, feudalistic and, to say the least, — of Bradford Hill's 1965 paper, in which he defined nine unscientific attitude! points to be fulfilled for accepting causality. Al Under "Evaluation of the risk", the committee wrote documented outbreaks of polio after vaccination drives that it "recognizes that it is not possible to prove that fulfill these nine points. Outbreaks of other infectious any individual case was caused by the vaccine and that diseases in the vaccinated follow suit. no laboratory tests available can provide a definitive It is interesting that the pro-vaccinators frown upon ” than inaleedin gn mera nll wha ates: ealarant madiaal , major outbreaks of paralytic poliomyelitis, following vaccination drives, in areas that have not had any polio cases for a number of years. years. The most important development was the publication of Bradford Hill's 1965 paper, in which he defined nine points to be fulfilled for accepting causality. All documented outbreaks of polio after vaccination drives fulfill these nine points. Outbreaks of other infectious diseases in the vaccinated follow suit. It is interesting that the pro-vaccinators frown upon those, including myself, who study relevant medical answer". 38 ¢ NEXUS ...polio vaccines...do cause www.nexusmagazine.com AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2009