--Meryl Nass, MD
All have been due to
failures of testing or failures in manufacturing processes. Most of these tragedies occurred before vaccine manufacturers were given virtually complete protection from liability in 1987. With the duration of patent exclusivity determining how much new products earn, products are rushed to market as quickly as possible, most using a shortened path for FDA review. Recalls and market removals of approved products are much more common than they used to be. We can only expect more of these disasters in the future, especially if the products are mandated for everyone.
1. 1955: (Improperly inactivated) live polio
vaccine caused polio in 40,000 children
The Cutter (now part of Bayer) Incident of 1955: This early US Salk polio vaccine contained
live polio virus, which had not been inactivated. It caused 40,000 cases of
polio; 200 of these recipients became paralyzed; and ten died. Other companies also had
problems with viral inactivation. The NIH director lost his job in the
aftermath, since NIH scientist Bernice Eddy had earlier warned this lot of
vaccine paralyzed monkeys, but her findings were suppressed in the rush to
vaccinate.
2. 1950s-1960s: SV-40 (Simian Virus 40, a potentially
cancer-causing virus) contaminated polio vaccines given to millions of
Americans.
SV-40 can cause cancer in animals and has been found in
human cancers, though its relationship to human cancers remains uncertain.
3. 1970s-1985:
Factor 8 Concentrate. a pooled blood product used to prevent bleeding in
hemophiliacs, was contaminated with HIV and Hepatitis C, but was sold worldwide
even after manufacturers became aware of the contamination.
Its manufacturers knew it was contaminated with HIV (and
Hepatitis C), which spread through the injectable blood products used by
hemophiliacs. About 8,000 US hemophiliacs at the time developed HIV infections
this way, and an estimated 150,000 developed Hepatitis C, which frequently
results in chronic liver disease, cirrhosis or death. The practice of
distributing contaminated blood was widespread internationally, with many
companies involved, and continued even after the problem was identified. It led
to suits against pharmaceutical companies in a number of countries. It led to thousands of deaths. Doctors went
to jail.
Cutter/ Bayer knowingly sold HIV-contaminated products in
the US and overseas, seemingly having learned nothing from its
polio-contaminated vaccine disaster 25 years earlier.
4. 1976-1977:
Swine flu vaccine given to 45 million Americans for a non-existent
disease, causing hundreds of cases of paralysis
A new flu virus was discovered in a soldier who died at Fort
Dix, NJ. Concern that the virus might cause a 1918-like influenza pandemic led
to a huge federally-instigated program to develop a vaccine and vaccinate every
American against the virus. But the epidemic never occurred. And the affected
soldier, despite having an acute infection, had been on a rigorous march before
he died. No one knew if the flu had
killed him. US vaccine manufacturers agreed to produce vaccine on a short
timeline, but only if they received a waiver of liability for possible vaccine
injuries. The decision to use the
vaccine was strongly influenced by political considerations, according to a National
Academy of Sciences investigation of the program, commissioned by HEW Secretary
Joe Califano. The report gives a bird’s
eye view of how personal and political agendas came together to supercede considerations
of the public health.
45 million Americans
received the new vaccine, of whom 400 people developed autoimmune paralysis (Guillain-Barre
syndrome) at a rate 6-8 times expected during the six weeks post-inoculation, and about 30 died.
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=394635
(unfortunately now behind a paywall)
5. 1999:
Rhesus rotavirus vaccine (Rotashield) caused intestinal damage.
This oral Rotashield
vaccine was designed to prevent a mild form of gastroenteritis. However, it caused 1-2 cases per 10,000
recipients of intussusception of the bowel, and many affected babies required
surgery to repair “telescoping” of the gut.
Several died. Months after being
licensed, the vaccine was taken off the market.
6. 1998-2001:
Lymerix vaccine likely caused autoimmune symptoms, taken off market
7. 2009-10 Pandemrix
swine flu vaccine caused over 1300 cases of narcolepsy in Europe.
Children aged 5-19 were about 15 times more likely to
develop narcolepsy if they received the GSK Pandemrix
brand of swine flu vaccine, which was not sold in the US. Other age groups were also at an increased
risk of narcolepsy, but to a lesser degree. Narcolepsy is caused by autoimmune
destruction of cells in the brain's Locus Ceruleus, and is newly recognized as
a vaccine adverse reaction. The narcolepsy cases were severe, often preventing
children from attending school.
** The adverse effect profile of drugs and vaccines is
generally not well known until millions of people have received the drug or
vaccine. New federal legislation (21st Century Cures Act of 2016 etc.) that speeds
up licensing of vaccines, and removes liability from the manufacturers for all vaccines placed on
the childhood schedule, all vaccines recommended by CDC for pregnant women, and new,
potentially unlicensed products used during declared emergency situations -- increases the potential
risk of vaccines. http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Guidances/ucm125127.htm#categories
3 comments:
I thought I read recently that there was a combination vaccine that was quietly removed from the market, maybe an MMRV?
Also, here are two recalls listed on CDC page. Not the same as pulling the vaccine off the market, but worth mentioning. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/recalls.html
Lastly, worth mentioning, there was the pig-virus contamination:
https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/news/20100322/pig-virus-found-in-gsk-rotavirus-vaccine#1
You forgot the urabe strain and meningitis everywhere it was licensed
Hello Meryl, I discovered your blog, quite by accident. And really like your list of the vaccine tragedies, because the mainsteam media is always pushing that vaccines are miracles and it surely is a lie. I also love the bottom of your blog, and your comments:
"Too many peoples' lives are characterized by lack of authenticity, and fear of acknowledging and expressing their true nature. Employees cannot say what they think at work, and in the corporate system we must squish ourselves into square holes when we are round pegs. We thus lose touch with our souls, becoming cogs in a soulless, profit-driven machine."
The above statement is so true it almost brings tears to my eyes. Praying for your efforts keep up the work!
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