New Vaccine Science Can Help Bridge the Divide

by Barbara Loe Fisher

Fear of the unknown is what terrifies us the most, fear of being unable to have control over what the future holds. At the root of that fear is knowing that the choices we make today could have a profound impact on what happens tomorrow. 1 Fear is a strong emotion that helps people take action but fear does not help people think clearly and make well informed choices. 2, 3

Fear has dominated the public debate about the risks of infectious diseases and the risks of vaccination during the past three decades. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Now it is jeopardizing the urgent need to create a supportive environment for researchers to conduct well designed studies to answer outstanding questions about vaccine safety, questions that the Institute of Medicine pointed out in 19919 and 1994 10 needed to be answered and that the National Vaccine Advisory Committee outlined in 2009 and 2010 during a public engagement initiative. 11

Getting lost in the avalanche of accusations, finger pointing and demonization of individuals challenging the status quo 12, 13, 14, 15 is the more important question: What can be done now to fill in gaps in the science that stand in the way of our making well informed vaccine choices and public health policy based on evidence and not fear? 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

On January 3-7, 2011, a vaccine safety conference was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica that included a diverse groups of delegates from around the world, including senior scientists and physicians, editors of scientific journals, experts in vaccine regulation, social science and health policy, consumer child health advocates, legal experts and members of the media. 23 Public observers in the audience included Jamaican physicians, wellness practitioners, graduate and medical students in public health programs and parents.

The international meeting was underwritten by individuals and private family foundations and co-sponsored by the National Vaccine Information Center. The goal was to further evaluate vaccine safety science and vaccine policy in light of the fact that 89 percent of recently polled American parents put vaccine safety at the top of their list of medical research priorities, 24 while health consumers in other developed countries are also questioning the quality of vaccine science. 25, 26

All of the delegates expressed concern about increases during the past three decades in the numbers of children and adults affected by immune and inflammatory diseases, ranging from asthma 27 and neurodevelopmental disorders 28, 29, 30 to the emergence of previously rare but serious autoimmune health conditions.31, 32 Many delegates presented information from the peer reviewed scientific literature and pointed out gaps in knowledge about the biological mechanisms for vaccine induced brain and immune dysfunction, 33 as well as the fact there is inadequate information about:

One: Genetic and biological high risk factors 34, 35 for vaccine injury and death;

Two: Vaccine safety data, especially for delayed or chronic health outcomes;

Three: Vaccine additives, including aluminum adjuvants, which are immune stimulating agents, as well as mercury preservatives;

Four: Multiple vaccinations given simultaneously or repeatedly over time;

Five: Bias in reporting of vaccine risks and benefits; and

Six: Novel vaccine-associated autoimmune diseases.

There was discussion about the need to identify research priorities and design studies to identify how and why some children and adults may be at higher risk for vaccine reactions that lead to chronic health problems or even death.

There was discussion about the need to minimize undue commercial and political influence on academic institutions, medical journals and lay press because it gets in the way of open, unbiased scientific inquiry, 36, 37, 38, 39 especially into important questions about vaccine safety science and policy.

Representatives of federal agencies responsible for vaccine regulation, promotion, and safety were invited to present at this important conference but declined the invitation. And that fact speaks louder than words about how great the divide is between those who regulate vaccines and make vaccine policy and the people, who must adhere to that policy.

The men and women with vision and integrity, who are stepping forward to conduct and fund independent research to fill in knowledge gaps about vaccine safety, are to be congratulated for having the courage to stand up during a time when the public conversation about vaccination is dominated by fear. Hopefully, in 2011, new vaccine science that adheres to high standards will generate evidence to help bridge the divide between those, who believe all vaccines are necessary, safe and effective, and those who have serious concerns.

Referenced presentations and video excerpts from the meeting in Jamaica will be posted on the web in spring 2011. For more information, go to www.vaccinesafetyconference.com

REFERENCES


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