Conflicts of Interest in Vaccine Policy Making

pickledpepperRN · Apr 21, 2006

Nurse’s organizations were against smallpox vaccination in December 2002. Not only could it be a health risk to the person vaccinated patients could become infected.

The MNA has not been alone in its opposition to the plan. Shortly after the MNA announced its position, similar positions were announced by the Maine State Nurses Association, Rhode Island State Nurses Association, California Nurses Association, Texas Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association. More than 350 hospitals nationwide have decided to opt out of the plan because of safety, compensation and liability concerns and hundreds more are undecided.

http://www.massnurses.org/news/2003/03/massnurse/smallpox.htm

December, 2002.

The California Nurses Association on Thursday urged hospitals in that state not to participate in the program, saying there was no proof a smallpox attack is likely.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/21/health/main541421.shtml

... As of the beginning of February, California had only immunized 432 workers. The reason for the low number is that many health care workers did not volunteer. In fact, there were organized campaigns by large labor unions – such as the California Nurses Association and Service Employees International Union – to discourage their members from getting the vaccination. The main reason for their resistance was, and continues to be, the fact that the federal government has not created a fund to compensate workers who might become ill or miss work due to problems associated with the vaccine.

Response: early March 2003 the Bush Administration announced a compensation fund proposal. Before the plan goes into effect it must be approved by Congress. According to an Associated Press article, the proposal is similar to a compensation package that is currently offered to police officers and firefighters who are injured on the job. Specifically, it would enable the government to pay $262,100 for each person who dies or is permanently and totally disabled by the smallpox vaccine and persons who are less severely injured could receive up to $50,000 plus medical expenses….

http://www.healthpolicymonitor.org/en/Policy_Survey/Search_for_Policy_Reforms/Survey_Details/Smallpox_Vaccination_Program_-_California.html;jsessionid=CF7261F0CAABAB366C0EBD403E331FC5?content_id=251&language=en

http://www.sfbayview.com/012903/smallpox012903.shtml

indigo girl · Apr 22, 2006

", it would enable the government to pay $262,100 for each person who dies or is permanently and totally disabled by the smallpox vaccine and persons who are less severely injured could receive up to $50,000 plus medical expenses..."

I feel good knowing how much I'm worth if dead or injured by smallpox vaccine. Thank you, President Bush.

FDA, CDC, IOM, NIH, HHS, all guilty of governmental and regulatory failure regarding vaccine safety according to the following testimony of

Lyn Redwood, RN, MSN before the Sub Committee on Human Rights and Wellness, Committee of Government and Reform, US House of Representatives:

http://www.safeminds.org/pressroom/press_releases/redwoodsafemindssept8testimonyfullfinal.pdf

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2006

A well reasoned examination of correlation and causation:

http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2005/06/thimerosal_corr.html

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia disagreeing with the above assertions:

http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=81552

RFK Jr debunking the claims of an autism/thimerosal link:

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/letters/2005/06/25/thimerosal/index.html

The blog of a parent with an autistic child who does not accept the link:

http://www.kevinleitch.co.uk/wp/index.php?p=355

The CDC, who you don't trust:

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/thimerosal/default.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/thimerosal/faqs-thimerosal.htm

Another link I've already posted.

http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2005/03/revisiting-thimerosal-autism.html

Elimination of thimerosal in Denmark was followed by a RISE in autism levels:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12949291&dopt=Abstract

clee1 · Apr 22, 2006

I learned a long time ago that if you "follow the money" you won't go too far wrong in your assessment of publik/goobermental policy.

"Government by the People for the People...." ; don't make me hurl. :barf01:

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2006

Thank you Suesquatch for the links. I tend to side with data versus conjecture when considering an arguement. I also support the right of people to refuse vaccines and other healthcare as I am a firm believer in natural selection. Go Darwin!

Indy, LPN, LVN · Jun 6, 2006

The links were interesting, thanks suesquatch and indigo girl.

Anyone have comments on the new question of the chickenpox vaccine and autism? It's not a thimoseral (sp?!) problem, apparently it's a screwy immune response by children whose family history has problems with chickenpox in either the wild form or the vaccine, and happens only when the vaccine is given in conjunction with, or close to, the MMR and the kid gets sick afterwards with some sort of short-lived flu.

It's weird stuff but it shows people are thinking, and may lead to research. The research so far into the vaccine/mercury thing is so darn tricky, in my opinion, due to all the variables that can't be controlled. Statistics get manipulated and voila! You get the answer you wanted to begin with. I just wonder if the data will ever get twisted in such a way that it'll flirt with actual truth.

LydiaNN · Jun 6, 2006

I just wonder if the data will ever get twisted in such a way that it'll flirt with actual truth.

Probably not....

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2006

I just wonder if the data will ever get twisted in such a way that it'll flirt with actual truth.

Good point! I think the answer will depend on who's doing the flirting and their favorite truth! :lol2: