Do you think the CDC is biased?

[Tait]

I almost got myself embroiled in an argument over the possible risks of flu shot and pregnancy this afternoon. (Luckily I decided it wasn't worth the time and bowed out.) Anyway I was informed that the "CDC is biased and paid to say that" when I attempted to actually reference my sources on Thimerosal.

Any thoughts?

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

I disagree. The CDC spends a great deal of time and resources monitoring the safety of vaccines and educating providers and the public on the contraindications and precautions to vaccination.

I think the point was that they do not consider individual patient's contraindications when making public health recommendations.

[CrunchyMama, ASN, RN]

Of course they're biased....as is any big organization trying to make money. Just like the AAP as well. There's HUGE amounts of money to be made, so of course they're going to say anything to make a buck. It's a perfect world when a big organization is truly concerned about the health of others, but unfortunately money is the root of all evil. :/

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

I think the point was that they do not consider individual patient's contraindications when making public health recommendations.

I understood the point, & I agreed with majority of the statement except for that line. The word "immaterial" comes across like they have some sort of utilitarian rationale, whereby they readily accept that some will suffer for "the greater good". Individual contraindications are considered and incorporated into recommendations. The MMWRs and Vaccine Info Statements all clearly list for whom the vaccines are NOT recommended.

[RNlove17]

It can be argued that any source with humans behind it (ie pretty much everything) is biased.

[cyde]

but yes the CDC is biased. The pharmaceutical industry is very profitable and has a lot of influence on the CDC.

totally agree with you. as most people don't know that the regulators/committee members in the cdc also have stock invested in big pharam and definetily have an interest in the hype and promotion of pushing vaccines and meds for profit. people need to do the research. they'll find some shocking info.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

The flu vaccine--my issue is that it is often an absolute requirement of employment. Regardless if someone has an allergy to it or not. We wouldn't push medications that our patients are allergic to on them, however, it is all about "100% compliance", and little to do with the state of health of the community.

However, childhood immuniztions are important. I have seen too many babies who are too young to receive the HIB vaccine being intubated for contracting HIB pneumonia--from unvaccinated children. Most pediatricians will work with any family to create a vaccination plan that is comfortable. And interestingly, decisions not to vaccinate children are usually made under the assumption that other parents do it, therefore, their kid is safe--and by fully vaccinated parents.

Ideally, I get the notion that no one has the right in the free country we live in to tell us what and how to immunize. But, for most it means no job, or that your child can't attend school. AND there's even those few kids who, upon learning that they can't attend college unless they get shots, or travel to other countries/remote areas as planned, are a LOT less thrilled at the notion of then having to take the time to get a series of immunizations that should have been done when they were children/infants.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

totally agree with you. as most people don't know that the regulators/committee members in the cdc also have stock invested in big pharam and definetily have an interest in the hype and promotion of pushing vaccines and meds for profit. people need to do the research. they'll find some shocking info.

Share some links to the shocking info that you discovered while doing research.

[brownbook]

Well.....this original post was from 2010 (if I am reading the taglines correctly?)

However, my two cents worth for 2013....Maurice Hilleman was born in 1919, his "mother died a day after he was born and his twin sister was stillborn. As an adult, he said that he felt he had escaped an appointment with death. He made it his life's work to see that others could do the same....to become a microbiologist.....his measles vaccine alone saves several million lives every year."

Vaccinated One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases by Paul A Offit, MD.

Oh year, I guess he was just a shill for the big bad pharmaceutical companies, probably died a gazzillionaire.

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

No one dislikes Big Pharma more than I but in truth, their money is not behind CDC or other government agency advocacy for vaccines. The reason is simple reason: They are a low-margin product. Not only are returns (ie, profit margins) much smaller than for other drugs, there is far less repeat business. If vaccines were profitable, you'd see Big Pharma adverts on television for them - right alongside the ads for, depression relief, sleeping aids, BPD, restless leg syndrome and the all-important blue pill.