CDC Officials Cleared of Vaccine Misconduct
Officials from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta did not interfere with reviews of vaccines safety by the Institute of Medicine, nor did they cover up alleged findings linking thimerosal to autism, as reported by Reuters today. The report did note that the FDA for “inappropriately [used] Environmental Protection Agency mercury guidelines in evaluating the safety of mercury in vaccines” (see comment below for explanation of this); it was also noted that childhood vaccines shipped to developing countries still contain thimerasol.
Not surprisingly, Safe Minds, which links autism to vaccines, is cited as a dissenting voice.
Go here to read Isles’s allegation by allegation analysis of the report.
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POSTED IN: Health, Legal Issues, Politics, Vaccines
10 opinions for CDC Officials Cleared of Vaccine Misconduct
Cliff
Sep 28, 2007 at 10:30 pm
How exactly did Safe Minds dissent? There’s got to be a point where the evidence speaks for itself. No, wait, that’s outdated. I probably should use “should”, because these organizations aren’t going to change their views for anything. It’s getting pathetic.
I mean, even if you still thought that there was a link, and that the study was flawed, do you have to keep assuming that the CDC is intentionally behind it, too? That you’ve understand the whole plan, as created by government agents? It just sounds like a desperate conspiracy theory at this point in time. The CDC is far more likely to be incompetent than of ill will. I don’t really know what to say anymore,though, because clearly I’m not going to make a difference.
Cliff
Kristina Chew, PhD
Sep 28, 2007 at 10:47 pm
This is the mention of Safe Minds in the Reuters article; it is the last paragraph.
As I was reading the artcile, I wondered if Safe Minds or another group advocating for a mercury/vaccines-autism link would be mentioned and it is indeed Safe Minds. I am starting to wonder at why this organization is consistently mentioned in articles on this topic. This is, too, not the first reference I’ve seen to Safe Minds as an “activist” organization or simply as “autism advocates.” They represent only one kind of (anti-) autism advocacy.
isles
Sep 28, 2007 at 10:50 pm
I think the Reuters reporter must not have understood the report’s point about FDA using the EPA guideline. This was the *strictest* guideline out of the three it could have consulted; the report seemed to be saying that by comparing vaccine-derived mercury exposure to the most stringent exposure guideline, FDA created unnecessary concern. The report was *not* saying that FDA applied too lax a standard.
Aidoann
Sep 28, 2007 at 11:52 pm
The amount of thimerasol in vaccines isn’t that much. People are exposed to stuff like that just living in modern society.
Joseph
Sep 28, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I’m sure this will convince the mercury militia finally. A few years from now, we’ll all just have a big laugh about it.
Or not.
Cliff
Sep 29, 2007 at 4:27 am
II read that, but the dissent is still odd. What are they dissenting against?
I think they’re mentioned, by the by, for a very good PR agent (as evidenced by use of the wire and for appearing several times).
Cliff
Sep 29, 2007 at 4:27 am
Umm… just I, not II.
Cliff
Matt
Sep 29, 2007 at 10:21 am
Would SafeMinds have been in the story if they hadn’t dissented?
Did SafeMinds have anything to say on the rest of the report? Saying, “They left this out” is one thing. If they want to make that statement (above), they should also have commented on the rest.
As in
“We are happy that these other points are finally cleared up”
Or,
“We aren’t happy about the rest. But, since an investigation has been made, we will look bad if we disagree.”
Not that they care about looking bad about disagreements. This was exemplified by their stance on the NEJM article.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Sep 29, 2007 at 11:35 am
And, what about mentioning a different parents group—-why always Safe Minds? I am starting to expect to hear about them now whenever there are articles on this topic.
Joseph
Sep 29, 2007 at 3:55 pm
why always Safe Minds?
SafeMinds, because of their name and mission, is basically the only organization left that still believes autism is a misdiagnosis for mercury poisoning. Even Generation Rescue has moved on.
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