Study: You Can't Change an Anti-Vaxxer's Mind

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165. Letter from CDC Whistleblower to CDC official Julie Gerberding

http://focusautisminc.org/letter-from-cdc-whistleblower-to-cdc-official-julie-gerberdile/

The following is a letter from Dr. William Thompson, epidemiologist with the CDC, to Dr. Julie Gerberding, former CDC Director and current head of Merck’s vaccine division. Dr. Gerberding led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as director from 2002 to 2009. The letter was written in 2004, one week before the Institute of Medicine (IOM) meeting addressing the link between vaccines and autism.

This letter confirms that lead officials at CDC had knowledge of safety issues regarding vaccines at least ten years ago, but did nothing to address these safety concerns. After Dr. Thompson wrote the letter, he was reprimanded and removed from the 2004 IOM speaker schedule. Subsequently, in March, he was put on administrative leave.

Thompson highlights his concerns, stating, “I will have to present several problematic results relating to statistical associations between the receipt of the MMR vaccine and autism”. He openly criticizes Dr. Gerberding’s silence on the subject of vaccine/autism causation, and requests a written response to Representative Dave Weldon’s questions surrounding the “integrity” of the scientists in the National Immunization Program.

February 2nd, 2004

Dear Dr. Gerberding,

We’ve not met yet to discuss these matters, but I’m sure you’re aware of the Institute of Medicine Meeting regarding immunizations and autism that will take place on February 9th. I will be presenting the summary of our results from the Metropolitan Atlanta Autism Case-Control Study and I will have to present several problematic results relating to statistical associations between the receipt of the MMR vaccine and autism.

It is my understanding that you are aware of several news articles published over the past two weeks suggesting that Representative David Weldon is still waiting for a response from you regarding two letters he sent you regarding issues surrounding the integrity of your scientists in the National Immunization Program. I’ve repeatedly asked individuals in the NIP Office of the Directors Office why you haven’t responded directly to the issues raised in those letters and I’m very disappointed with the answers I’ve received to date. In addition, I’ve repeatedly told individuals in the NIP OD over the last several years that they’re doing a very poor job representing immunization safety issues and that we’re losing the public relations war.

On Friday afternoon, January 30th, 2004, I presented the draft slides for my IOM presentation to Dr. Steve Cochi and Dr. Melinda Wharton. The first thing I stated to both of them was my sincere concern regarding presenting this work to the Institute of Medicine if you had not replied to Representative Weldon’s letters. I have attached the draft slides for your review. I have been told that you have suggested that the science speaks for itself. In general I agree with that statement, but as you know, the science also needs advocates who can get the real scientific message out to the public.

In contrast to NIP’s failure to be proactive in addressing immunization safety issues, you have done an amazingly effective job addressing the press on a wide range of controversial public health issues including SARS, Monkey Pox and Influenza. The CDC needs your leadership with respect to the IOM meeting because I may very well be presenting data before a hostile crowd of parents with autistic children who have been told not to trust the CDC. I believe it is your responsibility and duty to respond in writing to Representative Weldon’s letters before the Institute of Medicine meeting and make those letters public. Otherwise, you give the appearance of agreeing with what has been suggested in those correspondences and you’re putting one of your own scientists in harms way. This is not the time for our leadership to act politically. It is a time for our leadership to stand by their scientists and do the right thing. Please assist me in this matter and respond to Representative Weldon’s concerns in writing prior to my presentation on February 9th.

Sincerely,

William. W. Thompson, PhD
Epidemiologist
Immunization Safety Branch
National Immunization Program
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

MORE: http://focusautisminc.org/cdc-final-study-protocol-for-mmr-autism-research-project/