New blog post - Get conflicts of interest out of health policy NOW!

[Guest guest]

The government knows that there are serious conflicts of interest involving with those who make our health policies. They consistently claim that it is impossible to find qualified experts who are not already financially involved in some way with the pharmaceutical

industry – as if that somehow excuses the fact that these conflicts exist. Well, the DO exist and as a result, none of us can be sure that our policies are based on good science or just a good living for the regulators. This problem is not unique to Australia with American experts such as Dr Offit making as much as $55 million from the sale of a patent he sold in a vaccine he worked on developing whilst he also sat on the government committee that decided what vaccines would be administered to American children! Below is a letter and an attachment which have been sent to the Federal Human Rights Commissioner by Judy Wilyman, a PhD candidate who has been studying these issues for some time. Have a read. I know you will agree with me that this situation is shocking and must stop now if we are ever to feel confident in taking the government’s advice when it comes to our health and the health of our families.

To the Federal Human Rights Commissioner

Vaccination and chemicals injected into the human body are a human rights issue. I would therefore like to bring to your attention to the selective presentation of the vaccination debate that is being presented

to the public. Recently, there have been many media reports about the whooping cough vaccine that have been presented by two government officials – Professor’s McIntyre (NNDSS) and Booy (NCIRS). These programs have been promoting the whooping cough vaccine on anecdotal evidence (in particular ,Dana McCaffery’s death) and the mantra of ‘seeing sick babies gasping for air’.Whilst these cases are tragic, the promotion of vaccines on anecdotal

evidence is inappropriate. This is particularly the case as the government is recommending 12 vaccines before babies are one year of age

– a schedule that has not been studied in controlled animal or human studies. Today, Australian society is seeing an explosion of children with autism, allergies, anaphylaxis, autoimmune diseases and cancer and it needs to be emphasised that a scientific consensus on the cause of these diseases is not obtained by ‘selecting out’ scientific arguments.

Government Conflicts of Interest:http://wp.me/p29WI4-tv

Professor Booy, the co-director of the government National Centre

for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), was an investigator

involved in the trial for Panvax influenza vaccine. He receives support

from CSL limited and other pharmaceutical companies to attend conferences and is on the vaccine advisory board for these companies (1). He receives funding from Roche, Sanofi, GlaxoKline and Wyeth for attending and presenting at scientific meetings (1).Professor McIntyre’s National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) project for the study of pertussis vaccines for

newborns was granted $1.5 million of which more than $750,000 in kind will be provided by GSK for monovalent vaccine and laboratory testing (2).It is noted that many government officials now have conflicts of interest with industry (see attachment)

and in addition, vaccine trials and advisory boards are largely funded and influenced by pharmaceutical companies. Whilst this situation is not

necessarily a problem, it is important that the public is informed openly (and transparently) about funding from pharmaceutical companies and any financial ties officials have with industry.It is also noted that health professionals and consumers are being investigated for discussing the risks and benefits of this procedure. The NSW HCCC recently retracted a false charge (after 2 years) that was made against a consumer group (the Australian Vaccination Network) for asking valid questions about the use of multiple vaccines in infants. This is compounded by media programs that do not present complete information about immunisation policies. The media is also not accountable to the Health Department for the information it provides on vaccination (3) (4).It is everybody’s choice to use a vaccine if they believe it is beneficial, but if we a living in a society that does not ensure the information the public receives on health issues is complete and accurate, then incentives such as tax benefits for parents and payments for doctors are unethical. These measures are being increased by the government on 1 July 2012.At present, the government has not proved that the increase in autism

is not being caused by adding multiple vaccines to a developing infant before one year of age. Therefore, there is no scientific consensus that

the government‘s immunisation policy is safe and it is certainly not based upon scientific -evidence.Judy WilymanPhD Candidate www.vaccinationdecisions.netReference:1. Nolan T, McVernon J, Skeljo M, Richmond P, Wadia U, Lambert S, et al. Immunogenicity of a Monovalent 2009 Influenza Vaccine in Infants and Children: A Randomised Trial. Jama. 2010 jan 6:303 (1): 37-46: Supplementary online content.2. Professor McIntyre, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, http://www.health.usyd.edu.au/people/profiles/P.Mcintyre.php 06.09.09

3. Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing, Office of Health Protection, 2009

4. NSW HealthCare Complaints Commission (HCCC), 2012

Meryl Dorey,SpokespersonThe Australian Vaccination Network, Inc.Investigate before you vaccinateEditor,Living Wisdom MagazineFamily, Health, EnvironmentPO Box 177BANGALOW NSW 2479AUSTRALIAhttp://www.avn.org.auhttp://www.living-wisdom.comPhone: 02 6687 1699 FAX 02 6687 2032skype: ivmmagFreedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them -- and then, the opportunity to choose. - C. MillsThe authority of any governing institution must stop at its citizen's skin. - Gloria SteinemWe rely on the help and support of our members and subscribers to continue offering our services freely and without prejudice.Please consider helping us by joining the AVN as a member. Go to http://www.avn.org.au to become a member or donate to support our work.We also sell books, videos and DVDs on vaccination and other health issues. Go to http://shop.avn.org.au/ for more details.