Vaccine Advocates Take Funding From The
Companies Whose Vaccines They Endorse
For years some parents and scientists have raised
concerns about vaccine safety, including a possible link to
autism and ADD. Many independent experts have sided with government
officials and other scientists who say there's no possible connection.
But how "independent" are they?
They're supposedly some of the most trusted voices in the defense
of vaccine safety: the American Academy of Pediatrics, Every
Child By Two, and pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit.
But these three have something more in common - strong financial
ties to the industry whose products they promote and defend.
The vaccine industry gives millions to the Academy of Pediatrics
for conferences, grants, medical education classes and even
helped build their headquarters. The totals are kept secret,
but public documents reveal bits and pieces.
- A $342,000 payment from Wyeth, maker of the pneumococcal
vaccine - which makes $2 billion a year in sales.
- A $433,000 contribution from Merck, the same year the academy
endorsed Merck's HPV vaccine - which made $1.5 billion a year
in sales.
- Another top donor: Sanofi Aventis, maker of 17 vaccines
and a new five-in-one combo shot just added to the childhood
vaccine schedule last month.
Every Child By Two, a group that promotes early immunization
for all children, admits the group takes money from the vaccine
industry, too - but wouldn't tell us how much.
A spokesman stated: "There are simply no conflicts to be unearthed."
But guess who's listed as the group's treasurers? Officials from
Wyeth and a paid advisor to big pharmaceutical clients.
Then there's Paul Offit, perhaps the most widely-quoted defender
of vaccine safety.
He's gone so far as to say babies can tolerate "10,000 vaccines
at once."
This is how Offit described himself in a previous interview:
"I'm the chief of infectious disease at Children's Hospital
of Philadelphia and a professor of pediatrics at Penn's medical
school," he said.
Offit was not willing to be interviewed on this subject but like
others in this CBS News investigation, he has strong industry
ties. In fact, he's a vaccine industry insider.
Offit holds in a $1.5 million dollar research chair at Children's
Hospital, funded by Merck. He holds the patent on an anti-diarrhea
vaccine he developed with Merck, Rotateq, which has prevented
thousands of hospitalizations.
And future royalties for the vaccine were just sold for $182 million
cash. Dr. Offit's share of vaccine profits? Unknown.
There's nothing illegal about the financial relationships, but
to critics, they pose a serious risk for conflicts of interest.
As one member of Congress put it, money from the pharmaceutical
industry can shape the practices of those who hold themselves
out to be "independent."
The American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two and Dr.
Offit would not agree to interviews, but all told us they're up
front about the money they receive, and it doesn't sway their
opinions.
Today's immunization schedule now calls for kids to get 55 doses
of vaccines by age 6.
Ideally, the conventional medical community states that it makes
for a healthier society. But critics say that industry ties greatly
impact the advice given to the public about all those vaccines
and their safety
