How Independent Are Vaccine Defenders? CBS Video

[emmy526]

There is a video on the link but cannot be copied onto here for viewing...go to link for video

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/25/cbsnews_investigates/main4296175.shtml

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? CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson shares here's what she found.

They're some of the most trusted voices in the defense of vaccine safety: theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two, and pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit. 

But CBS News has found 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 told CBS News: "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 Newsinvestigation, 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.

---

Read more about this story at Couric & Co. Blog

---

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, it makes for a healthier society. But critics worry that industry ties could impact the advice given to the public about all those vaccines.

Copyright 2008 CBS. All rights reserved.

Sharyl Attkisson

Sharyl Attkisson is a CBS News investigative correspondent based in Washington. All of her stories, videos and blogs are available here.

[Honeybunches26]

surprised cbs allowed this investagative work to happen

[emmy526]

CBS STAR REPORTER SPANKED “DR. VACCINE” AND IS NOW UNDER ATTACK by Jon Rappoport

September 11, 2012 By Robert Scott Bell Leave a Comment

September 11, 2012 www.nomorefakenews.com

In the summer of 2008, Sharyl Atkisson did a report for the CBS Evening News.

Aktisson indicated Dr. Paul Offit had conflicts of interest.

Offit is famous for saying that, theoretically, a baby should be able to tolerate 10,000 vaccines.  Offit is considered the leading advocate for childhood vaccines in America, and he wants all religious and philosophical exemptions from vaccines outlawed.

In her report, Atkisson pointed out that Offit, the chief of infectious disease at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, occupies a research position sponsored by vaccine maker, Merck, to the tune of $1.5 million.  He also holds a patent on an anti-diarrhea vaccine, Rotateq, for which he’s received unspecified royalties (estimated to be in the millions of dollars.)

On the heels of Atkisson’s report, Offit wrote a response that was published in the Orange County Register.

Almost three years later, the Register ran a startling and lengthy retraction: “a number of Dr. Offit’s statements, as quoted in the OC Register, were unsubstantiated and/or false.”

Here are those Offit statements the Register retracted:

Sharyl Atkisson lied.  RETRACTED.

CBS News sent a “mean-spirited and vituperative email” bearing Atkisson’s signature, stating to Offit, “You’re clearly hiding something”.  RETRACTED.

Offit provided CBS News the complete details of his connections with Merck.  RETRACTED.

In 2009, Atkisson did another report for CBS on Swine Flu statistics, pointing out that the Centers for Disease Control had actually stopped counting Swine Flu cases in America.  (Therefore, how could the CDC possibly know the extent of the “epidemic?” )

Atkisson, who has won investigative-reporting awards for her coverage of gun-walking (Fast&Furious), the US bank bail-outs, medical drug safety, vaccine safety, and the Red Cross, now has her own blog.  It does not appear to be an official part of CBS News.

On it, she writes, stunningly for a high-profile mainstream reporter: “Beware the paid naysayers and fringe bloggers who propagate false Web propaganda against me and others who investigate their industry and conflicts.  Watch for pharmaceutical interests disguised as ‘scientists’ or pretending to be average ‘commenters’ on ridiculously vitriolic blog stories that claim those who look into vaccine safety are ‘anti-vaccine’ or ‘nutty.’  They want you to believe that for a reason.  You know better.  The public is getting wise.”

Yes, the public is getting wise.  The con artists and shills for the vaccine industry can anonymously write all the lies they want to.  The truth about vaccine toxicity and ineffective results is expanding.  Those who put on the mantle of official authority, to preach to the masses about their “superior knowledge,” are transparent.

The last phony epidemic they promoted, Swine Flu, left governments with large unused stocks of vaccine in their warehouses.  Diminishing numbers of people believe these medical “crises” are anything more than sales promotions for vaccinations.

In response to a query, a national news reporter wrote to me:

“Apparently the Wiki[pedia] problem is rampant and widespread…the special interest/PR groups etc learned years ago that if they started then — and put in a lot of time and innocent edits — they could build their way up to very powerful editing positions. They now have those positions and use them, disguised as anonymous ‘volunteers’ with pseudonyms, to skew and monitor pages and biographies. Much of it I’ve noticed is medical related (making sure people don’t know vaccines can cause problems for example)…Wiki is a mess and is being used as a tool by cloaked special interests.”

A few mainstream reporters have awakened.  The one thing they lack is the green light to go after a story mercilessly, week after week, month after month, and expose its guts.  Their editors and publishers simply won’t allow it.  And that’s why major media are dying.  The public wants to know the truth, once they get a whiff of it, and the place to find it is here, online.

Sources:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/correction-296910-dated-entitled.html

http://aboutme/sharylatkisson

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/25/cbsnews_investigates/main4296175.shtml?tag=mncol;lst;2

http://www.naturalnews.com/037075_Paul_Offit_vaccine_exemptions_philosophical_reasons.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/035335_vaccines_Dr_Blaylock_children.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/026359_vaccine_CDC_childhood.html

http://users.chariot.net.au/~posture/Da%20Costa’sSynd%20Wikiwebpa2.html#NotADemocracy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Sharyl_Attkisson

Jon Rappoport

The author of an explosive collection, THE MATRIX REVEALED, Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29^th District of California. 

[Ichthus]

If you look below the article on the CBS website, they surprisingly have a few articles about the risks and concerns about vaccines. There were at least two on Gardasil. I was impressed! I didn't read them all or watch the video yet, but it's nice to see some mainstream media speaking out.