January 29, 2010 Statement by the National Vaccine Information Center on Dr. Andrew Wakefield and his research
The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) supports the past, present and future scientific research into the reported association between inflammatory bowel disease, developmental delays and vaccination in young children conducted by Dr. Andrew Wakefield and other physician scientists. Dr. Wakefield’s work to define the pathogenesis and etiology of chronic inflammation in the body that can affect brain and immune function is commendable. His work has led to biomedical interventions for children, who have become chronically ill and disabled after vaccination, to ease their suffering.
Research to better define the association between vaccination and chronic inflammatory disorders that affect brain and immune function should be given a much higher priority by government, industry and academia. Understanding the biological mechanisms for vaccine induced chronic inflammation in children and adults can help identify those at high risk for suffering vaccine reactions, injury and death and lead to adoption of safer vaccine policies.
http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/0/846.page
"The Lancet today retracted a 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield and colleagues that, based on a sample of 12 children, claimed to have found a link between autism and the widely used MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination. The paper induced a long string of correspondences published in the journal and stirred major controversy surrounding the vaccination.
10 of the paper's 13 authors had already acknowledged some of the problems with the paper, publishing a "retraction of an interpretation" in 2004. But the official retraction didn't occur until today, as a result of the Britain's General Medical Council's finding against Wakefield and two of his colleagues, who are at risk of losing their rights to practice medicine in Britain for their "unethical" methodology, and for describing the research in a "dishonest" and "irresponsible" way.
Given the fallout of the paper's claims, including a drop in vaccinations and a resurgence of measles, what measures must now be taken? Is a simple retraction enough, or is a published re-analysis of the data with a more accurate interpretation of the results necessary? Is losing their medical licenses in Britain a harsh enough punishment for Wakefield and his colleagues, or are more severe actions required?"
--Jef Akst, Associate Editor, The Scientist
Consumers United for Evidence-based Healthcare (CUE) is a national coalition of health and consumer advocacy organizations committed to empowering consumers to make the best use of evidence-based healthcare (EBHC). CUE, organized in 2003 when the USCC invited advocacy groups to join a consumer advocate-scientist partnership, is a pioneering effort to improve consumers’ ability to engage in and demand high quality healthcare.
Currently, the 27 member organizations represent: cancer, geriatrics, temporomandibular joint disorders, minority health, addiction, environmental health, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health, mental health, women’s health, and disabilities. The Coalition is committed to a representative membership that addresses the needs of AHRQ’s priority populations. As a result, CUE is an educated, diverse, and committed advocacy network.
CUE is a consumer advocate-scientist partnership.
Initial funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has enabled the USCC to nurture CUE’s development and to provide a secretariat and staff. CUE is guided by an elected Steering Committee providing overall direction and policy and program development.
CUE Member Organizations:
- Annie Appleseed Project http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/
- Black Women’s Health Imperative http://www.blackwomenshealth.org/
- Center for Medical Consumers http://www.medicalconsumers.org/
- Center for Science in the Public Interest http://www.cspinet.org/
- Cherab Foundation http://www.cherab.org/
- Childbirth Connection http://www.childbirthconnection.org/
- Citizens for Health http://www.citizens.org/
- Citizens Health Alliance for Truth http://www.chatdc.org/
- Consumers Union http://www.consumersunion.org/
- Faces and Voices of Recovery http://www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/
- Lamaze International http://www.lamaze.org/
- Mautner Project, the National Lesbian Health Organization http://www.mautnerproject.org
- National Breast Cancer Coalition http://www.natlbcc.org/
- National Center for Transgender Equality http://www.nctequality.org/
- National Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health http://www.lgbthealth.net/
- National Consumers League http://www.nclnet.org/
- National Council on Aging http://www.ncoa.org/
- National Environmental Education & Training Foundation www.neetf.org/
- National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse www.mhselfhelp.org/
- National Partnership for Women & Families www.nationalpartnership.org/
- National Vaccine Information Center www.909shot.com/
National Vaccine Information Center www.909shot.com/
