Paul Offit’s Op-Ed on Vaccines
If you haven’t read it, check out Paul Offit’s op-ed piece in the New York Times regarding the flu vaccines. We’ve discussed him here before on RM, but for those who don’t know, he’s one of the premiere vaccination experts. He is the chief of infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and wrote the book, “Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine and the Search for a Cure.”
In his piece, Offit gives the truth on the myths surrounding the H1N1 vaccine. He talks about why it’s safe, thimerosal, adjuvants, the testing behind the vaccine, and more.
New myths will inevitably arise as some of the millions of people who are inoculated against H1N1 flu suffer unrelated illnesses. Health officials will keep a close eye out for any real problems. One can only hope that the American public will understand that subsequence isn’t necessarily consequence, and not be scared away from a vaccine that can save lives.
I’ve already had family members come down with H1N1. It’s out there. Getting vaccinated and hand-washing are the best defenses at this point. As Offit said, we have “nothing to fear but the flu itself.”
Dr. Jordan Said,
October 14, 2009 @ 10:09 am
You CAN NOT BE SERIOUS! Paul Offitt is a VACCINE SHILL who has made much SHILLINGS from pushing dangerous and unecessary vaccinations. read the book 30 PIECES OF SILVER about the KILLING the SHILL has made prostituting for BIG PHARMA while parading around in a CDC GOVERNMENT position pushing vaccines. ASK MERCK WHO BOUGHT 5,000 copies of the SHILLS book advising prents on vaccines, the harmaceutical company put Offitt’s book on the top selling list. ASK MERCK who purchased the Offitt Endowed chair for 1.5 MILLION, Ask the SHILL yourself or read his interview where he stated that the money he won for his FAILED rotavirus vaccine which caused pain and suffering for intussuseption damage to children receiving the vaccine, the SHILL stated the money he got was LIKE WINNING THE LOTTERY, the rotaviurs vaccine then recalled for CONTAMINATION of which the FDA now ADMITS there is no third party oversight looking into the safety or purity of vaccines. You say your a list for RATIONAL???????????????????????????????? Moms, your an idiot!
jessiemarion Said,
October 14, 2009 @ 10:15 am
I think you mean, “you’re and idiot!” not “your and idiot!”
dean cameron Said,
October 14, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
Dr. Jordan, I took your advice and asked them all and they said make sure you don’t vaccinate and then take a trip to a farm in China. We don’t want you to get vaccinated or wear seat belts or even open your eyes while you drive. Drive fast, sir. Fast fast fast fast. Drink heavily. Drive fast with your eyes closed. Do it today!
They also said you might want to look at your sticky caps lock key.
In other news, “harmaceutical” should win the award for the paranoid/schizophrenic anti-science term of the month.
Kudos.
Anneka J. Said,
October 14, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
Poor Dr. Jordan.
The world is a horrible place and when he can’t understand something, he creates a conspiracy to comfort him.
It’s okay, honey. I know that science is a difficult subject and it’s hard to change your mind, but you’ll be okay.
Relax. Take a walk and think about all the babies who haven’t died because of science and what a beautiful world it is.
Jodi Said,
October 15, 2009 @ 6:14 pm
Offit has addressed the Merck “big pharma” issue many times before. The best article (http://www.phillymag.com/articles/will_this_doctor_hurt_your_baby/page1) has a section you should read:
***
The vaccine he co-invented now sells as RotaTeq. It’s a prevention for a diarrheal disease called rotavirus that kills as many as 2,000 kids a day around the world. Last year, CHOP sold its royalty stake in RotaTeq for $182 million, and Offit received an unspecified chunk: his share of the intellectual property, “in the millions,” a life-changing windfall. Offit discussed the patent money with me on several occasions, the last time while he was laid up in bed, recuperating from a recent knee surgery that “didn’t go very well.” He said that he was drawn to vaccine-making not by any financial motive, but by “the same thing that draws you to trying to explain the science of vaccines to the public”: a fascination with vaccine technology and its potential to save lives. To Offit, getting the money felt like “winning the lottery,” because he never expected his research to amount to anything more tangible than journal articles. Publish or perish. “I know it sounds counterintuitive,” he said. “But you don’t really believe it. You don’t believe it’s going to become a vaccine. Because how many vaccines are there? Twenty? In the last century?” Offit added, “It’s not embarrassing to make a vaccine for Merck. It’s a good thing. I’m actually getting an award tomorrow, if I can get out of this fucking bed.”
***
You’re not going to convince me that guy is evil.
Svetlana Said,
October 16, 2009 @ 11:29 am
Gotta love all CAPS!!!! What is it about denialists of all stripes – they love them caps. In other news, the pediatricians in the Chicagoland area have run out of influenza vaccine but fortunately Walgreens clinics have ‘em. Either we didn’t get enough or people are not listening to fear mongers. Our school district (Evanston and Skokie, IL) is offering H1N1 vaccines in all schools, starting with elementary, free of charge. My kids get their shots in a week’s time. Yipee!
Bryan Said,
November 10, 2009 @ 5:53 pm
Go ahead and get your H1N1 shots if you must,but consider the following. My two kids, both under the age of four, contracted the swine flu. Slight fever and nausea for about three days, and now they are completely back to normal. No big deal, and no Flu shot necessary! Ron Paul made an excellent point when comparing today’s outbreak with the swine flu pandemic of 1976 and all the paranoia and panic within the public that insued. (Not to mention all the propaganda and fear mongering in the form of commercials and pharmaceutical ad campaigns. Eerily similar to what were seeing now.) The ironic thing is that back then, the flu shot killed more people than the virus itself! I would advise anyone with the slightest degree of intelligence, say an IQ just north of mud, to check out what Mr. Russell Blaylock, M.D. has to say about the risks of vaccinations, especially the flu vax! Dr. Blaylock is a board certified Neurosurgeon/Neurologist with several years experience. He has performed the necessary legwork required in researching the dangers of vaccines. His research and findings are based on medical fact and are published in scientific journals. He is obviously not on the big pharma payroll, so don’t expect a lot of the same old rhetoric you would receive from establishment shills like Paul Offit. I know a lot of you pro vaccine fanatics are masters of ad hominem attacks and character assassinations when “dealing” with intelligent and compassionate individuals who seek the truth,and who are genuinely interested in saving lives, and do not crave fame, money, and notoriety. I’m sorry to ruffle anyone’s feathers with the facts,but it’s time you arose from your slumber and break from your programming. Even if I’m in a minority of one, the truth is still the truth. No conspiracy here!
At least the Amish are wise enough to skip vaccinations, and by golly wouldn’t you know it, there is little to no incidince of autism and autism spectrum disorders within the population. Surprisingly enough, the few cases of autism that have occurred, are the ones who’s parents decided on vaccinating their children.
“Reckon why that is?!?! Don’t know Ma’ but im a gunna trust the gubmint and get my dang ole flu shot by god….Duhhhhhhhh… Baaaaaa…..Baaaaaaaa……”
Wake up sheep!!! Remember, don’t shoot the messenger. For more info visit: russellblaylockmd.com nvic.org fluscam.com infowars.com rense.com and healthfreedomusa.org
Julie Said,
November 15, 2009 @ 4:51 am
Bryan, I’m afraid your information is wrong and outdated.
To begin with, the Amish do vaccinate, and they do have autism, although the two are not causally related. Dan Olmstead’s article was simply incorrect. There are many sources that correct the Amish-don’t-vaccinate myth. Here’s one. You can Google some more:
http://autism-news-beat.com/archives/29
The issue of Offit as a shill–he is not one–has already been addressed in the comments.
As far as the 1976 swine flu vaccination goes, we have covered that on this blog:
http://www.rationalmoms.com/2009/09/29/is-guillain-barre-syndrome-a-reason-to-fear-the-swine-flu-vaccine/
To recap, this outbreak of H1N1 is already worse than the 1976 flu. It has killed more people, and it can kill younger people. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Flu shots have not had a higher associated risk of Guillain Barre syndrome for 30 years, and there isn’t any reason to suspect that this flu shot will have a higher risk of GBS. To associate the H1N1 shot with GBS is the real fear mongering.
I’m not sure how you are certain your kids had the H1N1 strain, but that’s great that they recovered with no complications. And it is true that most people who get swine flu will be fine. However, this strain can be very dangerous for some kids, even healthy kids. There’s no reason to be hysterical about it, but most kids probably should get the vaccination to protect themselves and others around them.
Finally, you say a lot in your comment about how you hate all those ad hominem attacks, and then you end by calling anyone who vaccinates a sheep. And by doing an–um, shall I call it an impression?–of a person going to get a vaccination. It’s all wrong. You’ve got the wrong facts; you’re reading the wrong information; and you’re the one being duped and believing the wrong people.