Vaccine campaigners highlight links to makers of controversial MMR triple jab

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheri

And another..

Jackie, JABS

Walter Spitzer actually has been helpful to us though. But to continue to

own shares in something he is critical of is a bit strange.

Sheri

16/12/01 Sunday Express

Vaccine campaigners highlight links to makers of controversial MMR triple jab

Protest over watchdogs who hold drug shares

By Cyril Dixon

Anti-MMR campaigners called for an inquiry yesterday into the links between

medical watchdogs and major pharmaceuticals firms.

The calls came as the Sunday Express reveals that a second expert from the

panel which ruled out a link between the jab and autism holds shares in one

of its manufacturers.

Professor Walter Spitzer of McGill University in Canada acted as an

external expert advisor called to give evidence to the Medical Research

Council working party.

But he also holds shares in GlaxoKline, one of the three companies

which supplies, and is facing legal action over, the vaccine.

Professor Spitzer's involvement follows the revelation that Professor Eve

stone, who chaired the working party, owns shares in the company worth

£10,000.

The report published last week said there was no convincing evidence to

prove that an increase in the number of autistic children was connected to

the three-in-one jab for mumps, measles and rubella.

Last night, Jackie Fletcher of the pressure group Jabs, said: " We need to

know exactly who is on these panels and where their priorities lie.

" This could be the tip of the iceberg. How many others are there out there

on Government advisory panels who have links with the pharmaceutical industry?

" I have no reason to doubt Eve stone's sincerity as an individual but

in her position she has to be seen to be independent. "

Professor stone's report into the vaccine dogged by controversy was

commissioned last March by the Department of Health. Campaigners claim the

jab given to babies of 15 months is linked to autism and bowel disease and

are planning to sue the manufacturers over the alleged side effects.

The department though, has remained sceptical about research from around

the world which claimed to have proved the links.

In response, it does not allow single vaccinations, and parents who insist

on them have been forced to arrange them privately.

Official figures show that just 84.2 per cent of parents are having the

triple vaccination - its lowest level since being introduced ten years ago.

The latest report said autism is much more common than previously thought,

affecting at least one in 166 children under the age of eight.

But the review discounted the MMR link and said doctors and parents may

simply be more aware of autism.

As part of the general concern about the jab, the Tories are demanding to

know whether Mr Blair is to have his 18-month-old son Leo vaccinated with it.

Last July, Dr Wakefield, the scientist who first linked autism to

MMR, expressed fears about conflicts of interest in the Research Council.

Thrower, the father of a child who became autistic after having the

vaccination, said: " The blatant conflict of interest of many of those

stating there is no link between MMR and autism can only undermine public

confidence. "

A spokesman for the MRC said interests of those involved in the inquiry

process were declared.

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