A-CHAMP: Vaccine Claimant Attorneys Move To Compel Access to CDC Vaccine Safety Database

[Guest guest]

Petitioners' Steering Committee

Files Motion To Compel Access to

CDC Vaccine Safety Database

 

 Action Affects  More Than 5000 Children's

Claims in Vaccine Court

Hearing Currently Scheduled for June 

    The attorneys representing  more than 5000 children and families in

the vaccine court filed a motion last week to gain access to the

database for non-government researchers. The action may prove to be the

most important step taken to date to get access to the key vaccine

database involved in the controversy over the link of vaccines to

autism. The database is known as the Vaccine Safety DataLink ( " VSDL " ).

You may obtain a copy of the complete motion and exhibits at

http://a-champ.org/vaccinecourt.html

    This filing is the second time attorneys have attempted to obtain

access to the database, that has been the subject of great controversy.

In 2005 a report of the Institute of Medicine ( " IOM " ) on data sharing

was highly critical of the CDC's handling of the VSDL and the inability

of outside researchers to conduct studies using the database. (The

complete 2005 IOM Report is an exhibit to the motion that can be

downloaded at the A-CHAMP web site.)

    The Petitioners Steering Committee ( " PSC " ) is a group of attorneys

who each represent one or more of the vaccine claimants in a U.S. Court

of Federal Claims proceeding called the " Omnibus Autism Proceeding. " In

addition to the 2005 IOM report, the attorneys relied on a more recent

report produced by the National Institutes of Health ( " NIH " ) that was

also heavily critical of the use of the vaccine database. The attorneys

argue that justice requires access to the vaccine data by children

alleging that their neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism,

were caused by thimerosal in vaccines or by the MMR vaccine, or both.

Thimerosal is a synthetic organic mercury compound that was heavily

used in vaccines until at least 2002-2003, and is still used in

vaccines as a preservative, including the flu shot.

    The NIH report that criticized CDC studies using the vaccine

database was the culmination of advocacy efforts by A-CHAMP and other

groups. In response to parent advocacy, Sen. ph Lieberman and

colleagues enacted legislation urging the National Institute of

Environmental Health Sciences ( " NIEHS " ), an institute at NIH to conduct

a review of the vaccine database. You may obtain a copy of the October

2006 NIH report on the vaccine database entitled " Thimerosal Exposure

In Pediatric Vaccines " at

http://a-champ.org/congressional_letter_2-22-06.html.

    In their legal papers the attorneys recount the history of access

being denied to the vaccine database.  In 2005 their efforts were

frustrated when it was learned that the control of the vaccine database

was presumably given to a private third-party called America's Health

Insurance Plans, or AHIP.  The attorneys now argue, however, that

subsequent actions by the CDC in restricting access to the vaccine

database show that control is still vested in the CDC. The attorneys

emphasize that because the database is vitally important in determining

whether vaccines cause autism, access to the database by researchers

independent of the CDC should be compelled by the Court in the interest

of justice. The attorneys propose a specific investigational plan for

study of the vaccine database. As stated in the moving papers,

" imply put, granting access to this crucial data will provide nearly

5,000 neurologically and neurodevelopmentally injured children with

their best chance of success in the [Vaccine] Program and obviate the

need for civil lawsuits to secure access to the data. Denial of the

PSC's motion, on the other hand,  ... will deny these autistic children

the " fundamental fairness " required by Vaccine Rule 8©... "

    A-CHAMP has been and will continue to follow developments in the

vaccine court and other legal forums very closely over the next six

months. In June 2007 the vaccine court has scheduled a hearing to

answer the question as to whether vaccines, mercury in vaccines, or the

MMR vaccine have caused neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

A-CHAMP will be taking the lead in providing you with information

regarding this historic proceeding and providing information to allow

parents to follow and attend the proceedings.

    A-CHAMP is a political action organization founded by parents of

vaccine-injured children and working to improve the welfare of their

children. Look for frequent updates on this and other related matters

from A-CHAMP.

 Message Brought To You By A-CHAMP

Advocates for Children's Health Affected by Mercury Poisoning

See Our Action Alerts. Click the TAKE ACTION! button

http://capwiz.com/a-champ/home/ 

www.a-champ.org

BE A-CHAMP FOR CHILDREN!

Donate to A-CHAMP at http://www.a-champ.org/donate.html

 

 

 

 

 If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.