The US Universal Varicella Vaccination Program: CDC Censorship of Adverse Public Health Consequences
- 1. Independent Computer Scientist, USA
Abstract
Introduction: A Research Analyst insider reports findings that the Universal Varicella Vaccination Program alters the epidemiology of herpes zoster (shingles); and details ways in which the CDC, in collusion with the Los Angeles Department of Health Services (LADHS)—the Acute Communicable Disease Control unit—apparently manipulated data to conceal unwanted outcomes that supported an immunologically-mediated link between varicella and herpes zoster (HZ) epidemiology. Methodology: The Varicella Active Surveillance Project (VASP) was one of three CDCfunded projects in the US whose mission was to monitor the effects of the varicella vaccine on the population of 300,000 within the geographically isolated region of the Antelope Valley (consisting of principally two cities: Lancaster and Palmdale, California). Starting in 1995, prior to varicella vaccine licensure in March, under a cooperative agreement between CDC and the LADHS, the VASP collected baseline epidemiological data, which when considered with data from the other two surveillance projects (Travis County, Texas and West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), would assist the CDC in recommending policies pertaining to the vaccine. Results: Trends in vaccine efficacy were masked by averaging varicella vaccine efficacy over several years instead of stratifying efficacy by year. High HZ incidence rates among children that had had natural varicella were masked by reporting a single mean of a bimodal distribution that included children that were administered the varicella vaccine. While CDC researchers initially opposed and criticized the Research Analyst’s methodology and calculation of childhood HZ incidence rates, eventually they used similar methodology and found similar outcomes. The CDC rates, however, represented only half the true rates in the population since two-source capturerecapture statistical methods revealed 50% reporting completeness. Conclusion: The CDC mainly published selective studies and manipulated findings to support universal varicella vaccination and aggressively blocked the Research Analyst’s attempt to publish deleterious trends or outcomes (e.g., declining vaccine efficacy, increasing HZ incidence rates, etc.), prompting his resignation in protest against what he perceived was research fraud. His letter of resignation stated, ”When research data concerning a vaccine used in human populations is being suppressed and/or misrepresented, this is very disturbing and goes against all scientific norms and compromises professional ethics.”