Comments

1
It is ridiculous to suggest that an 20 year old article in an obscure medical publication would have so much influence over vaccine fears. The past director of NIH, speaking to 45 million Americans on CBS Evening News, May 12, 2008, would, on the other hand, have a huge effect:

"
While the government has been utterly unable to stop it, or even tell us what is causing it, they say they do know one thing: it's not vaccines. But today, in an exclusive interview with CBS News, Dr. Bernadine Healy becomes the most well-known medical voice yet to counter the government on that claim.

Healy's credentials couldn't be more "mainstream." After all, she once was a top government health official as head of the National Institutes of Health. She founded the first school of public health in Ohio, and then headed both the school of public health and the school of medicine at Ohio State University. She's an internist and cardiologist. And she's a member of the Institute of Medicine, the government advisory board that tried to put the vaccine-autism controversy to rest in 2004 by saying a link was not likely. "

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-open-que…
2
This is the most insensitive, inaccurate, diabolical piece of yellow journalism I've ever encountered. The Portland Mercury and Erik Henriksen have reached an all time low. There is no possible way either of you have an empathy gene. Quite simplly put this article is pure sociopathy. God help us all.
3
No Orcs? What kind of fantasy is that?

Excellent review, explaining exactly why Vaxxed should not be classified as a documentary.
4
I understand science very well, which makes Mr. Henriksen's article all the more disappointing. When a senior scientist at the CDC, the head of the vaccine safety division no less, raises his hand and says, "fraud has been committed", Mr. Henriksen responds with mockery. Perhaps he hasn't taken the time to read the complete transcripts of Dr. Thompson's phone calls? His assertion that Dr. Thompson's claim of fraud has also been "debunked" is simply untrue, which is likely to lead a reader new to this topic astray.

If no one ever went to see Vaxxed for themselves, perhaps I'd be more troubled by Mr. Henriksen's useless "review." Luckily, the film is playing to packed houses, and will do so here in Portland, too. Mr. Henriksen, there are many Portlanders dealing with the very real catastrophe of vaccine injury in our children, your choice to disrespect all of them with your ignorance will not soon be forgotten.
5
Neil Miller: medical research journalist, author of Miller’s Review of Critical Vaccine Studies: 400 Important Scientific Papers Summarized for Parents and Researchers.

Erik Henriksen, comic book fan and someone who claims to understand science.

It's ironic that on a day when this pathetically dishonest review is published, an article in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons by Neil Z. Miller--a real medical journalist--makes it very clear that multiple vaccines can cause real damage in our children:

Multiple childhood vaccines are often given at one visit, but contrary to the claims of public health officials there is evidence that this practice is unsafe, writes medical research journalist Neil Z. Miller in the summer issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. “Our study showed that infants who receive several vaccines concurrently…are significantly more likely to be hospitalized or die when compared with infants who receive fewer vaccines simultaneously,” he writes. “It also showed that reported adverse effects were more likely to lead to hospitalization or death in younger infants.”

What Dr. Thompson found was that MMR vaccine given EARLIER in the lives of certain children triggered much higher rates of autism. When Dr. Thompson is called before Congress to tell the truth about what is happening to our children, will Mr. Henricksen cover the hearing with the same puerile tone?
6
http://blogs.wsj.com/pharmalot/2015/06/0…

"Two former Merck scientists, who filed a whistleblower lawsuit accusing the drug maker of falsifying data about its mumps vaccine, say the company is refusing to answer a key question about effectiveness of the product, according to court documents.

Specifically, the scientists complain that Merck is being evasive about the actual effectiveness rate, an issue that is at the heart of their 2010 lawsuit. As noted previously, the former virologists charged the drug maker knew its vaccine was less effective than the purported 95% level, and alleged senior management was aware and also oversaw testing that concealed the actual effectiveness."

OK, sure, Merck might lie about the effectiveness of the Mumps portion of the MMR vaccine and be outed by its own employes, but why should that in any way make us skeptical about the MMR vaccine for other side effects, like Autism? It shouldn't. Vaccines are good. Only good. Just ask an Orc.
7
This is by far the worst review I have read on VAXXED. I am very surprised this is coming from The Portland Mercury. I will always remember that you are now part of the problem. You are calling the thousands of parents with vaccine injured children liars. That is disgusting! The truth is coming out and when it does this review will make your paper look very bad.
8
You don't take vaccine safety seriously. Why should any parent concerned about their child's health take you seriously?
9
The star of the film is William Thompson - a
top CDC scientist - who admitted on tape the agency lied about associations between the MMR vaccine and autism in a seminal paper used to deny help to countless families of vaccine injured children. If you want to hear it straight from the horse's mouth - see the film.
10
The conspiracy? It's space aliens, injecting us with their DNA. Also, evil Wesen. Also, Fred and Carrie putting a "bird" (immunization) on it. Watch your TV. The truth is on there.
11
ICYMI:
Morgan Verkamp | Statement of William W. Thompson, Ph.D., Regarding the 2004 Article Examining the Possibility of a Relationship Between MMR Vaccine and Autism

August 27, 2014/in Press /
My name is William Thompson.  I am a Senior Scientist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where I have worked since 1998.
 
I regret that my coauthors and I omitted statistically significant information  in our 2004 article published in the journal Pediatrics. The omitted data suggested that African American males who received the MMR vaccine before age 36 months were at increased  risk for autism. Decisions were made regarding which findings to report after the data were collected, and I believe that the final study protocol was not followed.
 
I want to be absolutely clear that I believe vaccines have saved and continue  to save countless lives.  I would never suggest that any parent avoid vaccinating children of any race. Vaccines prevent serious diseases, and the risks associated  with their administration are vastly outweighed  by their individual and societal benefits.
 
My concern has been the decision to omit relevant findings in a particular study for a particular sub­ group for a particular  vaccine. There have always been recognized risks for vaccination and I believe it is the responsibility of the CDC to properly  convey the risks associated  with receipt of those vaccines.
 
I have had many discussions  with Dr. Brian Hooker over the last 10 months regarding studies  the CDC has carried out regarding vaccines and neurodevelopmental outcomes including autism spectrum disorders. I share his beliefthat CDC decision-making and analyses should be transparent. I was not, however, aware that he was recording any of our conversations, nor was I given any choice regarding whether  my name would be made public or my voice would be put on the Internet.
 
I am grateful for the many supportive e-mails that I have received over the last several days.
I will not be answering  further questions at this time.  I am providing information  to Congressman William Posey, and of course will continue to cooperate with Congress.  I have also offered to assist with reanalysis of the study data or development of further  studies.  For the time being, however, I am focused on my job and my family.
 
Reasonable scientists  can and do differ in their interpretation of information. I will do everything I can to assist any unbiased and objective scientists inside or outside the CDC to analyze data collected by the CDC or other public organizations for the purpose  of understanding whether  vaccines are associated with an increased  risk of autism.  There are still more questions than answers, and I appreciate that so many families are looking for answers  from the scientific community.
 
My colleagues and supervisors at the CDC have been entirely professional since this matter  became public. In fact, I received a performance-based award after this story came out.  I have experienced  no pressure  or retaliation and certainly was not escorted  from the building, as some have stated.
 
Dr. Thompson is represented by Frederick M. Morgan,Jr.,  Morgan Verkamp, LLC, Cincinnati, Ohio, www.morganverkamp.com

12
You want to know what bad science is? The fact that vaccine makers tested the safety of their vaccines against a different vaccine instead of a placebo. That doesn't sound like the scientific method I studied in high school and college.
13
"Journalism" like this is the reason the U.S.A needs a constitutional amendment like Canada has. That requires truth in reporting. This is an opinion piece and it isn't even accurate nor has the author done any real digging for the truth. Everything cited has been retracted or explain thoroughly by the aforementioned parties the author sites as his sources. Sorry sources and lazy writers makes for this brand of sad "journalism".
14
Vaxxed in a sentence: Andrew Wakefield thinks Americans are easier to con and fleece than citizens of the UK.
15
Erik is guilty of everything he claims to abhor about the movie Vaxxed. He ignores that Wakefield has since been exonerated and had his medical license restored by the British courts. He also claims to understand science without a scientific background nor does he understand how double blind studies never really are! http://www.naturalnews.com/054271_clinic…

As a Chiropractor who is anti-vaccination, I understand the science and have witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of vaccination on children whose nervous systems couldn't stand the assault, which consequently left them with life-long disabilities. Know also that many who administer vaccines, don't comply with the laws regarding informed consent, notation of the vaccine batch numbers in the medical file, and reporting of adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System maintained by the US Government.

Obviously, the staff at the Mercury have been ingesting the Kool-Aid from the pro-Vaxxers, not realizing that it was laced with fluoride and now they are being controlled! By the way, more and more, real-science is demonstrating what the residents of already Portland knew - Fluoride in drinking water and from your dentist is bad for you!
16
One of the most effective ways to avoid reality is to create a fantasy out of a fantasy. And Mr. Henricksen has done that in his review of Vaxxed, which he probably has not even seen. The fact is that he has fooled nobody. His fantasy is that there is no evil in this world and no ev il people(even if Bush called some evil-doers) exist on the planet. Everybody would rahter help others than themselves and nobody really cares about making more money than the next person.
His fantasy continues with the CDC is an altruistic agency that performs amazing health measures aimed at making every person in the world happy and healthy(kind of like Walgreens).
This reporter is full of 60's hippie love and so is every doctor(including Bill Frist)health worker, health insurance agent, politician, corporation,oil magnate,government employee,-I guess you get the idea.Personally I think Mr. Hendriksen is not really Mr. Hendriksen, but Mother Earth in disguise carrying roses . Do not fault him this review because his own fantasy world consumes him and there's nothing left for him to do but jump in the rab bit hole and join Alice in Wonderland.
17
Correction: This reporter does believe there is one evil-doer, which I won't mention by name
18
It looks like the all the typical astrotufers showed up to comment. One wonders how does Doritos Mercury flavor find the time to care for her two small children, and yet comment on every pro/anti vaccine post.......Could it be she's using BOTS or maybe she has been Bought. I'm going to say without a doubt BOTH!!!
19
As long as vaccines are classified as a biologic, the science that's available for us to assess is not good enough. Biologics have less rigorous research standards than any pharmaceutical drug. They do not use the double blind procedure, they do not use true placebos, and long term safety studies are not required. A mountain of this type of peer reviewed safety studies will not provide us with good enough information, as the basic rules of scientific inquiry are not applied.

Vaxxed is a documentary about the 2004 CDC study published in journal Pediatrics. It was the last study the CDC ever did on the MMR/Autism link. Recently, a senior scientist at the CDC has come forward confessing that they omitted crucial data in this important study. Dr. William Thompson (who still works at the CDC) says the he and his colleagues broke protocol mid-study and left out statistically significant data because it suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and increased risks of Autism. Here we are 12 years later and Autism rates are at an all time high. Vaxxed is about scientific fraud at the CDC.

Here is a link to the whistle-blower's official statement: http://morganverkamp.com/state...

Here is U.S. Representative Bill Posey's 5 minute U.S. House Floor speech on July 29, 2015 calling for an investigation of the CDC's MMR Research Fraud: http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4546421/re…

I just saw the film in Eugene. It's a whole lot better than what this reviewer is telling you. I, personally, thought it was profound. I encourage you to see the film and comment here when you are done. I'd love to hear some other reviews.

Stacey Black
Eugene
20
More reason not to ever read the Portland Mercury - ignorant "reporting" - no thank you!
21
Many people write reviews but this form of douchebaggery is beyond the pale. Yes, you figured us all out. Tens of thousands of parents trying to raise profoundly disabled children have nothing better to do then make up stories about our children and their regression. Those of us loyal to the vaccine program have now turned against it for no other reason than to make our days more interesting. We enjoy being called names and being threatened.

You act like you have some insider information when it is obvious you are severely misinformed. What was that you said, "changing diagnostic criteria" yes I am sure that is all it is. There is not really an epidemic of kids who can't speak, be potty trained, attend regular school, spend their days screeching, rocking, hand flapping, banging their heads, self-injuring and sometimes lashing out at others. Mr. Hendrickson has drank the Kool-Aid of those that have told him it is changing criteria....that 30 years ago my own mother would not have noticed or demanded to know what had happened to her once perfectly developing child. Somehow these kids went unnoticed, somehow attended school and were not even in special ed, graduated and went out into the world and still hasn't been noticed. Apparently he has never seen the chart showing we went from 6 kids in Oregon known to have Autism to now more than 11,000 and very damn few of those would have EVER been missed 25 year ago. In fact it is one of the things they despise about this movie is showing profoundly autistic kids as they are, unlike the modern media that has everyone convinced that autism is just the shy, quirky, or nerdy kids you remember yourself from school, but they are not. This movie shows the reality.

And it is not just Autism but ADD/ADHD, Tourettes, Asthma, Exczema, RA, MS, Lupus, life-threatening food allergies, insulin dependent diabetes, cancer and so much more. 1 in 6 of our children now have some form of developmental disorder and 1 in every 2 have an illness, condition, or disability that will require treatment for life. Yep, perfectly normal, nothing to see here folks move along. You don't remember kids like this when you were younger, well you are a liar because Erik says so, he's the expert here and we are all to defer to him while he makes fun of those actually suffering, denies their existence much like many Oregon doctors did for 20 years until the CDC now has told them to look for and treat our children's common and serious bowel issues. Those are the frauds. Those are the doctors who should have lost their licenses to practice, that would leave innocent children in pain, to suffer, failure to thrive.

Nothing changes, it's been 20 years since I have been in this disaster and parents are still treated like shit, our children are still treated like 2nd class citizens unworthy of care, consideration, equality, a decent education, and more. Despite what tenured teachers tell us about how bad it has become, that special ed children, less than 1% when I went to school in Oregon is now 25 to 30% in our schools, this condescending moron thinks he is the only one with any knowledge. After 20 years of this I could dance circles around you, you have not even taken baby steps into this quagmire and my guess is you don't want to. It is so much easier to simply belittle others and suck up all your information from those that have the most to lose if we are right.
22
How much money does the Portland Mercury make in pharmaceutical advertising every year?
23
There's no correlation between people dying from measles and not being vaccinated. Accidental digestion of gluten and fluoride causes this horrible "disease". Thank God parents of Portland Indigo Children are aware of this.
25
A lot of poor families don't have access to dentists...or have money for basic necessities such as toothpaste. But that's a different discussion.
26
Erik Henriksen, you truly have no idea what you are talking about.

And, like many vaccine defenders, you vaguely mention science and statistics without any actual citations. Your great understanding of science seems to consist only of a respect for the declarations of authorities.

Good luck with your next round of vaccines.
27
In the interest of journalism and full transparency perhaps Erik should publish his own shot records? When was his last MMR, DTaP, Varicella, HepB, HepA, Shingles, pneumonia, flu shot? Inquiring minds want to know! No vaccine lasts longer than 10 years and for some efficacy wanes in only 2 or 3 short years, for some it doesn't take at all, they are non-responders and we and they have no idea who they are. Herd immunity is a myth and a joke and no more than 50% of adults have any immunity at all, yet no major outbreaks!
It is one thing to be ignorant of the facts, to refuse to engage with anyone that disagrees, it's another to write a hatchet job hit piece and remove all doubt of your ignorance!
28
Erik Henriksen, this "review" is an abomination to both journalism and to the thousands who have been injured by vaccines. Open your mind and perhaps, just perhaps, read a vaccine insert. Everything the movie Vaxxed highlight is true. Your "review" is irresponsible and idiotic. Go get updated on your DTap and MMR. Preferably at the same time. Throw in your flu shot at the same time for good measure and report back to us how jolly well you feel.
29
Portland Mercury, please remove this irresponsible and insulting "article" full of lies and distortions and insults to the many vaccine injured in the film and who are living with the results of our terrible decision to follow "doctors orders" and injure our children.
30
LOL at these comments.
31
"He ignores that Wakefield has... had his medical license restored by the British courts"
32
Chiropractor Duby says "He ignores that Wakefield has... had his medical license restored by the British courts"

This is as accurate as saying vaccines cause autism. Neither statement is true.
33
You guys sound fun
34
Hi seg, I was immunized for everything imaginable as an infant, when I joined the military and again earlier this year for work. I feel pretty jolly well, thanks for your concern!
35
Ah, anti-vax, the new 21st-century religion for soccer moms who have "read a lot of articles" and ScienceDads who "understand science very well". Well-meaning individuals who are all too happy to creatively fill in the blanks in order to be part of the group that's "in the know". The fever pitch of their numerous indignant rants reflects the infantile conviction that one need only believe a notion strongly enough, and it will magically be transmuted from fiction into fact. Thanks for the entertaining send-up of Wakefield's delusion, Mr. Henrikson, and I hope you're enjoying the parade of True Believers as much as I am!
36
No worries; the barium and nano aluminum-coated fiberglass dispersed via the Chemtrails protects against the vax autisms.
37
To "doctor" Brian above: you should know that touting your creds as a learned practitioner of placebo treatments and assorted woo only serves to positively identify you as an individual who does not, in fact, "understand science".

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