Just how much are Doctors receiving to promote Vaccinations ? ? ?

Ilena Rosenthal, Health Lover, Thanks Veracare for the heads-up as to
this revealing article.
http://ilenarose.blogspot.com

Usenet and websites and Wikipedia and the Blogworld are filled with
the Vaccination / Pharma bullies from the Snake-oil Vigilantes like
David "Orac DOES NOT Know" Gorsk and industry medical writer for hire
Stephen Barrett ... all who deny ever taking a penny from the
vaccination industry. How much have they received via their defense
industry grants and frontgroups etc. etc. etc. etc. ? ? ?
http://www.BreastImplantAwareness.or...m#David-Gorski
http://www.BreastImplantAwareness.or...phen-J-Barrett

How much does Dr. Novella receive for repeating propaganda and so many
media and asking the wrong questions ? ? ?



http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...e=search_story

(CBS) For years some parents and scientists have raised concerns about
vaccine safety, including a possible link to autism and ADD. Many
independent experts have sided with government officials and other
scientists who say there's no possible connection. But how
"independent" are they? CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl
Attkisson shares here's what she found.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They're some of the most trusted voices in the defense of vaccine
safety: the American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two, and
pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit.

But CBS News has found these three have something more in common -
strong financial ties to the industry whose products they promote and
defend.

The vaccine industry gives millions to the Academy of Pediatrics for
conferences, grants, medical education classes and even helped build
their headquarters. The totals are kept secret, but public documents
reveal bits and pieces.


A $342,000 payment from Wyeth, maker of the pneumococcal vaccine -
which makes $2 billion a year in sales.


A $433,000 contribution from Merck, the same year the academy endorsed
Merck's HPV vaccine - which made $1.5 billion a year in sales.


Another top donor: Sanofi Aventis, maker of 17 vaccines and a new
five-in-one combo shot just added to the childhood vaccine schedule
last month.

Every Child By Two, a group that promotes early immunization for all
children, admits the group takes money from the vaccine industry, too
- but wouldn't tell us how much.

A spokesman told CBS News: "There are simply no conflicts to be
unearthed." But guess who's listed as the group's treasurers?
Officials from Wyeth and a paid advisor to big pharmaceutical clients.
Then there's Paul Offit, perhaps the most widely-quoted defender of
vaccine safety.

He's gone so far as to say babies can tolerate "10,000 vaccines at
once."

This is how Offit described himself in a previous interview: "I'm the
chief of infectious disease at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and
a professor of pediatrics at Penn's medical school," he said.

Offit was not willing to be interviewed on this subject but like
others in this CBS News investigation, he has strong industry ties. In
fact, he's a vaccine industry insider.

Offit holds in a $1.5 million dollar research chair at Children's
Hospital, funded by Merck. He holds the patent on an anti-diarrhea
vaccine he developed with Merck, Rotateq, which has prevented
thousands of hospitalizations.

And future royalties for the vaccine were just sold for $182 million
cash. Dr. Offit's share of vaccine profits? Unknown.

There's nothing illegal about the financial relationships, but to
critics, they pose a serious risk for conflicts of interest. As one
member of Congress put it, money from the pharmaceutical industry can
shape the practices of those who hold themselves out to be
"independent."

The American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two and Dr. Offit
would not agree to interviews, but all told us they're up front about
the money they receive, and it doesn't sway their opinions.

Today's immunization schedule now calls for kids to get 55 doses of
vaccines by age 6.

Ideally, it makes for a healthier society. But critics worry that
industry ties could impact the advice given to the public about all
those vaccines.