Thomas Verstraeten

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas Verstraeten, MD, MSc, is a vaccine researcher for GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals. Verstraeten previously worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where his work included a major study looking for any potential links between vaccinations and adverse effects.

Dr. Verstraeten was the lead author of an influential 2003 CDC vaccine study, which concluded "no consistent significant association" was found between thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) and neurological outcomes. Verstraeten was also the key presenter at the 2000 Simpsonwood CDC conference, in Norcross, Georgia, where his vaccine research findings were discussed by numerous vaccinologists, public health specialists and other experts, including fifty-two government agency and pharmaceutical industry representatives.

Dr. Verstraeten's research, published in the journal Pediatrics, concluded that "no consistent significant associations" were found between thimerosal-containg vaccines, and conflicting results at different health maintenance organizations for certain outcomes, suggesting that "for resolving the conflicting findings, studies with uniform neurological assessments of children with a range of cumulative thimerosal exposures are needed." [1] "The bottom line is and has always been the same, an association between thimerosal and neurological outcomes could neither be confirmed nor refuted and therefore more study is required," Dr. Verstraeten said at the time.[2]

Dr. Verstraeten's first report for the CDC, based on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System from February, 2000, found a significant risk for neurological developmental disorders at age 3 months, as babies received increased amounts of thimerosal, and the risk of autism rose 2.48 times greater for infants getting higher amounts of the product, compared to infants who received thimerosal-free vaccines. Verstraeten also has reported a link between Thimerosal and developmental delays in language and speech during the child’s first 6 months, according to an article in a New Zealand newspaper.[3]

While presenting his scientific analysis of vaccine safety data (derived from the Vaccine Safety Datalink), in June, 2000, at the Simpsonwood CDC conference, Verstraeten said: "Personally, I have three hypotheses. My first hypothesis is it is parental bias. The children that are more likely to be vaccinated are more likely to be picked up and diagnosed. Second hypothesis, I don't know. There is a bias that I have not yet recognized, and nobody has yet told me about it. Third hypothesis. It's true, it's thimerosal. Those are my hypotheses." [4]

[edit] References

• Verstraeten, T. (2001) Preliminary results. "Neurodevelopmental and Renal Toxicity of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines: a Two-Phased Analysis of Computerized Databases". Institute of Medicine presentation slides.
• Verstraeten, T. et al. (2003). "Safety of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines: A Two-Phased Study of Computerized Health Maintenance Organization Databases". Pediatrics 112(5), 1039-1048.
• Verstraeten, T. (2004). Letter. "Thimerosal, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and GlaxoSmithKline". Pediatrics 113(4), 932.

[edit] External links

• KingInstitute.org - 'The Rise Against Mercury', Sarah Bridges, Seed Magazine
• NewMediaExplorer.org - 'Alarming expose of research manipulation', Chris Gupta (November 15, 2003)
• NoMercury.org (pdf) - Letters and e-mails regarding CDC's studies of possible correlation between thimerosal and neurological disorders, Dr. Thomas Verstraeten (December 17, 1999)
• SafeMinds.org (pdf) - Testimony of Lyn Redwood, RN, MSN, Before the Subcommitte on Human Rights and Wellness, Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives (September 8, 2004)
• Scoop.co.nz - 'Bush Puppets Push For New Law To Protect Drug Companies', Evelyn Pringle, (February 7. 2005)