Hepatitis B vaccine

1. The graph below shows that the annual incidence of IDDM rose following Hepatitis B immunization in New Zealand.

Discussion

        Published data links the hepatitis B vaccine to an epidemic of IDDM (Classen,DC & Classen, 1997). The incidence of type I diabetes in the 0-19 year old age group has been studied since 1982 in Christchurch, New Zealand and a rise in type I diabetes was noted to occur in 1989 (Classen,JB, 1996b) after the initiation of an hepatitis B immunization program. The government of New Zealand introduced a massive Hepatitis B vaccination program in 1988 which was extended to include all children under 16 and over 70% of children were vaccinated within a few years with almost all of the immunization starting after 6 week of life. The initial vaccine was a human blood derived product but was switched to a recombinant vaccine around 1990. The annual incidence of type I diabetes in persons 0-19 years old living in Christchurch rose from 11.2 cases/100,000 children in the years prior to the immunization program, 1982-1987, to 18.1 cases/100,000 children (p=0.0008) in the years following the immunization 1989-1991. Additional data presented publicly by Dr. Scott shows the increased incidence of diabetes in Christchurch has been extended through 1994.

The Center for Disease Control, CDC, published data which supports a link between timing of immunization and the development of diabetes (Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Vol 6 Suppl. 2, S60; 1998). The data from the CDC's preliminary study supports published data that immunization starting after 2 months is associated with an increased risk of diabetes. The US government study showed Hep B immunization starting after 2 months was associated with an almost doubling of the risk of IDDM, odds ratio of 1.9. The results were also consistent with data that immunization starting at birth is associated with a decreased risk of diabetes compared to immunization starting after 2 months of life (odds ratio of 1.3 vs 1.9).  The children immunization at birth in the CDC study were followed on average less than 2 years. By contrast the BCG data from Sweden showed the ability of immunization at birth to prevent diabetes is only seen clearly after about age seven.

French Public Health Officials (October 8, 1998) discontinue routine Hepatitis B immunization at school age but continue immunization at birth because of the concern regarding vaccine induced autoimmunity when hepatitis B immunization is started at school age. 

MASS HEPATITIS B INOCULATION SUSPENDED OCTOBER 1998

The Secretary of State Bernard KOUCHNER has just made the decision to
SUSPEND the vaccination campaign in secondary schools, but to retain in
for infants, stating clearly that the vaccine is not obligatory for
either category. We can assume that our court hearing has some bearing
on this decision. This decision has caused concern among parents and a
toll-free number 0800 150 160 has been set up to answer their questions.

This decision leads us to ask several questions. Does Bernard KOUCHNER
have unpublished information which makes him fear that vaccination of children between 12
and 15 can cause neurological (demyelinating) disease? The argument
that there are as many cases among vaccinated as among non-vaccinated
children is fallacious when one compares the cases declared among
non-vaccinated children over a span of 52 weeks against those among
vaccinated children, whose symptoms appear on average 5 weeks the
vaccination. In other words, these figures, which are based on a 52-week
period (for the non-vaccinated children) against a 5-week period (for
the vaccinated children), are being used to
distort the truth.

The continuance of the recommendation to vaccinate new-born babies has
been justified by the fact that diseases such as multiple sclerosis do not occur in this
age group. Up to the beginning of this summer, the official doctrine
was that a booster is required every ten years; or to put it another
way: when these vaccinated babies reach the age where infection is more
of a risk (with sexual activity) they are no longer protected.