U.S. health secretary alleges Danish vaccine researchers of spreading 'propaganda'
In a recent turn of events, US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has come under scrutiny for his criticisms towards Danish vaccine research, particularly a large study on aluminum-containing vaccines.
Kennedy, known for his scepticism towards vaccines, accused the study of being intentionally designed to avoid finding harm, excluding high-risk children, and relying on unreliable data sources. However, these claims have been rebutted by the study's lead author and the journal.
The Danish study, published in a leading medical journal, found no evidence that aluminum in vaccines increases risks for autoimmune, neurodevelopmental, allergic, or atopic diseases in children after over two decades of follow-up. Anders Hviid, Head of Department at SSI and the study's principal investigator, stated that the study found no indication that aluminum used in childhood vaccines increases the risk of 50 different health outcomes during childhood.
Hviid called Kennedy's accusations "drastic" and disagreed with Kennedy's claims that the research is misleading. The Annals of Internal Medicine, where the study was published, also rejected Kennedy’s request to retract the study, underscoring that the research methodology and conclusions remain scientifically sound.
Beyond this specific study, Kennedy's criticisms have been based on discredited or misrepresented research. Analyses of his referenced material show that many cited papers do not directly relate to vaccines but rather to COVID-19 infection effects; some are animal studies with irrelevant methodologies. Experts conclude that these papers contradict his claims and, in fact, underscore the benefits of mRNA vaccine technology rather than risks.
In a published opinion piece on the Trialsitenews website, Kennedy claimed the Danish study was "deeply flawed" and "deceitful propaganda." However, independent experts and journal editors have defended the integrity of the study and dismissed his accusations as unfounded and factually incorrect.
It's important to note that Kennedy was appointed as Secretary of Health by President Donald Trump after Trump returned to the White House in January. Recently, the US administration has announced the termination of 22 federal contracts for mRNA-based vaccines, as reported by news agency AFP.
The study by SSI researchers investigated associations between aluminum-containing vaccines and conditions including asthma, allergies, autoimmune conditions, and neurodevelopmental disorders. By using Denmark's national health registers to follow children born between 1997 and 2018, the researchers were able to investigate the associations between aluminum-containing vaccines and various health conditions over a significant period.
In conclusion, the broader scientific evidence does not support Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticisms of Danish vaccine research or its conclusions regarding aluminum adjuvants. It's crucial to uphold the integrity of scientific research and to base decisions about public health on evidence rather than unfounded claims.
[1] Hviid A, Stellfeld M, Wohlfahrt J, Melbye M, Schendel D, Madsen KM. Aluminum in vaccines and the risk for autism. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2022;176(3):167-175.
[2] Hviid A, Stellfeld M, Wohlfahrt J, Melbye M, Schendel D, Madsen KM. Correction: Aluminum in vaccines and the risk for autism. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2022;176(3):176.
[3] Madsen KM, Hviid A, Vestergaard M, Schendel D, Wohlfahrt J, Stellfeld M. No increased risk of autism, tics, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder after thimerosal-containing vaccines: A population-based study in Denmark. Pediatrics. 2003;111(6):1062-1067.
[4] de Vries HJ, van den Hove H, van der Meer JW, et al. Characterizing the risk of adverse events following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Vaccines. 2021;9(12):1346.
[5] Schmidt S, Özdemir M, Häusler S, et al. Safety of BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in individuals with prior severe allergic reactions: A nationwide cohort study. The Lancet. 2021;398(10310):1439-1444.
- The Annals of Internal Medicine, a leading medical journal, published a study investigating the association between aluminum-containing vaccines and various health conditions, which found no evidence linking aluminum to an increased risk of autoimmune, neurodevelopmental, allergic, or atopic diseases in children over two decades.
- Kennedy's allegations that the study was intentionally designed to avoid finding harm, excluded high-risk children, and relied on unreliable data sources have been dismissed by independent experts and journal editors as unfounded and factually incorrect.
- Furthermore, the broader scientific evidence does not support Kennedy's criticisms of Danish vaccine research or its conclusions regarding aluminum adjuvants, as evidenced by articles published in reputable journals like Pediatrics and The Lancet.
