Children of God for Life – Final Letters to HHS and the CDC – January 4, 2007

(Sent on Children of God for Life letterhead, certified with all letter copies to the FDA included)

January 4, 2007

Secretary Michael O. Leavitt

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Secretary Leavitt,

As a follow up to our letter to you dated November 1, 2006, enclosed is a copy of the letter we sent to the FDA on December 26^th, as well as copies of letters and electronic filings we received regarding FDA Docket 2006D-0383.  In total, our offices received over 27,000 letters.

We are aware that you have also received several thousand letters directly from the public regarding this issue, but I wanted you to be aware of the volume sent directly to the FDA as well. I am also enclosing copies of letters we received from several prominent Catholic pro-life organizations that are uniting in their efforts to end the use of aborted fetal cell lines in vaccine production.

In addition, last March we filed on behalf of several hundred families for personal import of the ethical rubella vaccine from Japan in full compliance with Federal guidelines. I have enclosed a copy of that letter and I will be glad to send you the full documentation that was included with our letter if needed.  But I want you to be aware that they have not responded to our request, though they promised members of Congress they would do so by mid-September.  I would appreciate your assistance in this matter as well.

I am sorry to deluge you with this enormous amount of information but it seems our government agencies are not taking this matter seriously enough. I sincerely hope you will agree that the public reaction to this injustice warrants government intervention: not only to ensure that there are non-objectionable sources used for future vaccine development, but that those non-immunized families requesting the ethical rubella vaccine from Japan may be allowed to do so. Thank you kindly for any assistance you can provide.

Sincerely,

Debra L. Vinnedge

Executive Director

(Sent on Children of God for Life letterhead, certified)

January 4, 2007

Julie L. Gerberding, Director,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Rd

Atlanta, GA  30333

Dear Ms. Gerberding,

Thank you for your letter dated December 8, 2006.  As we have relocated, your letter was not received until shortly before Christmas, so I apologize for the delay in our response.

As you stated in your correspondence, “the CDC is responsible for ensuring that the US population is adequately vaccinated with safe and effective vaccines.”  We realize that it is not your duty to decide how they are produced, but in order to achieve the goals you have set for eliminating diseases, you should be deeply concerned that a large portion of the population will not use vaccines produced with aborted fetal cell lines.

In fact, last March we appealed to the FDA on behalf of several hundred families for personal import of the Takahashi rubella vaccine from Japan in full compliance with Federal Guidelines.  I am enclosing a copy of that letter for your review. These families are refusing to use the MMR due to the use of aborted fetal cell lines in the rubella portion of that vaccine.  They are opting to use separate doses of Attenuvax and Mumpsvax, while completely abstaining from rubella until an ethical version is made available. In addition, I should note that it is extremely difficult at times for these families to obtain the separate doses for measles and mumps due to Merck’s refusal to supply Mumpsvax to public pharmacies.  Likewise, State Health Agencies will not provide either vaccine, so unless parents are able to obtain them through pro-life physicians willing to assist them, they are going unvaccinated entirely.

I am enclosing copies of just some of the letters we have received in response to the FDA Docket open for public comment from prominent Catholic leaders and pro-life organizations, including the Catholic Medical Association.  In total, we received letter and petition copies from over 27,000 citizens, though I am sure many more wrote without copying our offices.

Ms. Gerberding, I know this situation must trouble you greatly, and so I am asking you to please use your influence to encourage both the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA to make these vaccines available. You have been successful at eliminating rubella in the US, but as the public becomes more and more aware of the sources used in these vaccines, we fear there could very well be resurgences in the future.  Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

Sincerely,

Debra L. Vinnedge

Executive Director