HR 2832 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct or support a comprehensive study comparing total health outcomes, including risk of autism, in vaccinated populations in the United States with such outcomes in unvaccinated populations in the United States, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

June 22, 2007

Mrs. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Mr. HINCHEY, and Mr. PAUL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct or support a comprehensive study comparing total health outcomes, including risk of autism, in vaccinated populations in the United States with such outcomes in unvaccinated populations in the United States, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Populations Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Securing the health of the Nation's children is our most important concern as parents and stewards of the Nation's future.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The Nation's vaccine program has greatly reduced human suffering from infectious disease by preventing and reducing the outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Total health outcomes are the best measure of the success of any public health effort, including security from both chronic and infectious disease.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Childhood immunizations are an important tool in the pursuit of childhood health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The number of immunizations administered to infants, pregnant women, children, teenagers, and adults has grown dramatically over recent years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The incidence of chronic, unexplained diseases such as autism, learning disabilities, and other neurological disorders appears to have increased dramatically in recent years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Individual vaccines are tested for safety, but little safety testing has been conducted for interaction effects of multiple vaccines.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) The strategy of aggressive, early childhood immunization against a large number of infectious diseases has never been tested in its entirety against alternative strategies, either for safety or for total health outcomes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) Childhood immunizations are the only health interventions that are required by States of all citizens in order to participate in civic society.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) Public confidence in the management of public health can only be maintained if these State government-mandated, mass vaccination programs--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) are tested rigorously and in their entirety against all reasonable safety concerns; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) are verified in their entirety to produce superior health outcomes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) There are numerous United States populations in which a practice of no vaccination is followed and which therefore provide a natural comparison group for comparing total health outcomes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) No comparative study of such health outcomes has ever been conducted.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) Given rising concern over the high rates of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, the need for such studies is becoming urgent.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. STUDY ON HEALTH OUTCOMES IN VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED AMERICAN POPULATIONS.

(a) In General- The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this Act referred to as the `Secretary') , acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall conduct or support a comprehensive study--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to compare total health outcomes, including risk of autism, in vaccinated populations in the United States with such outcomes in unvaccinated populations in the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to determine whether vaccines or vaccine components play a role in the development of autism spectrum or other neurological conditions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Qualifications- With respect to each investigator carrying out the study under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the investigator--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) is objective;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) is qualified to carry out such study, as evidenced by training experiences and demonstrated skill;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) is not currently employed by any Federal, State, or local public health agency; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) is not currently a member of a board, committee, or other entity responsible for formulating immunization policy on behalf of any Federal, State, or local public health agency or any component thereof;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) has no history of a strong position on the thimerosal controversy; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) is not currently an employee of, or otherwise directly or indirectly receiving funds from, a pharmaceutical company.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Target Populations- The Secretary shall seek to include in the study under this section populations in the United States that have traditionally remained unvaccinated for religious or other reasons, such as Old Order Amish, members of clinical practices (such as the Homefirst practice in Chicago) who choose alternative medical practices, and practitioners of anthroposophic lifestyles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Timing- Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a request for proposals to conduct the study required by this section. Not later than 120 days after receipt of any such proposal, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the proposal. If the Secretary disapproves the proposal, the Secretary shall provide the applicant involved with a written explanation of the reasons for the disapproval.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink