Rapid Responses to:

LETTERS: T O Jefferson, Regina Rabinovich, Jaako Tuomilehto, Helen Bedford, David Elliman, John Barthelow Classen, and David C Classen Vaccines and their real or perceived adverse effects BMJ 1999; 318: 1487 [Full text]

Rapid Responses: Submit a response to this article

Rapid Responses published:

Vaccines and type 1 diabetes (IDDM), data supports a causal relation

John Barthelow Classen, David C Classen   (18 January 2000)

Vaccines and type 1 diabetes (IDDM), data supports a causal relation 18 January 2000
John Barthelow Classen, President and Chief Executive Officer; Associate Professor of Medicine Classen Immunotherapies, Inc, Baltimore; University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, David C Classen Send response to journal: Re: Vaccines and type 1 diabetes (IDDM), data supports a causal relation	Jefferson[1] discussed a Johns Hopkins workshop[2] which was funded by the major vaccine manufacturers. The meeting was held after our research[3] supporting a causal relationship between vaccines and diabetes was aired on television. Panel members at the meeting, were asked to sign a consensus statement refuting our findings but they refused. Human data linking vaccines to an increased risk of diabetes was presented at the meeting.[4] Our data was presented that administering the hepatitis B vaccine starting after 2 months of life was associated with an increased risk of IDDM in New Zealand, relative risk 1.6. A CDC study[5] found hepatitis B immunization starting after 2 months of life was associated with an increased risk of IDDM, odds ratio 1.9, thus supporting our data. The preliminary data from our study in Finland showing the hemophilus vaccine is associated with an increased risk of diabetes[3] was also presented. Several studies linking BCG vaccination after 1 month of life to the development of diabetes was also presented. Several months later an NIH meeting was held to discuss this same issue with many of the same participants. No vote was taken at this meeting and no consensus was reached. Again the sponsor misstates the facts by indicating a general consensus was reached that there is no data to support a causal relationship between vaccines and IDDM. It is understandable that vaccine manufacturers and public health departments would want to quell safety concerns regarding vaccines. We believe however that efforts to deny safety concerns regarding vaccines are eroding confidence in public health, inhibiting those with disabilities from receiving compensation they are entitled to, and delaying the advance of safer technology. Immunization starting in the first month of life should be considered as one approach to prevent vaccine induced diabetes.[4] Authors: John Barthelow Classen M.D., M.B.A. (contact person) President and Chief Executive Officer Classen Immunotherapies, Inc., 6517 Montrose Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21212, U.S.A. E-mail: Classen@vaccines.net David C Classen, M.D., M.S. Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Salt Lake City, Utah Vice President, First Consulting Group, Inc. Bibliography 1. Jefferson TO, Rabinovich R, Tuomilehto J. Vaccines and their real or perceived adverse events. BMJ 1999;318:1487. 2. Halsey N. Childhood immunizations and type 1 diabetes: summary of an Institute for Vaccine Safety Workshop. The Institute for Vaccine Safety Diabetes Workshop Panel. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 1999;18:217- 22. 3. Classen JB, Classen DC. Association between type 1 diabetes and Hib vaccine, causal relation likely. BMJ 1999;319:1133. 4. Classen DC, Classen JB. The timing of pediatric immunization and the risk of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice 1997;6:449-54. 5 DeStefano F, Okoro C, Graffander P, Chen RT. The timing of hepatitis B immunization and risk of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety 1997;6 S2:S60.