55 Organizations Representing 5 Million Serve Legal Notice to HHS for Failure to Conduct Vaccine Safety Tests: Civil Action to Follow?

Each time a parent decides to have their child vaccinated, they do so believing that each vaccine has been rigorously tested for vaccine safety and efficacy. Equally, they are of the understanding that their child will be protected from deadly diseases once they have received the vaccine. In reality, however, vaccines are not being tested for safety before entering the market. This is because the creation of the 1986 National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program took all liability away from the pharmaceutical industry and transferred it to the health department. Due to these actions, it is now the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct all the safety testing that the pharmaceutical industry no longer has to do. Mr. Del Bigtree, producer of the film VAXXED which chronicles the revelations of a CDC whistleblower who revealed that data showing a vaccine-autism connection was covered up, stated on camera that: “We believe that there is a major failure of Health and Human Services (HHS) to do the appropriate safety tests.” Angered by what he believes to be the lack of science and appropriate testing being carried out by the HHS, Mr. Bigtree and the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), supported by 55 organizations representing over 5 million people, have taken the unprecedented step of serving a notice to Mr. Don Wright, M.D., M.P.H., who is the acting secretary of the HHS department, demanding action to be taken. This notice, served on October 12, 2017, outlined exactly how the HHS department had failed in their duty to conduct the proper scientific research required to demonstrate vaccine safety. In serving this notice together, Mr. Bigtree and ICAN have recognized and made a stand, the HHS needs to be held accountable for their actions. If they do not address these concerns, Congress has given authority for Civil Action to be taken.