Legislation Introduced to Require First Comparative Study of Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Populations

WASHINGTON, DC – Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Christopher Smith (R-NJ) have introduced the “Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Populations Act of 2009,” HR 3069,  legislation that would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive, peer-reviewed, comparative study of vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, which has never before been completed.
“Vaccines have been instrumental in reducing the incidence of many
once-common diseases, but we owe it to parents and children to study
and resolve the questions that have arisen over the possible link
between vaccines and neurological disorders,” said Maloney.  “What is
ultimately needed to resolve this issue is a comprehensive national
study comparing outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated children. 
As the most scientifically advanced country in the world, we should be
jumping at the chance to resolve the questions that have been raised. 
Parents deserve answers, and children deserve no less than absolute
certainty and safety.” 

“Vaccines have been a truly revolutionary contribution to global public
health that I have strongly supported. At the same time, it would be
unconscionable if we did not fully investigate every aspect of vaccine
safety, including varying vaccines schedules, to ensure that
individuals were not being exposed to unnecessary risks,” said
Smith. “This study would explore critical questions about our
children’s health. Only a comprehensive, national examination of data
that contrasts vaccinated children to unvaccinated children will answer
some of the questions many if not all parents have about the safety of
the vaccines we give our children. Congresswoman Maloney and I feel
strongly that this will add greatly to the body of knowledge for the
healthcare community and the public.”

Other original cosponsors of the bill include Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN),
Chair of the House Science and Technology Committee, and Reps. Dan
Burton (R-IN), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Virginia
Brown-Waite (R-FL), and Grace Napolitano (D-CA).

Background: Maloney and Smith have also introduced legislation (H.R.
2618) that would improve the current system for vaccine safety
monitoring in this country by assigning responsibility for the nation’s
vaccine safety to an independent agency within the Department of Health
and Human Services; and another (H.R. 2617) that puts in statute
definite timelines for the elimination of mercury from vaccines.

Maloney introduced similar legislation in the 110th Congress.  Click here for more information.

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