Jack Wolfson, DO, the board-certified cardiologist who has become a leading spokesperson in the anti-vaccine movement, announced today that he has filed a lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Wolfson is challenging the authority of the CDC, a federal government agency, to withhold access to its samples of smallpox virus, currently held in a highly secure frozen vault at its Atlanta, GA, headquarters.
“As taxpayers, we have a right to access to virus samples collected and stored using public funds. We should be getting that virus. It is the right of our children to get it,” said Dr. Wolfson.
There have been no cases of wild smallpox in decades. This has caused epidemiologists at the CDC to recommend discontinuing routine smallpox vaccination, an outcome that they had wrongly assumed would be welcomed by anti-vaccine activists.
The smallpox vaccination, which involved inducing a skin infection with the mildly pathogenic vaccinia virus, has a relatively high rate of complications. Not only is it contraindicated for immune-compromised people, it also cannot be given to people with eczema, a common childhood skin condition. Recently vaccinated people can transmit the vaccinia virus to unvaccinated contacts via skin contact with the vaccinia skin lesions. “If we have to re-institute universal smallpox vaccination again, there will be massive economic repercussions because of the need to quarantine the recently-vaccinated from susceptible social contacts,” remarked Anthony Fauci, MD, of the CDC. “Millions of workers would have to stay home from work for weeks.”
Kate Tietje, who writes the popular blog Modern Alternative Mama, derided such concerns: “Oh no! We might lose a few weeks of work! I understand that you want to take extra precautions. I know that nothing in life is simple for you, and I’m not trying to make light of that. Bottom line, though? I make the decisions that are right for my child. I do. I’m not willing to deny my children the experience of obtaining natural immunity to a normal childhood disease on the tiny chance that it might harm another child. I won’t give up my child’s rights just to help someone else’s child. I. Will. Not. And don’t ask me to, either. You don’t have that right. I don’t think it’s selfish to say that. In fact, I think you’re being selfish to try to force your will onto me.”
Anti-vaccine activist Sherry Tenpenny, DO, has also endorsed Dr. Wolfson’s petition. She also announced that her online shop will be adding a new Allicin & Elderberry Extract Anti-Pox Virus Formula, and that she accepts all major credit cards.
