Whistleblower goes public: CDC buried data showing vaccines increase risk of autism by 340%

(NaturalNews) A top scientist and researcher for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had a key role in helping Dr. Brian Hooker of the Focus Autism Foundation uncover manipulated data from the agency that obscured a higher incidence of autism in African American boys.

As reported by The Liberty Beacon, the whistleblower came to the attention of Hooker, who has a Ph.D. in biochemical engineering, following a Freedom of Information Act request for the original data regarding the DeStefano et al. MMR (measles, mumps rubella) and autism study.

The site further reported:

Dr. Hooker's study, published August 8 in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Translational Neurodegeneration, shows that African-American boys receiving their first MMR vaccine before 36 months of age are 3.4 times more likely to develop autism vs. after 36 months.

According to Dr. Hooker, the CDC whistleblower, who at present wants to remain anonymous, guided him to evidence revealing that a statistically significant relationship between the age when the MMR vaccine was first administered and the incidence of autism in African American boys was hidden by CDC researchers.

'Widespread manipulation of data'

After data on 2,583 children who were living in Atlanta, and who were born between 1986 and 1993, had been assembled, CDC researchers excluded children who did not have a valid State of Georgia birth certificate, a decision that reduced the sample size being studied by 41 percent.

Hooker said that by adopting this arbitrary criterion into the analysis, the cohort size was dramatically reduced, thereby eliminating the statistical power of the findings and essentially negating a very strong MMR-autism link in the boys.

Hooker, The Liberty Beacon reported, has been working closely with the whistleblower. He says he has viewed extremely sensitive documents related to the study via congressional request from U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

"The CDC documents from Congress and discussions that Hooker had with the whistleblower reveal widespread manipulation of scientific data and top-down pressure on CDC scientists to support fraudulent application of government policies on vaccine safety," the website reported. "Based on raw data used in the 2004 DeStefano et al study obtained under FOIA, Dr. Hooker found that the link between MMR vaccination and autism in African-American boys was obscured by the introduction of irrelevant and unnecessary birth certificate criteria -- ostensibly to reduce the size of the study."

The results of the original study were first published in the peer-reviewed journal Pediatrics, a publication that receives financial support from vaccine makers via both advertising and direct donations, CBS News has reported.

The DeStefano study is widely cited by the CDC and other public health groups to dismiss any link between vaccines and autism, which is a neurological disorder that appears to be on the rise.

Whistleblower expresses deep regret over his role

"The CDC knew about the relationship between the age of first MMR vaccine and autism incidence in African-American boys as early as 2003, but chose to cover it up," Dr. Hooker said, a claim that he says the whistleblower has confirmed.

When he was asked if there could be any scientific basis for excluding children born outside of Georgia, Dr. Hooker responded, "I know of none, and none has been provided by the authors of the DeStefano study."

"The exclusion is reminiscent of tactics historically used to deprive African-Americans of the vote by requiring valid birth certificates," he added.

Dr. Hooker said further research is needed to determine why, specifically, there is a 3.4-fold increase in autism rates when MMR is administered prior to 36 months of age and primarily in African American boys.

There has been a link between the MMR vaccine and autism in cases that have been compensated by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, The Liberty Beacon reported, adding that the whistleblower has alleged criminal wrongdoing by his supervisors and has expressed deep regret over his role in helping the CDC hide data.

Sources:

http://www.thelibertybeacon.com

http://focusautisminc.org

http://www.translationalneurodegeneration.com

http://www.cbsnews.com

http://www.cnn.com

http://science.naturalnews.com