CDC and Merck caught cherry-picking data to hide Gardasil vaccine risks, court documents reveal

• Merck and the CDC manipulated data to dismiss links between Gardasil and neurological disorders like POTS.

• European regulators rubber-stamped Merck’s flawed analysis, while the CDC replicated the same biased methods.

• A landmark lawsuit reveals how regulators ignored independent research and suppressed safety concerns.

• Dr. Jorge Arana, lead CDC researcher on Gardasil safety, later joined Merck, raising questions about regulatory independence.

Merck’s flawed analysis rubber-stamped by regulators

In a shocking revelation, court documents obtained by The Defender expose how Merck, the pharmaceutical giant behind the Gardasil HPV vaccine, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allegedly cherry-picked data to dismiss concerns about the vaccine’s link to serious neurological disorders, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The documents, part of the ongoing Robi v. Merck lawsuit, reveal a disturbing pattern of regulatory collusion, data manipulation, and suppression of independent safety research.

The CDC, which is heavily funded by the pharmaceutical industry, has long been accused of prioritizing corporate interests over public health. This latest scandal further erodes trust in an agency tasked with safeguarding the health of millions. The revelations also highlight the revolving door between regulators and Big Pharma, with key CDC researchers later taking lucrative positions at Merck and Moderna.

The controversy began in 2015 when Danish regulators raised concerns about a potential link between the HPV vaccine and neurological disorders like POTS and chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which is almost entirely funded by the pharmaceutical industry, launched an investigation. Instead of conducting an independent analysis, the EMA asked Merck to evaluate its own vaccine’s safety.

Merck’s analysis compared the number of reported adverse events to the “background rate” of these conditions in the general population. If the reported cases exceeded the background rate, it would indicate a safety signal. However, Merck’s analysis found no such link. According to Dr. Lucija Tomljenovic, a biochemist and expert witness in the Robi v. Merck case, Merck achieved this result by overestimating the background rate of POTS and underestimating the number of post-vaccination cases.

For example, Merck estimated the background rate of POTS to be between 15 and 140 cases per 100,000 women, based on rates of chronic fatigue syndrome—a completely different condition. Independent studies, including one by the Mayo Clinic, found the actual background rate to be as low as 2.2 per 100,000. By inflating the background rate, Merck ensured that the number of reported cases would appear insignificant.

CDC replicates Merck’s biased methods

In 2017, the CDC and FDA published their own analysis of the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) data, concluding that there was no link between Gardasil and POTS. However, the CDC’s study replicated Merck’s flawed methodology, including the exclusion of cases that did not fully meet diagnostic criteria.

Dr. Tomljenovic’s report reveals that the CDC’s lead researcher, Dr. Jorge Arana, consulted with Merck’s Barbara Kuter to obtain the company’s proprietary data analysis algorithm. The CDC agreed to keep this information confidential, raising serious questions about the agency’s independence.

The CDC’s analysis identified 160 VAERS reports of POTS symptoms but excluded 131 cases that did not meet strict diagnostic criteria, leaving only 29 cases. This approach ignored the reality that POTS is often under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed, especially by non-specialists.

Revolving door between regulators and Big Pharma

Months after the CDC’s study was published, Dr. Arana left the agency to join Merck as a senior scientist overseeing vaccine safety. In May 2023, he moved to Moderna, another major vaccine manufacturer. This revolving door between regulators and the pharmaceutical industry underscores the systemic corruption that plagues public health agencies.

The CDC continues to recommend Gardasil for all adolescents, despite mounting evidence of its risks. More than 200 lawsuits are pending against Merck, with plaintiffs alleging severe injuries from the vaccine. The Robi v. Merck case, which was temporarily suspended, is set to resume in September.

The revelations in Dr. Tomljenovic’s report paint a damning picture of a regulatory system that prioritizes corporate profits over public safety. By rubber-stamping Merck’s flawed analysis and suppressing independent research, the CDC and EMA have betrayed the trust of the public they are supposed to protect.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

VaccineDamage.news

ChildrensHealthDefense.org