Introduction to the Controversy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to hand over multiple sets of vaccine safety data to a discredited researcher with a history of spreading misinformation that vaccines cause autism, according to two sources familiar with the plan. Both learned about the matter during recent meetings at the CDC but were not authorized to speak about it publicly.

David Geier, who shows up in the Department of Health and Human Services’ directory as a “senior data analyst,” will reportedly analyze the data. Geier has repeatedly claimed that vaccines cause autism — a link that’s already been fully debunked.

Background on David Geier

“If this individual is involved, then it draws into immediate question the validity of any analysis that comes out of this work,” said a former CDC official who was told of the plan before recently leaving the agency. Dr. Richard Besser, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a former acting CDC director, called Geier a “deeply irresponsible choice” to lead this effort as he has “no medical degree and a long history of pushing discredited theories about vaccines and autism.”

Concerns About the Research

“Families affected by autism deserve credible research efforts that explore legitimate potential preventable causes of and treatments for autism,” Besser said in a statement. “They are not helped when our tax dollars and research funds are wasted on rehashing a question that has already been answered.” Geier’s hiring was first reported Tuesday evening by The Washington Post. It was unclear Wednesday whether the plans had since changed. Neither HHS nor Geier responded to requests for comment.

The Measles Outbreak

It comes as a growing measles outbreak is spreading in at least three states: Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. As of Wednesday, 377 cases had been confirmed in those states — the vast majority in unvaccinated children in Texas. It’s the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. since 2019. Two people have died, including a 6-year-old girl. Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by a virus that can lead to severe complications and death.

Previous Investigations

Earlier this month, it was reported that the CDC would launch a new investigation looking at possible links between vaccines and autism. Instead, the Department of Health and Human Services, led by longtime anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., requested raw data from the CDC’s Vaccine Safety Datalink and three other sources. The CDC is part of HHS.

The Geiers’ History

David Geier and his father, Maryland geneticist Dr. Mark Geier, were a pair of researchers known for their poorly designed and retracted studies using government safety data that have long-fueled widespread misinformation about vaccines. According to an account in the 2005 book “Evidence of Harm,” then-congressman Dave Weldon — whose nomination for CDC director was abruptly withdrawn two weeks ago — intervened to help the Geiers access the Vaccine Safety Datalink, a CDC-housed dataset containing patient health records.

Criticisms and Controversies

The Geiers claimed at an Institute of Medicine panel in 2004 that the CDC data showed vaccines were linked to autism, a claim that was refuted by scientists at the meeting and in scores of published studies since. At the same IOM meeting, a scientist explained how the Geiers’ findings had failed to factor for age — children with more vaccines only appeared to have higher rates of autism because they were older and had more time to be diagnosed. (Children on average are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder around age 5.)

Conclusion

The decision to involve David Geier in analyzing vaccine safety data has raised significant concerns among medical professionals and former CDC officials. The history of the Geiers in promoting debunked theories about vaccines and autism, along with their questionable research methods and ethical violations, undermines the credibility of any research they may conduct. As the measles outbreak continues to spread, emphasizing the importance of vaccination, it is crucial that research efforts focus on credible, evidence-based investigations rather than rehashing disproven claims.

FAQs

• Q: Who is David Geier, and what is his role in the vaccine safety data analysis?
  A: David Geier is a “senior data analyst” who will analyze vaccine safety data despite his history of spreading misinformation that vaccines cause autism.
• Q: What is the current measles outbreak situation in the U.S.?
  A: There is a growing measles outbreak in at least three states (Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico), with the majority of cases in unvaccinated children in Texas.
• Q: Why are the Geiers’ research methods and findings controversial?
  A: The Geiers have been criticized for their poorly designed studies, failure to account for significant factors like age in their analyses, and promotion of unproven and harmful treatments for autism.
• Q: What is the significance of the Vaccine Safety Datalink, and why is access to it restricted?
  A: The Vaccine Safety Datalink is a CDC-housed dataset containing patient health records. Access is restricted due to concerns over privacy, potential misrepresentation of data, and the need for specialized expertise to interpret the data accurately.