'Action needed on no-consent vaccine trials'

[Posted: Fri 20/08/2010 www.irishhealth.com]

The Government must take action on the vaccine scandals of the 1960s and 1970s, Fine Gael Deputy Denis Naughten has said.

The call came after it was revealed that a woman adopted from Ireland in 1961, who was involved in a vaccine trial as an infant without her mother's permission, is to take legal action against the drug company responsible for the tests and the religious order that facilitated the trials in the early 1960s.

Mari Steed, who now lives in the United States, is to take action along with a number of others used as "guinea pigs", according to the Irish Independent.

A report published by the Department of Health in 2000 showed that at least 211 children in homes had had vaccines tested on them without consent during three separate trials.

It was referred to the Laffoy Commission on Child Abuse but the commission's investigation into the trials halted following court action taken by doctors involved.

Mr Naughten said the Government must make all of the information it has on the vaccine trials and the background to the trials available and must also apologise to those who were "treated as guinea pigs", he said.

Mr Naughten also called on the Government to arrange compensation for children who were damaged by the State vaccine programme administered in the 1960s and 1970s.

It is believed that none of the children who took part in the trials in children's homes were damaged by the vaccines.

However, some infants experienced severe adverse reactions to the 3-in-1 DPT state vaccination programme in the 1960s and 1970s, including brain damage, Mr Naughten said.

He added that it was about time we took moral responsibility and acknowledged that what went on in the past was wrong.