Hello,
Some of the original Polio vaccines in the late 1950's and early 1960's contained the monkey virus SV40. While these vaccines were successful in stopping the spread of Polio, many people were inadvertently exposed to SV40. Since the discovery of SV40, it has been found to be an oncogenic virus. Through the activity of the SV40 large tumor antigen (T-ag), the virus causes tumors in hamsters. SV40 T-ag is utilized in molecular biology to immortalize (transform) cell lines. SV40 DNA has been found in a number of human tumors including mesothelioma and brain tumors. Furthermore, it has been shown that SV40 has infected individuals who never had the contaminated vaccine. While cohort studies have been unable to draw a parallel between the contaminated vaccines and cancer, SV40 is clearly an oncogenic virus.
As the vaccine makers are protected from liability, who is to blame for this medical catastrophe? Were the original contaminated Polio vaccines mandated by the CDC or another department of the United States government? If so, should they be held responsible for cancer cases in which SV40 is present in the tumor? Should the government pay families who have lost loved ones due to an SV40 positive tumor?
Thank you.
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