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Turtles All The Way Down

Turtles All The Way Down

Vaccine Science and Myth
by Anonymous 2022 556 pages
4.64
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Key Takeaways

1. Vaccine clinical trials are designed to hide adverse events.

Clinical trials of vaccines are rigged to hide their true (and high) rate of side effects, which means the medical establishment’s longstanding claim that vaccines are safe has no scientific merit.

Flawed design. Pre-licensure clinical trials for vaccines, especially childhood ones, are fundamentally flawed. Instead of comparing the new vaccine to an inert placebo (like saline), they typically use another vaccine or a vaccine-like compound as the control. This "fake placebo" is also bioactive and likely to cause adverse events itself.

Obscuring true rates. This design ensures that the rate of adverse events in the vaccinated group appears similar to the control group, allowing manufacturers and regulators to claim the new vaccine is "safe" because its side effect rate is comparable to the control. However, this comparison cannot reveal the absolute rate of adverse events compared to receiving nothing, nor the cumulative effect of multiple vaccines. The rotavirus vaccine trials, using vaccine-sans-antigen controls, are highlighted as particularly unethical examples.

Turtles all the way down. This practice creates a chain where newer vaccines are tested against older ones, which were themselves tested against even older ones, ultimately resting on a foundation where the original vaccine's safety was never rigorously tested against a true placebo. This systematic avoidance means the true rate of adverse events for routine childhood vaccines remains unknown.

2. Vaccine adverse event reporting systems are intentionally deficient.

Vaccine adverse event reporting systems are designed on the (false) premise that a vaccine’s basic safety is established during pre-licensure clinical trials.

Passive and voluntary. Systems like the US VAERS are passive, relying on voluntary reporting from healthcare professionals and the public (only manufacturers are mandated). This leads to severe underreporting, estimated at only 1-10% of actual adverse events. Reports are also often incomplete or unverified.

Unreliable data. The high and unknown rate of underreporting makes quantitative analysis and comparison scientifically meaningless. It's impossible to accurately calculate adverse event rates or reliably identify safety signals by comparing VAERS data to population rates or rates from other vaccines.

Serving the narrative. Despite these acknowledged limitations, health authorities use VAERS data in studies (like Slade 2009 on Gardasil) to publicly claim vaccines are safe, often ignoring the data's inherent flaws and contradictions. Efforts to create more robust, active reporting systems (like the Lazarus project) have been blocked by the CDC, suggesting a preference for systems that cannot expose the true extent of adverse events.

3. Scientific research into vaccine adverse event mechanisms is severely lacking.

At present, officially sanctioned medical science knows very little about the harmful effects of vaccines.

Knowledge gaps. The IOM 2011 report found insufficient evidence to confirm or refute a causal link for over 85% of vaccine-adverse event pairs examined. This highlights a severe lack of high-quality mechanistic (biomedical) studies investigating how vaccines might cause harm.

Empty toolbox. This scientific void leaves medical professionals with no reliable tools to:

  • Diagnose whether a specific health issue was caused by a vaccine.
  • Identify individuals susceptible to vaccine injury (e.g., based on genetics or health status).
  • Develop effective treatments for vaccine-injured individuals.

Deliberate inaction. This persistent lack of research is not accidental. Despite the increasing incidence of chronic conditions potentially linked to vaccines and growing public concern, health authorities have not prioritized or funded fundamental biomedical research into vaccine adverse event mechanisms, preferring superficial statistical studies instead.

4. Epidemiological studies on vaccine safety are often biased and manipulated.

The medical establishment conceals from a credulous public the grim reality that vaccine science is largely funded by interested parties which produce studies that advance the funder’s agenda, not the public’s.

Funding influence. Vaccine safety research is heavily funded by government agencies and pharmaceutical companies, both of whom have vested interests in promoting vaccine safety and efficacy. This creates a system where funding is often directed towards studies likely to produce favorable results.

Manipulation techniques. Retrospective observational studies, commonly used in vaccine safety research, are particularly susceptible to manipulation. Researchers can influence outcomes through:

  • Biased selection or exclusion of study subjects.
  • Manipulation of raw data or statistical adjustments (e.g., Madsen 2002 reversing results).
  • Using irrelevant or unsubstantiated data (e.g., Fombonne 2006 using data from a different city).
  • Misrepresenting the study's actual subject to the public (e.g., DeStefano 2013 claiming to study "too many vaccines" but studying antigens).

Failure of oversight. The peer-review process is often inadequate to detect these deliberate flaws, and there are few incentives for other scientists to critically re-examine published vaccine safety studies. This allows biased research, often produced by companies specializing in favorable outcomes (e.g., Grimaldi 2014 by LA-SER), to be published in prestigious journals and cited by health authorities.

5. Crucial vaccinated vs. unvaccinated health studies are deliberately avoided.

“The studies that have never been done” is one of the weakest points in the fortress that the medical establishment has built around vaccine dogma.

Missing evidence. Despite claims of thorough testing, no studies have ever compared the overall health outcomes of fully vaccinated children to completely unvaccinated children. This prevents any scientific assessment of the cumulative impact of the entire vaccine schedule or its potential link to rising chronic illness rates.

Weak excuses. The IOM 2013 report acknowledged this lack of research but offered unconvincing reasons for not conducting such studies, including ethical concerns (for randomized trials, though observational studies are feasible), insufficient unvaccinated populations (contradicted by data), and the complexity of defining "overall health."

Fear of results. The persistent refusal to conduct these crucial studies, despite public demand and missed opportunities (like studying the Amish or specific clinic populations), suggests the establishment fears the outcome. The most plausible explanation is that internal, unpublished data indicates unvaccinated children are healthier, particularly regarding chronic conditions.

6. Many official vaccination guidelines lack scientific evidence.

Despite institutional pressure to stick to these official recommendations – or perhaps because of it – many parents feel the guidelines are not always compatible with the well-being of their child.

Untested combinations. The CDC recommends administering multiple vaccines simultaneously (up to 9 shots at 15 months), yet the safety of these specific combinations has often not been tested in clinical trials, contradicting the CDC's own stated policy.

Baseless claims. The assertion that an infant's immune system can handle "10,000 vaccines" at once is a scientifically unfounded claim based on a theoretical calculation about antigen response, not actual vaccine safety testing.

Vaccinating when sick. The guideline to vaccinate mildly ill children is also based on minimal scientific evidence. A review found only one small study on the safety of vaccinating mildly ill children with the MMR vaccine, and no studies for inactivated vaccines.

7. Vaccines played only a marginal role in the historical decline of infectious disease mortality.

Historical evidence uncovered in the second half of the 20th century shows, clearly and unequivocally, that the narrative of “life-saving vaccines” is largely fictitious.

Pre-vaccine decline. Historical mortality data from the UK and US (analyzed by McKeown, McKinlay, and even CDC researchers) shows that the vast majority (often 90% or more) of the decline in infectious disease deaths occurred before the widespread introduction of vaccines in the mid-20th century.

Sanitation and hygiene. This dramatic reduction was primarily due to improvements in living conditions, including:

  • Centralized sewage systems and clean water supply.
  • Improved personal hygiene practices.
  • Better nutrition and food preservation/transportation.
  • Reduced overcrowding.

Marginal contribution. While vaccines contributed to reducing morbidity for some diseases (diphtheria, pertussis, measles), their impact on overall mortality was marginal compared to public health and lifestyle improvements. Many diseases (tuberculosis, typhoid, scarlet fever) declined significantly without vaccines.

8. Chronic disease is a growing epidemic in children, surpassing infectious disease burden.

Contrary to the “our health has never been better” myth promoted by the medical establishment, the data suggest that 21st century children are sicker than ever before and are getting progressively sicker as time goes by.

Rising rates. Since the mid-20th century, industrialized countries have seen a dramatic and sustained increase in chronic illness and disability in children. Conditions like asthma, allergies, diabetes, ADHD, and autism, once rare, are now alarmingly common.

Significant burden. US data shows a steady rise in children limited by chronic conditions (from 1.8% in 1960 to 8% in 2010) and those with special healthcare needs (1 in 5). Millions of children regularly take medication for chronic conditions.

Shift in burden. This surge in chronic disease means its societal burden (healthcare costs, lost productivity, reduced quality of life) now far outweighs that of infectious diseases, which have become relatively mild and rare in the Western world. Despite this, health authorities continue to focus heavily on infectious disease prevention while displaying a puzzling lack of urgency regarding the chronic illness epidemic.

9. Herd immunity is often misunderstood and not conferred by all routine vaccines.

Of the 14 vaccines on the US childhood routine schedule, only 5 (one-third) can be said to definitely provide relevant herd protection for children...

Protection from infection. Herd immunity requires a vaccine to prevent not just illness, but also infection with the pathogen and its transmission to others. A vaccine that only prevents disease symptoms cannot confer herd immunity.

Limited applicability. Many routine vaccines do not meet this standard or provide herd immunity that is relevant for children:

  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis, IPV Polio, Influenza vaccines do not prevent transmission.
  • Hepatitis A is mild in children; herd immunity primarily benefits adults.
  • Hepatitis B herd immunity is irrelevant for the vast majority of children not living with a carrier.
  • Rotavirus herd immunity evidence is preliminary and inconclusive.
  • Pneumococcal vaccine provides partial herd immunity against specific serotypes but doesn't stop overall carriage due to serotype replacement.

True herd immunity vaccines. Only vaccines for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, and Hib clearly demonstrate a significant herd immunity effect beneficial to children by reducing pathogen spread.

10. The official history of polio is inconsistent with historical facts and unexplained mysteries.

The official version of polio history... is largely inconsistent with the facts.

Unexplained emergence. The official narrative fails to explain why polio outbreaks suddenly appeared in the late 19th century, why they were initially confined to industrialized countries, and why they peaked in summer months when children were out of school. The "Improved Hygiene" theory proposed to explain this is contradicted by historical evidence.

Diagnostic confusion. Early polio diagnosis was unreliable, and polio-like paralysis was known to be caused by
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FAQ

What is Turtles All The Way Down: Vaccine Science and Myth by Anonymous about?

  • Comprehensive vaccine critique: The book critically examines vaccine science, focusing on the safety, efficacy, and approval processes of vaccines, and challenges the mainstream narrative that vaccines are unequivocally safe and effective.
  • Analysis of scientific methods: It scrutinizes the design and execution of clinical trials, adverse event reporting systems, and epidemiological studies, revealing systemic flaws and biases.
  • Broader context: The book explores the political, financial, and institutional influences shaping vaccine research, policy, and public discourse, aiming to empower readers to critically assess vaccine information.

Why should I read Turtles All The Way Down: Vaccine Science and Myth by Anonymous?

  • Unveils hidden research flaws: The book exposes how vaccine safety has been systematically misrepresented through flawed clinical trials and deficient adverse event reporting systems.
  • Empowers informed decisions: It provides detailed scientific references and critical analysis, equipping parents, medical professionals, and policymakers to make better-informed vaccination choices.
  • Challenges mainstream dogma: By presenting meticulously documented evidence from mainstream sources, the book encourages readers to question official claims and engage in rational, skeptical discussion about vaccines.

What are the key takeaways from Turtles All The Way Down: Vaccine Science and Myth?

  • Systemic flaws in vaccine science: The book reveals that vaccine safety research is plagued by methodological flaws, data manipulation, and conflicts of interest.
  • Lack of true placebo trials: No routine childhood vaccine in the US has been tested in Phase 3 trials with a true placebo, undermining claims of safety.
  • Suppression of dissent: The book highlights the suppression of vaccine-critical voices and the lack of open scientific debate, calling for transparency and honest discourse.

How does Turtles All The Way Down by Anonymous critique vaccine clinical trial methods?

  • Flawed control groups: Vaccines are often tested against other vaccines or vaccine-like compounds, not true placebos, which obscures the real rate of adverse events.
  • “Fake placebo” practice: Using another vaccine as a control inflates the background rate of adverse events, making the tested vaccine appear as safe as the control.
  • Ethical violations: Some trials have used untested, potentially harmful compounds in control groups, violating medical ethics and the Declaration of Helsinki.

What does Turtles All The Way Down reveal about vaccine adverse event reporting systems like VAERS?

  • Severe underreporting: Systems like VAERS rely on passive, voluntary reporting, leading to significant underreporting of vaccine-related adverse events.
  • Data limitations: Due to underreporting and lack of verification, these systems cannot provide reliable incidence rates or valid comparisons to population background rates.
  • Systemic design flaws: The book argues that these systems are intentionally deficient, serving more as “window dressing” than effective safety monitoring tools.

How does Turtles All The Way Down by Anonymous evaluate epidemiology’s role in vaccine safety research?

  • Population-level focus: Epidemiology studies disease patterns and correlations at the population level but cannot establish causal mechanisms or predict individual outcomes.
  • Prone to bias: Epidemiological studies can be manipulated through selective data interpretation and statistical adjustments to support predetermined conclusions.
  • Need for biomedical evidence: The book stresses that epidemiological findings must be complemented by physiological studies to establish causation.

What are the main criticisms of vaccine safety studies in Turtles All The Way Down?

  • Manipulation and bias: The book analyzes specific studies (e.g., Madsen 2002, DeStefano 2013) and exposes data manipulation, conflicts of interest, and methodological errors.
  • Peer review limitations: It highlights that peer review often fails to detect errors or fraud, allowing flawed studies to be published and remain unchallenged.
  • Missing crucial studies: Essential vaccinated vs. unvaccinated (VU) studies have never been properly conducted or published, leaving a major gap in vaccine safety evidence.

How does Turtles All The Way Down by Anonymous address the safety of multiple vaccines administered simultaneously?

  • Lack of safety testing: Many vaccine combinations given at a single visit have never been tested for safety in clinical trials.
  • Contradictory evidence: The book cites studies (e.g., Shneyer 2009) showing that spacing out vaccines reduces adverse events, challenging official claims of safety.
  • Critique of “10,000 vaccines” claim: The assertion that infants can handle 10,000 vaccines at once is debunked as a misleading extrapolation.

What does Turtles All The Way Down by Anonymous say about vaccinating infants with mild illnesses?

  • No solid scientific evidence: The recommendation to vaccinate mildly ill infants is not supported by robust studies; only one small, low-quality study exists for MMR vaccine safety in this context.
  • Parental concerns dismissed: Health authorities insist on vaccinating mildly ill infants to maintain schedules, despite lack of evidence and common sense concerns.
  • Call for transparency: The book argues that parents should be informed about the lack of evidence behind this guideline.

How does Turtles All The Way Down by Anonymous challenge common vaccine myths, such as herd immunity and disease eradication?

  • Decline before vaccines: The book shows that most infectious disease mortality declines occurred before vaccines, due to improved sanitation and living conditions.
  • Herd immunity limitations: Only about one-third of routine vaccines provide herd immunity relevant to children; others do not prevent infection or transmission.
  • Rise of chronic disease: It highlights the increase in chronic diseases among children, contradicting claims of ever-improving public health due to vaccines.

What unresolved mysteries about polio are discussed in Turtles All The Way Down by Anonymous?

  • Epidemiological puzzles: The book questions why polio epidemics emerged in industrialized countries, peaked in summer, and declined before widespread vaccination.
  • Infectious nature questioned: Early researchers found little evidence of direct contagion, and the classification of polio as infectious is based on speculative theories.
  • Alternative pesticide theory: The book presents evidence that polio-like paralysis may have been caused by exposure to toxic pesticides, not just a virus.

What is the significance of the title Turtles All The Way Down in the context of vaccine science?

  • Metaphor for flawed foundations: The title refers to the story of infinite regress, symbolizing how vaccine safety claims rest on a series of flawed studies, each supported by another equally flawed study.
  • Clinical trial “turtles”: Each vaccine’s safety is “proven” by comparison to a predecessor vaccine or compound, none of which were tested against a true placebo.
  • Call for critical examination: The title invites readers to look beyond surface assurances and question the underlying assumptions and evidence supporting vaccine safety.

Review Summary

4.64 out of 5
Average of 574 ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Turtles All The Way Down receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, praised for its thorough examination of vaccine science, safety, and policy. Readers appreciate its well-researched approach, citing numerous studies and historical data. Many find it eye-opening, challenging conventional beliefs about vaccine efficacy and safety testing. The book's anonymity is seen as a strength, forcing focus on the content rather than the author. Critics, however, view it as biased and potentially harmful to public health by promoting vaccine skepticism.

Your rating:
4.77
39 ratings

About the Author

Anonymous is the attributed author of "Turtles All The Way Down," a book critically examining vaccine science and policy. The choice of anonymity is likely deliberate, allowing readers to focus on the content rather than the author's identity. This approach is common for controversial topics, protecting the author from potential backlash while emphasizing the book's arguments. Anonymous authorship has historical precedent in literature, often used for traditional stories, religious texts, or works addressing sensitive subjects. In this case, it may reflect the contentious nature of vaccine debates and the author's desire to avoid ad hominem attacks.

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