I am compelled to comment on the article. “mRNA Vaccines for Covid-19: Efficacy Facts and Safety Myths” in Vol. 88, Number 1, January 2024 by Dibash K. Das and Steven L. Shafer, Editor in Chief, ASA MONITOR.

Having started my career in Academia and transitioning to Private Practice, I learned long ago to publish, “findings”, and avoid the pitfalls of implied political commentary.  This article does contain useful information, but the glaring biases overshadow that data.  I urge you to be not compulsory or speedy in condemning alternative data and views.

Our scientific history of investigatory techniques has proven the, “knee-jerk” debasement of alternative views frequently delayed the development of useful, if not critical, advancements in our sciences and the, “art” of medical practice.  We are seemingly facing these biased roadblocks again as, “History repeats”.

The statement from the article, “one of the key advantages of mRNA vaccines is their efficient and simple production process (SIC), minimizing the risk of contamination during manufacturing,  Another advantage is that the target of mRNA vaccines can be readily modified by changing the mRNA sequence to match the currently circulating COVID-19 variants.”   This openly accepts the facts of, “contaminants” in the production processes, something that simply cannot be tolerated in a quality production facility!

It also praises the, “Speed of development and production”, and this is not an issue to consider lightly.  Our past successes in vaccine productions have been nothing short of miraculous, involving a minimum of 12 – 15 years of animal and subject testing to minimize the harmful effects to our patients.  These mRNA developmental products were “rushed” to the market under the assumption, “We must do something!”, a flawed critical thinking process well known to seasoned veterans.

While the Authors freely admit there are, “side effects and adverse reactions” reported, they seemingly do not give these issues the scrutiny deserved.  At no time in the past would we have allowed a vaccine product to be released upon our Patients with even 1/10^th of these issues being manifested.  The facts are simple:  there are unsolved issues at question here.

One such talking point is the lipoprotein, “cap” used to prevent the mRNA from being destroyed immediately upon exposure to the body’s immune defense systems.  Everyone knows, “foreign” mRNA is quickly destroyed when presented to our system, UNLESS it is altered to include this lipoprotein cap which some refer to as a, “torpedo”.  These lipoproteins are synthetics, and each should undergo extensive safety testing before being cleared for use.  They were not.

This brings to question the entire section titled, “mRNA vaccine myths”, which are presented in such a way as to negate the existence of adverse reactions.  The obvious counter argument to this section is this: we simply do not have sufficiently aged studies to state these beliefs are myths.  They may, indeed, ultimately be proven to be myths, BUT MAKING THAT STATEMENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS!

Neither Author is old enough to recall the early days of the battle against smoking cigarettes.  The, “For Profit” companies were very quick to state, “…there are no studies directly linking the smoking of cigarettes with the increases in cancer rates,” mainly lung cancers, we were witnessing year after year.  At that time, these mega companies were correct, but as twenty (20) years passed, those studies showing a linkage were manifested.

Let us now merely, “consider” a few things we have not (yet) been brought into a, “cause and effect” relationship:

• • Military studies are released showing an up to a 500% increase in solid cell tumors in their population, largely in the ages of 20 – 45 since 2020, What changed?
  • Military studies are released showing an up to a 200% increase in myocarditis in this same age group since 2020.  What changed?
  • Military studies are released showing an up to 150% increase in Reticuloendothelial disorders in this group ages 20 – 45 since 2020.  What changed?
  • Fertility studies are showing a marked increased incidence of infertility, and more alarmingly, spontaneous abortions in the female population, those trying to become pregnant, since 2020.  What changed?
  • Clotting issues and vasculitis cases are also increasing alarmingly since 2020.  What changed?
  • Between 1970 and 2020 (50 years) approximately 1350 well trained and fit athletes collapsed and died on the fields of play.  Between 2020 and 2022 (2 years) over 1620 have succumbed in the same fashion.  What changed?
  • The incidence of the incapacitation of healthy commercial pilots and flight attendants has increased markedly since 2020.  What changed?

The fact is, we simply do not know at this time, but these changes are occurring rapidly, and we should not negate any potential source origins of these issues, regardless of our personal biases and funding by government agencies and mega corporations.  We owe our patients this AT A MINIMUM!

It is now mandatory we Physicians hone our critical thinking skills instead of relying on, “best practice” edicts sent from government paid personnel who have never personally treated a patient or mega corporations making billions of dollars from the sale of their, “safe” products.  Without question, we must admit these issues are with us, and we should be encouraged to pursue answers.  We should NOT be chastised for asking challenging questions.

Joel E. Colley, M.D., FACA, DABA                          
02 January, 2024