The mystified coroner marked the cause of death unknown. Two years later a death certificate still has not been issued. In Jack's eyes, the chain of events that day in the hospital implicates the vaccination. Brandon's doctors, though they voluntarily waived the family's medical bills, deny any such connection. In January 1999, the CDC further expanded its goals, calling for universal immunization of children up to age 18.
Bad things happen to people all the time.
Because the kind of scientific studies that could reveal the link have not been done. And, alas, they haven't. His solution to the dilemma raises the eyebrows of privacy advocates. Other approaches also are being examined. Bonnie Dunbar, a professor of cell biology at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, is a leader among the growing number of scientists who are joining consumer advocates, parents'-rights groups and undiagnosed patients in searching for answers about adverse reactions to the vaccine.