This remarkable book recounts for the first time a devastating episode in 1955 at Cutter Laboratories in Berkeley, California, that has led many pharmaceutical companies to abandon vaccine manufacture. Drawing on interviews with public health officials, pharmaceutical company executives, attorneys, Cutter employees and victims of the vaccine, as well as on previously unavailable archives, Dr. Paul Offit offers a full account of the Cutter disaster. He describes America's relief when the polio vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk in 1955, the production of the vaccine at industrial facilities such as the one operated by Cutter, and the tragedy that occurred when 200,000 people were inadvertently injected with live virulent polio virus: 70,000 became ill, 200 were permanently paralysed and 10 died. Dr. Offit also explores how, as a consequence of the tragedy, one jury's verdict set in motion events that eventually suppressed the production of vaccines already licensed and deterred the development of new vaccines that hold the promise of preventing other fatal diseases.
The Cutter Incident
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'The Cutter Incident is an enjoyable read, at times like a detective thriller, at others like a courtroom drama.' -- Jonathan R Carapetis, The British Medical Journal, March 25 2006
About the Author
Paul Offit, M.D., is chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Henle Professor of Immunologic and Infectious Diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is also professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
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First Sentence
ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 18, 1955, JOSEphine Gottsdanker drove her five-year-old daughter, Anne, and ten-year-old son, Jerry, to the pediatrician. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 18, 1955, JOSEphine Gottsdanker drove her five-year-old daughter, Anne, and ten-year-old son, Jerry, to the pediatrician. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In 1952, the United States suffered its worst ever polio epidemic, with 58,000 people affected. The race was on to perfect a vaccine that would bring this scourge under control. In 1955, following several breakthrough, a vaccine was created, and a huge trial was conducted, involving some 800,000 children, of whom 600,000 were given the vaccine (the rest were given a placebo). However, it quickly became apparent that something had gone wrong. Before all was said and done, 40,000 children contracted polio, 200 were permanently paralyzed, and 10 died. The race was on to find out what had gone wrong.
1955 was still the dawn of the vaccine era, and there was much to be learned. However, in the aftermath of the vaccine, liability law was changed in a way that seemed minor at the time, but has resulted in a dearth of vaccines and vaccine makers. Do you want to know why 2004 witnessed a shortage of flu vaccines? Read this book and find out!
Overall, I must say that I found this book to be quite fascinating. The author does a good job of retelling what happened, and what its ramifications were and are. It seems quite ironic that something that went wrong at the dawn of vaccines is bringing the era of vaccines to a close! If you want to know how we got from that seemingly glorious era of ever new vaccines, which seemed to promise a disease free future, to day, then you must read this book. I highly recommend it!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars
17 reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!
14 Aug 2011
By Quinn Thornton
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
While some may find this book too 'pro-pharma', I found this book spot-on. The public wants 100% safe, inexpensive, readily available drugs and vaccines. This book explains why this isn't going to happen--at least, not until the trial lawyers are reined in.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to follow
4 Mar 2013
By Wendy Ramos
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Not surprised why there are a limited of pharmaceutical companies that manufacture vaccines. Starting reading this book after the NECC tragedy. Maybe compounding regulations are too lenient. Great book, definitely recommend.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
8 April 2013
By Berk
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Purchased new, received quickly and in good condition, would recommend seller again.
The book itself was very fascinating. I had to read it as part of a class but was pleasantly surprised with this one.
The book itself was very fascinating. I had to read it as part of a class but was pleasantly surprised with this one.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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