Fact check
Is it true: Polio vaccine SV40 contamination (1955-63)?
Partly — it's more complicated than the claim suggests.
SV40 contamination of polio vaccines 1955-63 is documented fact — not disputed. Bernice Eddy detected it in 1960; stockpiles continued. ~10-30M Americans and ~100M globally exposed. SV40 causes cancers in hamsters; Carbone-Pass 1994 detected SV40 DNA in human mesothelioma; Engels 2004 NCI found no elevated cancer risk in vaccinated cohort. IOM 2002: biological mechanism plausible, epidemiologic data inadequate to resolve. CDC removed SV40 info page 2013.
The claim
Simian Virus 40 (SV40) was discovered in 1960 in rhesus monkey kidney cells used to produce both the Salk inactivated polio vaccine and early Sabin oral polio vaccine. An estimated 10-30 million Ameri
Key evidence
SV40 contamination of polio vaccines: documented and undisputed
Engels 2004 NCI study: no elevated cancer risk in vaccinated cohort
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