The so-called compelling health differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated children is a favourite of the anti-vaccine movement. We can guess which group they insist is the most beset with illness and also make a sound judgement about the methodology used to form conclusions.

Simply put, using biased methodology will find that vaccines make children sick, say the anti-vaccine lobby, (just ignore its bias). Or to sound more convincing we may be told vaccinated children appear to be significantly less healthy than the unvaccinated. Such was the conclusion when a US supporter and promoter of Judy Wilyman (she “has done a great service to humanity”) ran flawed methodology over the two groups in 2020.

Judy’s mate, James Lyons-Weiler, head of the Institute of Pure and Applied Knowledge (IPAK) and paediatrician Paul Thomas, had their paper published in the anti-vaccine themed predatory journal, the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice and Research. It was also published, then later withdrawn, from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. According to Retraction Watch the authors blamed “ghouls” when it was decided their data didn’t support conclusions.

According to Lyons-Weiler a “ghoul” is one working to have studies with results they dislike, ultimately retracted. Also, it was with a certain amusement I discovered when the paper appeared, that The Australian Vaccination-risks Network had donated $5,000 USD to the project. From whence did this generous donation originate dear reader? Well, back in 2016 the AVN pulled a stunt seeking donations for a High Court challenge against No Jab No Pay legislation. Claiming to have raised either $160,000 or around $152,000. Inexplicably bypassing solicitors, they seemed to have barrister fees which left them holding close to $80,000. With no evidence they spent any money on anything, the AVN promised to keep what they had for future trips to the USA vaccine battles.

IPAK were known for publishing misleading VAERS-data “vaccine death” hit-jobs, on mRNA vaccines, such as this during the pandemic. You know the drill: it’s not a real vaccine, believe all VAERS reports as true and conclude that the vaccine, not the virus, is responsible for deaths. Even more interesting is that the predatory International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice and Research, is where Julian Gillespie published his The Canaries in the Human DNA Mine. I have touched on that effort many times. Gillespie had resigned from the legal profession but was promoted as AVN’s barrister during their pandemic legal battles. He was the brains behind many of their legal failures which were followed by his own complaints against senior Federal Court identities.

To appreciate a thorough debunking of the caper Lyons-Weiler and Thomas hoped to get away with, I recommend reading this piece at Health Feedback about the “dubious metric” used to feign the existence of a vaccine-related problem impacting children’s health. Notably, the third author attribution is Children’s Health Defense, well known at the time as RFK Jr.’s reason-for-being and nifty source of income. He stepped down as chairperson in 2023 to focus on his independent run for USA President.

Finally, there is no better deconstruction of the vaccinated vs unvaccinated myth than the video put together by biologist, Dr. Dan Wilson. Wilson’s YouTube channel Debunk the Funk has contributed enormously to evidence-based refutation of the anti-vaccine movement. He focuses on trends, conspiracy theories, individuals, organisations, frauds and liars and has teamed up with others such as Professor Dave Farina to tackle antivax fiction head on.

The Inconvenient Study is the most recent scheme of ICAN’s main attraction, Del Bigtree. Del appears to play a spy in the “documentary”, wearing hidden cameras to dinner to reveal that his interlocutors agree “it’s a good study”. Nonetheless, not once did he run across crocodiles or fight science on the roof of a speeding train. Del wrote and produced Vaxxed – a film made of lies – continued with Vaxxed II and is often by Andrew Wakefield’s film-making side. Bigtree also hosts the mysterious hedge fund manager funded, anti-vaccine drum beat, The Highwire.

Del’s aim is to bring his misleading “experience” to coax his viewers to believe that unfair forces are preventing publication of a study. This study was done at Henry Ford Health. The researchers who completed the data did not publish the study for a very simple reason; the study did not meet rigorous scientific standards. One can conclude dear reader, that a study or research approach is very good. Yet if ultimately it does not meet the standards expected in its methodology, it cannot be published. That is not a conspiracy.

In this case it’s pretty basic. Children who are unvaccinated don’t tend to visit conventional doctors. Alternatively, vaccinated ones do. The latter group tend to be examined by a professional and an illness may be found, even without notable symptoms. The former group might have a neck cracked, chant with crystals, drink herbs or simply pray. No illness will be found without significant symptoms of complaints from the patient. In fact 15 years ago Australian GPs warned of chiropractors peddling anti-vaccine messages. We need to remain vigilant.

You’re going to need 90 minutes all up but I can assure you Dan offers a serious evidence-packed debunking of what is a nasty, indeed reprehensible attempt by Bigtree’s team, to mislead those who don’t have the time, background or critical thinking skills to find their way to the truth. I hope they find their way to Dan.

You can find Dan’s well sourced response here at YouTube.