"Lea Thompson, NBC’s Chief Consumer Correspondent," n.d., NBC News.
Spark
“Suddenly, a system that relied upon the collective goodwill of the government, vaccine makers, doctors, and the public was thrown wide open, exposing its fragility.”
—Arthur Allen, a former Associated Press correspondant and author of Vaccine
On April 19, 1982, DPT: Vaccine Roulette, produced and written by investigative reporter Lea Thompson, aired on WRC-TV in Washington, DC.
"DPT: Vaccine Roulette," 19 April 1982, WRC-TV/NBC News.
It focused on the alleged brain damage done by the pertussis vaccine. The tendentious documentary not only allowed Stewart to sow discord and stoke fears, but also alleged a collusion between doctors, vaccine manufacturers, and the Food and Drug Administration in covering up the dangers of the DTP vaccine.
“What we have found are serious questions about the safety and effectiveness of the shot. The overriding policy of the medical establishment has been to aggressively promote the use of the vaccine, but it has been anything but aggressive in dealing with the consequences. Our job in the next hour is to provide enough information so that there can be an informed discussion about this important subject. It affects every single family in America.”
— Lea Thompson, an investigative journalist
Then, it aired on the Today Show. Although the Washington Post raised concerns about the documentary, most national outlets amplified the news without verifying the story. The harrowing narrative transported the debate over DTP into millions of Americans’ living rooms.
The show sparked a public firestorm.
"DPT: Vaccine Roulette," 19 April 1982, WRC-TV/NBC News.
"TV Report on Vaccine Stirs Bitter Controversy," 28 Apr. 1982, The Washington Post.