Addendum: Geier, D.A.; et al. A Cross-Sectional Study of the Association between Infant Hepatitis B Vaccine Exposure in Boys and the Risk of Adverse Effects as Measured by Receipt of Special Education Services. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 123

The authors would like to update the “Conflicts of Interest” section of their previous paper [1] as follows:

Conflicts of Interest

Three of four of the authors were previously involved in vaccine/biologic litigation. Mark Geier, David Geier, and Janet Kern have been involved as consultants and expert witnesses for petitioners in the No-Fault National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) and have also been consultants and expert witness for plaintiffs in civil litigation. They are not involved in any current cases, have not been involved in any cases for several years, and have no plans to be involved in any future cases. Mark Geier and David Geier are directors of the Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., and CoMeD, Inc. Neither the Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., nor CoMeD, Inc., has any financial interest in the outcome of special education or exposure to the hepatitis B vaccine. No other authors have a management or directorship position at the Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., or CoMeD, Inc. Kristin Homme is associated with the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc. is dedicated to the study of human chronic diseases. CoMeD, Inc. (www: http://mercury-freedrugs.org) is dedicated to reducing mercury exposure risks, for the unborn, infants, children, adolescents, and adults for all mercury-containing medical products to which they are, or may be, exposed. These two non-profit organizations have been recognized for their scientific charitable purposes for more than 10 years by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as 501(c)(3) organizations (www: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-section-501c3-organizations). To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes, set forth in Section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may benefit any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates. Finally, the organization must be organized and operate for the benefit of the public. These nonprofits played a role in the design, collection, analysis, interpretation, writing, and submission decisions.