Publication date:
Monday, January 13, 2003

U.S. Rep. Dan Burton has kept oversight over the entire federal government, but it took a personal tragedy to get his attention focused on what many believed was a safe medical practice.

Burton's grandson was diagnosed with autism shortly after receiving seven vaccinations in one day. Burton was alarmed to learn medical researchers believed an increase in autism was occurring in America because of Thimerosal, an ethyl mercury-containing preservative used in multi-vial vaccinations.

"It was never tested properly," said Burton, R-5th District.

As a result, Burton said American autism rates have skyrocketed.

Autism, a disregard for external reality, is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life, according to the Autism Society of America. Burton said it is a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, and can vary in severity. There is no known cure for autism.

"It's the fastest growing epidemic in America," said Burton.

Burton said only 10 to 12 years ago, one in 10,000 American children acquired autism. Now he said the rate is 1 in 180. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate a less specific rate, between two to six children in 1,000.

Burton said Canadian researchers showed him a video demonstrating how the mercury in vaccinations damaged protective sleeves around brain nerve tissue, causing the nerve to wilt.

Burton stressed vaccinations have made the United States the healthiest nation in the world, but single-vial vaccinations have less need for preservatives. Even so, Burton vows to eliminate mercury-based preservatives from all vaccinations by the end of the year. Two types of flu vaccinations continue to use Thimerosal, Burton said, and it is still part of vaccinations given to U.S. soldiers.

"There's no reason to have mercury [in the vaccinations]," said Burton.

Republicans said Friday they would reverse several favors to special interests in the Homeland Security law, including a much-criticized provision to limit lawsuits against vaccine makers.

House and Senate Republicans said they also would get rid of a loophole under which companies that locate overseas to avoid paying taxes could still compete for agency contracts, and would revise language that gave one university, Texas A&M, special access to federal research money.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who supported the original vaccine provision and said he still hopes to take up the issue later this year in more comprehensive legislation, said he would include the special interest eliminations in a fiscal 2003 spending bill the Senate will take up this month.

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly Inc., the biggest manufacturer of Thimerosal, said in a statement it was disappointed by the decision to repeal the vaccine provision and said there was no scientific evidence linking Thimerosal to autism.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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