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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Nick Mutton 202-225-2276
May 1, 2003
REP. BURTON AND LEADING SCIENTISTS TO ANNOUNCE FINDINGS OF NEW MERCURY-AUTISM CORRELATION STUDIES:
“A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP APPEARS TO BE CONFIRMED.”
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), Chairman of the
House Government Reform Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness, confirmed
today he would join a panel of scientists, medical researchers, and parents who
are convening from across the nation in Chicago, Illinois, this weekend, to
present evidence from recently or soon-to-be released studies linking autism
with the mercury-based preservative thimerosal.
The press conference is scheduled for this Saturday, May 3, 2003,
starting at 12:00 p.m. in the Rubloff Auditorium at Loyola University, Chicago,
located at 25 East Pearson Street. Joining Congressman Burton on the panel are
Mark Geier, M.D., Ph.D., President of The Genetic Centers of America; Boyd
Haley, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Chemistry Department, University of
Kentucky; and Professor James Adams, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Arizona
State University. Additional speakers include Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and
President of the National Vaccine Information Center and Lyn Redwood, R.N.,
co-founder of the Coalition for Safe Minds.
Said Burton, “Fifteen years ago, one in every 10,000 children in America
was autistic. Today, the Journal of the American Medical Association
indicates that ratio may actually be as high as one in every 150 children. We
have an epidemic on our hands. If this trend continues at a constant rate, the
number of autistic children could reach 4 million Americans in the next decade.”
The study conducted by Dr. Mark Geier, which was published in the
peer-reviewed Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, concludes that
there has been a documented increase in neurodevelopmental disorders following
the use of vaccines containing thimerosal. According to Dr. Geier, “The amount
of mercury in thimerosal in childhood vaccines far exceeds federal safety
guidelines.” Continued Dr. Geier, “A causal relationship between childhood
vaccines containing thimerosal and neurodevelopmental disorders and heart
disease appears to be confirmed.”
Additionally, Dr. Boyd Haley and Dr. James Adams will present evidence
from their studies regarding the biological plausibility of thimerosal being a
causal or major risk factor for autism. Independent research conducted by both
Dr. Haley and Dr. Adams leads to the same conclusion; autistic children
represent a subpopulation that cannot effectively excrete mercury from their
bodies and are therefore very susceptible to the toxic ethyl-mercury exposure
presented during routine childhood vaccinations.
The 2003 Physicians’ Desk Reference shows that there are three vaccine
manufacturers who are still making childhood vaccines with full doses of
thimerosal. These are as follows: the Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular-Pertussis
(DTaP) manufactured by Aventis-Pasteur in multi-dose vials contains 25
micrograms of mercury; the Haemophilus-influenza-Type b (Hib TITER) in
multi-dose vials manufactured by Wyeth contains 25 micrograms of mercury; and
the pediatric hepatitis B vaccine manufactured by Merck contains 12.5 micrograms
of mercury. These vaccines represent approximately half of the childhood
vaccines currently available for use in the United States.
During his tenure as Chairman of the Full House Government Reform
Committee (1997-2002), Congressman Burton held multiple hearings to investigate
the possible causal relationship between mercury in childhood vaccines and
autism. Additionally, on March 19, 2003, Chairman Burton introduced the
“National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Improvement Act of 2003,” which
seeks to amend the current Vaccine Injury Compensation Program by extending the
statute of limitations, increasing the base amount of funding available to those
injured, and providing for a critical two-year “look back” provision for
families who previously missed filing deadlines.
For more information on Chairman Burton’s investigative and legislative
efforts, please go to the Government Reform Committee website at
www.house.gov/reform and click
on the link to the 107th Congress.
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.