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“Protecting the health and
informed consent rights of children since 1982.”
Press Release: Contact: Mark
Corallo/ Josie Duckett
October 3, 2001 (202) 225-5074
Washington D.C. - Chairman Dan Burton (R-IN) today renewed
his request to the Department of Health and Human Services to recall all
childhood immunizations containing a mercury-based preservative known as
Thimerosal. Burton made his request a
day after the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report concluding that there
is not enough evidence to prove or disprove the theory that mercury-containing
vaccines cause neurological conditions such as learning disabilities, Attention
Deficit Disorder, or autism. Calling the
theory “biologically plausible,” the IOM urged that vaccines and other products
containing mercury not be given to infants, children or pregnant women when
alternatives are available.
“If there is even the slightest chance that a vaccine with
mercury could contribute to Autism Spectrum Disorders, learning disabilities,
Alzheimer’s Disease, or any other neurological condition, then we should act
quickly to stop all potential exposure to Thimerosal,” Burton said.
“We cannot in good conscience leave Thimerosal-containing
vaccines on the shelf until used up, potentially exposing children to chemicals
that may lead to neuro-developmental disorders. Mercury is toxic to the human body. I will be sending a letter this week to Secretary Thompson asking
that these products be recalled. In the
meantime, I am asking every doctor, every health clinic, and every facility
that provides childhood immunizations to check your vaccine supplies and return
all Thimerosal-containing vaccines and request Thimerosal-free vaccines.”
In 1996 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acted to
suspend the use of over-the-counter (OTC) mercurial topical ointments,
including those that contained Thimerosal, because they were deemed
unsafe. In 1998, the FDA asked vaccine
manufacturers to voluntarily phase-out Thimerosal from their products. However, it is widely believed that many
clinics around the country maintain stocks of vaccines containing Thimerosal
that eventually will be used up.
In an April 2001 hearing, the Committee on Government
Reform heard testimony from a number of physicians and scientists about the
inherent risks of using mercury in childhood vaccines. This followed a July 2000 hearing on the risks
of mercury in medicine. One Canadian
study showed dramatic toxic effects on brain cells exposed to mercury. An FDA review conducted in 1998 determined
that, at the time, children who received the full complement of childhood
vaccines were potentially exposed to levels of mercury that were sometimes 30
to 50 times the acceptable levels established by the EPA.
Burton first called for the removal of
Thimerosal-containing vaccines from the market in October 2000.
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