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Thursday, October 04, 2001

VERY SLOW MOTION

Finally. The Institute of Medicine released its report on childhood vaccines containing thimerosol. The message: The mercury-containing preservative should best be avoided. But there is no hard evidence linking it to autism and other developmental conditions. In other words, we don’t really know for sure because absence of evidence of harm doesn’t necessarily translate into safety. Unfortunately, Dr. Louis Z. Cooper, President Elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), doesn’t get it. He stated in an AAP press release this week that, “Parents should be reassured about the safety of vaccines.” Well, no, Dr. Cooper, that’s not what the report is all about. Please consult the smarter experts in regulatory affairs (and preferably not at the AAP) and they will inform you that safety must first be proven before reassurance is invoked. (See yesterday’s “Red Flag” posted below for more on the AAP)

To be fair, the AAP did recommend in July 1999, along with the U.S. Public Health Service, that vaccines with the preservative should be moved off the shelves ASAP. That’s because it has become increasingly apparent even to the medical profession that high doses of thimerosol can be neurotoxic. And now the institute’s report does raise the possibility that vaccines containing thimerosol could lead to brain damage in children.

Thankfully, there has been a transition to vaccines free of thimerosol, including those against hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza, and a vaccine against diptheria, tetanus and pertussis. But not nearly quick enough. In fact, Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) yesterday once again requested a recall of all vaccines containing thimerosol. In short, there is still enough stocked on shelves in the health care system for parents to remain concerned. What are the vaccine manufacturers waiting for? They should be the ones cleaning house!

If the AAP is so worried (as it appears) that parents will avoid vaccinating their children because of continuing fears about thimerosol, perhaps this group that represents some 55,000 primary care doctors and specialists “dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults” should bite the bullet and launch a major campaign to get doctors and clinics to rid their shelves of vaccine stock containing thimerosol

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.