NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:
January 28, 2005

BILL S.3 ANOTHER HOMELAND SECURITY SCANDAL?
PARENTS ARE WATCHING, SAYS NAA

New Frist Bill Contains Vaccine Language that Once Again Coddles Big Pharma

Washington, DC - A new bill, S.3, or the Protecting America in the War on Terror Act of 2005, deals with the same old vaccine compensation language designed to protect drug companies, says the National Autism Association.

According to the new bill's ambiguous language, S.3 will address "shortcomings in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and loopholes in that program that have been exploited in a manner that has contributed to a decline in the availability of vaccines generally in the United States and a decline in the number of manufacturers able to supply vaccines." This same language in past bills often developed into more specific language designed to block Thimerosal-related lawsuits:

1. In May, 2002, Senator Frist introduced legislation that protected drug companies from Thimerosal-related lawsuits. Parents acted and the bill died.
    

2. In November 2002, a provision which would prohibit lawsuits against Eli Lilly, the maker of mercury-based Thimerosal used in vaccines, was tip-toed into the Homeland Security Bill causing a "whodunit" scandal. Parents and legislators had the provision repealed.
    

3. In March, 2003, Senator Frist introduced the same legislative language as part of the BioShield Bill. The provision was removed after parents rallied in DC.
    

4. In April, 2003, Senator Frist and Senator Judd Gregg worked with Senator Chris Dodd on a compromise to revamp the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. When the compromise leaned too much in the favor of the children, Frist and Gregg pulled out.
    

5. In February, 2004, Senator Frist introduced the Healthy Women and Healthy Babies Access to Care which prohibited lawsuits against any FDA-approved product or device including Thimerosal-containing immunoglobulin products given to pregnant women. According to past reports from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), vaccine manufacturers have not left the market for fear of liability, rather, they have become smaller in number due to mergers and acquisitions.

For years, Frist and Gregg have introduced legislation under the guise of protecting America and drug companies from frivolous lawsuits. Parents say it's simply a shameful attempt to keep their pharma friends happy. "My child has rights," says parent Laura Bono, Durham, NC, whose child was injured by mercury in vaccines. "His rights continue to be jeopardized by those looking out more for American pharma than American families."

A block on civil court cases would hurt more than a child's rights. Several Thimerosal lawsuits have moved forward in civil court. Trials begin this year. Blocking these lawsuits would interfere with already successful efforts to see what drug companies knew about the harmful effects of mercury in vaccines. "It would be criminal to try and stop parents from learning valuable information about the cause of their child's illness," says Rita Shreffler, parent from Nixa, Missouri and secretary of the National Autism Association.

Bono agrees. "Vioxx caused heart attacks and strokes. Harmful effects of SSRIs were swept under the rug. Thimerosal causes autism. The system is broken. In my opinion, Frist and Gregg continue to create an escape route for drug companies that have no incentive to put health before profit."

The National Autism Association is currently launching a campaign to inundate law-makers with letters requesting to keep their child's rights intact.

To learn more, visit www.NationalAutism.org.