ABC World News Tonight Endorses Use of Mercury in Children, Says National Autism Association

LAST NIGHT, ABC CRITICIZED HIGH-SUGAR CEREALS YET SUGGESTED INJECTED MERCURY IN BLOODSTREAMS OF CHILDREN OK

New York, NY – Dr. Timothy Johnson of ABC World News Tonight says he would give his children and grandchildren vaccines laced with mercury, says the National Autism Association (NAA). The Wednesday broadcast focused on the connection between thimerosal, a mercury preservative used in vaccines, and autism.

Robert F. Kennedy was interviewed for the package which had been previously cancelled by ABC. RFK has researched the connection between autism and thimerosal, including scientific studies, and secret meeting notes from a 2000 CDC gathering called “Simpsonwood.” The meeting transcripts reveal over 40 doctors privately discussing concerns over the mercury preservative. In an article in Rolling Stone and on Salon.com, Kennedy outs a CDC cover-up, as well as the Institute of Medicine’s disregard for sound scientific evidence during 2004 hearings.

Some parents compare last night’s broadcast to Rather-gate, citing that Johnson, ABC’s medical commentator, readily used an unreliable source: the CDC. CDC’s 2000 study of thimerosal showed a link between the neurotoxin and autism, but was never released to the public. After the CDC informed Johnson there was no cover-up, Johnson took their comments as fact without proper investigation.

Also in last night’s report:

-               No scientist, researcher or doctor familiar with the connection between autism and thimerosal was interviewed.

-               David Kirby, author of the recently-released book “Evidence of Harm” was not interviewed.

-               Lyn Redwood, the mother featured in last night’s report, is a nurse practitioner. Her credentials went undisclosed.

-               ABC followed the story with a package about high-sugar cereals and how bad it may be for childhood obesity, yet they favored the use of a bloodstream-bound neurotoxin.

Although some media outlets white-wash the issue, many parents feel ABC went a step further by creating the piece solely to discredit Kennedy. “Timothy Johnson misled ABC’s viewers by shifting the focus to vaccines as a whole, and not the neurotoxic ingredient in vaccines. Kennedy understands that vaccines are important, but emphasizes that the use of mercury in vaccines is not only unnecessary, but a large public health risk,” says Lori McIlwain (Cary, NC) parent and board member of NAA.

Earlier this week, Dr. Andrew Shih of the National Alliance for Autism Research appeared on Montel Williams and also endorsed the use of mercury in vaccines. Shih stated that his infant received vaccines which may or may have not contained thimerosal—he felt no need to ask for thimerosal-free. Wendy Fournier (Portsmouth, RI), parent and president of NAA, asks, “Why would Shih, Johnson or any parent deliberately give their child a substance that’s label contains a Jolly-Roger symbol?”

Today, Don Imus of Imus in the Morning called ABC’s report an “embarrassment.”  

For more information, visit www.nationalautism.org.