Will Congress IGNORE THE Science and Vote to Keep Mercury, a Known Neurotoxin, in Kids’ Vaccines?

National Autism Association Hails the New Mercury-Free Vaccines Bill, Wants Congress to Act to Save Future Children from Mercury Poisoning

Washington , DC —A Bi-Partisan House Bill #4169 entitled, “Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2004,” has been introduced by the only medical doctor in the House of Representatives, Congressman Dave Weldon, MD (R-FL), and his Democratic colleague from NY, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.

Thimerosal, a mercury preservative, is 49.6% mercury by weight. Five years after the FDA realized its mistake of having high doses of mercury in vaccines, it still remains in many. Additionally, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended administration of the flu vaccines to infants at 6, 7 and 23 months of age. Yet they have not recommended to parents or doctors to only give children mercury-free vaccines. This will unnecessarily risk thousands of children to mercury at levels higher than the EPA deems as safe.

HR 4169 requires that no childhood vaccine may have more than one microgram (mcg.) of mercury by January 2005, versus the usual 25 mcg. currently in many vaccines. It also requires the flu vaccine administered to children, beginning later this year with the 2004-05 flu season, have no more than one mcg. of mercury, and that all mercury be removed completely from childhood and adolescent vaccines by January, 2006 and adult vaccines by 2007.

Hundreds of parents of children originally misdiagnosed with autism, now being treated for mercury poisoning, want to spare other children from the horrible effects of mercury poisoning. They have been faxing and telephoning their Congressmen urging them to do the right thing and get behind the “Mercury-Free Vaccines” Bill.

Autism rates across the country have grown over 1000% since 1990. And, there is a growing phenomena: scientific research and medical tests showing autistic children to be heavy metal poisoned, many releasing large quantities of mercury from their bodies as they are treated with FDA-approved chelating agents. And autistic children are getting better with chelation—many beginning to talk and regain cognitive and social skills after chelation.

“Since most parents saw the drop off of our children’s skills after thimerosal-containing vaccines and our children have subsequently been diagnosed with mercury poisoning, we have drawn the likely conclusion that our children’s mandated vaccines that contained mercury caused their autism,” said Jo Pike, President of the National Autism Association. “The science is beginning to prove this theory. I am thrilled that the Mercury-Free Vaccines Bill has been introduced to save children from what I believe was my child’s fate.”

The Institutes of Medicine (IOM) recently held a meeting called, “Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism” to hear the latest information to consider a link between vaccines and autism. The symptoms of autism and mercury poisoning are virtually identical. Their report is due to be released in May.

For the latest scientific research on the link between mercury and autism, visit www.nationalautismassociation.org/library.php.