AAP Initiates Public Relations Effort to Counter Bad Vaccine Publicity

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PRESS

RELEASE

For Immediate Release:

February 15, 2008

Contact:

Rita

Shreffler, NAA (Nixa, MO) 401-632-6452

Fournier, NAA (Portsmouth, RI) 401-835-5828

AAP

Initiates Public Relations Effort to Counter Bad Vaccine Publicity

National Autism Association Requests AAP Instead Focus on Removing

Unnecessary Toxins From Vaccines and Providing Medical Treatments for

Children with Autism

Chicago - The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has initiated a “parent

spokesperson” campaign to counter recent negative publicity surrounding

toxins in vaccines, requesting parent vaccine proponents to conduct media

interviews as “part of our ongoing response to media stories regarding

autism and vaccines.”

The negative publicity stems from long-standing reports from thousands of

parents that the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosal contributed

to their children’s regressive autism. In 1999, the AAP issued a statement

requesting the toxin be phased out of vaccines, but has since continued

supporting its use as a preservative, even fighting against legislation in

several states which would ban the poison from children’s vaccines.

Although the mercury content in many vaccines on the current schedule has

been reduced to trace amounts, these trace amounts are not regulated by the

FDA. Large doses of mercury still remain in some vaccines, including flu

shots. Other highly toxic substances including aluminum remain as well.

Parent advocates for children’s health believe the AAP should direct their

resources towards increasing the safety of vaccines, rather than

damage-control media campaigns and attempts to censor fictional TV shows

such as ABC’s “Eli Stone”. “Their resources are so valuable,” says Rita

Shreffler, parent and Executive Director of NAA. “It is my hope that the

AAP will stop defending the continued use of poison in vaccines and instead

direct that energy towards implementing promising medical treatments that

have thus far been denied to the vast number of children diagnosed with

autism. In the last several years, we have come to know that improvement

and even recovery from autism is possible when children receive appropriate

medical attention, yet the AAP continues to dismiss these treatments.”

A growing body of scientific research including a Centers for Disease

Control study from 2000 indicates a link between thimerosal exposure and

several specific neurological injuries including autism. For years,

Shreffler and her colleagues have requested the toxins be removed from all

vaccines.

“If the AAP truly wants the best possible publicity for vaccines, they can

start by discouraging the use of toxic components.”

For more information, visit www.nationalautism.org.

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