UPDATE on Homeland Security Bill

[Guest guest]

LD Wedewer, US Autism Ambassador just got off the phone at 8:00pm with the US

Capitol in Washington, DC. She says we have a little more time. The bill was

not passed today. She did state however that it is set to go back on the

agenda for tomorrow. So keep the phone calls coming. Anyone who has not

called, faxed, or emailed Please do it now!! You voice does count. Remember

we have till tomorrow at least!! I as many of you are sitting here praying

our US Senators do what it right! I also have faxed, emailed, and made phone

calls!! Keep up the great advocacy for autism! Below is being released from

Senator Dan Burton to his colleagues

LD Wedewer, US Autism Ambassador

Facts and Fiction About Thimerosal in Vaccines

November 18, 2002

Dear Colleague:

During the past 24 hours, a number of incorrect statements have been made

about the vaccine provisions in the Homeland Security Act.   The facts are

simple.  These provisions severely restrict the legal rights of parents who

believe their children have suffered neurological damage due to vaccines.

The scientific debate remains unresolved.  These provisions do not belong in

the Homeland Security Act.  I hope the following points will help separate

fact from fiction.

FICTION:  Scientists have concluded that there is no causal connection

between mercury-containing thimerosal and neurological disorders such as

autism.

FACT:  In 2001, the respected Institute of Medicine concluded that a

connection between thimerosal and autism, while unproven, is " biologically

plausible. "   The IOM called for further research, stating, " the evidence is

inadequate to accept or reject a causal relationship between exposure to

thimerosal from vaccines and neurological developmental disorders of autism,

ADHD, and speech and language delays. "

FACT:  Researchers in the state of California concluded this year that there

is no statistical explanation for the nearly 300% increase in cases of

autism in that state.  " It is astounding to see a threefold increase in

autism with no explanation, " said Dr. Byrd, an epidemiologist who led

the study. " There's a number of things that need to be answered. We need to

rethink the possible causes of autism. "

FACT:  An internal HHS document produced to the House Government Reform

Committee during its investigation into vaccine safety described what it

referred to as a " weak signal " in its data linking thimerosal to

neurological disorders: 

    " Preliminary screening of ICD-9 codes for possible neurologic and

renal conditions following exposures to vaccines containing thimerosal

before 3 months of age showed a statistical association for the overall

category of neurological developmental disorders and for two conditions

within the category, speech delay and attention deficit disorder. "

FACT:  If there were no concerns that scientific research would demonstrate

a connection between thimerosal and autism, Sections 1714-1717 would not

have been tacked onto the Homeland Security Act in the eleventh hour with no

debate.

FICTION:  Sections 1714-1717 do not eliminate the rights of vaccine-injured

individuals to sue manufacturers of vaccines and their components.

Proponents of these provisions have stated that once individuals have gone

through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program they can still choose to

file a civil law suit. 

FACT:   For many families who believe their children were injured by

mercury-based thimerosal, these provisions do eliminate their right to file

suits.  The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has a narrow 3-year statute

of limitations.  Because many families were unaware of the program, they

were unable to file a petition on time.  Sections 1714-1717 take away their

only remaining legal recourse. 

FICTION:  Thimerosal has now been removed from all childhood vaccines and is

therefore no longer a concern. 

FACT:  While thimerosal has recently been removed from most pediatric

vaccines used in the United States, it is still used in the flu vaccine

given every year to millions of Americans, including children as young as

six months old. 

FACT:  The argument that thimerosal has been removed from most pediatric

vaccines is beside the point.  Because the FDA was painfully slow to seek

the removal of thimerosal during the 1990's, millions of children across the

country were exposed to this mercury-based preservative at a time when

concerns about its health effects were emerging.  The legal rights of these

children should not be curtailed. 

Please vote to strip Sections 1714-1717 from the Homeland Security Act.

Fifteen years ago, only 1 in 10,000 children was autistic. Today that number

has skyrocketed to 1 in 250.  Let's not be stampeded into cutting off the

legal rights of these children without hearings and a full public debate. 

                                        Sincerely,

                                        Dan Burton

                                        Chairman

                                        House Committee on Government Reform