Fwd: Massive Recall of Mercury Containing Vaccines Requested

October 29, 2000

<< Subj: [PROVE] Massive Recall of Mercury Containing Vaccines Requested

Date: Saturday, October 28, 2000 9:40:37 AM

From: prove@...

To: Undisclosed-Recipient:@lion.esosoft.net;;

From: prove@... (Dawn )

To: Undisclosed-Recipient:@lion.esosoft.net;;

Dear PROVE Members,

The chairman of the Government Reform Committee of U.S. Congress has just

asked the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary to

undertake a massive government recall of over 50 vaccines containing the

mercury preservative Thimerosal. The FDA has ignored his previous request.

The press release (full text below) can be read at

http://www.house.gov/reform/press/00.10.26.htm.

The letter to Shalala (full text below) can be read at

http://www.house.gov/reform/letters/10.25.00.pdf

The incredible testimony clearly illustrating the risks of mercury in

vaccines that was given at the 7/18/00 Congressional Hearing " Mercury in

Medicine: Are We Taking Unnecessary Risks? can be accessed at

http://www.house.gov/reform/hearings/healthcare/00.07.18/index.htm.

Since the Government Reform Committee has oversight of DHHS, you can help by

writing a quick note to your congressional representative asking him/her to

contact DHHS and voice their support for the immediate recall of all mercury

containing vaccines to protect our nation's children. You can let them know

that the reluctance by federal health officials to recall these vaccines

contributes to a growing erosion of confidence in federal vaccine policy

which currently puts profits ahead of child safety. You can send a quick

email note to your Congressional Representative at

http://www.house.gov/writerep/ .

Sincerely, Dawn

---------------------

http://www.house.gov/reform/press/00.10.26.htm

COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM

2157 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING

WASHINGTON, DC 20515

Press Release

Contact: Josie Duckett

26 October 2000

Chairman Burton Requests Vaccine Recall

Washington, DC - In an October 25, 2000 letter to HHS Secretary Donna

Shalala, Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), Chairman of the House Committee on

Government Reform, requested a recall of all vaccines containing Thimerosal.

The mercury-based product Thimerosal is added to vaccines as a preservative.

On July 18, 2000 the Committee conducted a hearing entitled, Mercury in

Medicine: Are We Taking Unnecessary Risks? During the hearing, the FDA

admitted that children are being exposed to unsafe levels of mercury through

vaccines containing Thimerosal. It was also determined that symptoms of

mercury poisoning mimic symptoms of autism -- a disease that has reached

epidemic levels in the United States. However, the FDA has chosen to allow

pharmaceutical companies to merely phase out their use of Thimerosal,

leaving mercury-containing vaccines at public and private health facilities.

In his letter to Secretary Shalala, Chairman Burton stated:

We all know and accept that mercury is a neurotoxin, and yet the FDA has

failed to recall the 50 vaccines that contain Thimerosal...On their own

website, the FDA states, lead, cadmium, and mercury are examples of

elements that are toxic when present at relatively low levels

Our children are the future of this country. As a Government we have a

responsibility to do everything within our power to protect them from harm,

including ensuring that vaccines are safe and effective. Every day that

mercury-containing vaccines remain on the market is another day HHS is

putting 8,000 children at risk. Given that Thimerosal-free vaccines are

available, and the known risk of mercury toxicity, to leave

Thimerosal-containing vaccines on the market is unconscionable.

------------------

http://www.house.gov/reform/letters/10.25.00.pdf

October 25, 2000

The Honorable Donna Shalala, M. D.

Secretary ofHealth and Human Services

Washington, DC 20201

Dear Secretary Shalala:

Pursuant to Rules X and XI ofthe Rules of the House of Representatives, the

Committee on Government Reform has oversight of the Department of Health

and Human Services. As you are aware, the Committee is conducting an

oversight investigation into vaccine safety and policy. As part ofthis

investigation a hearing was conducted on July 18 entitled, " Mercury in

Medicine Are We Talking Unnecessary Risks? " We received very credible

testimony regarding the similarity between symptoms ofmercury poisoning and

autism and the continued use of thimerosal containing vaccines.

At the time of that hearing, I requested that the Food and Drug

Administration recall all thimerosal-containing vaccines from the market.

This request was ignored. A petition to the FDA from the parents

ofvaccine-injured children was ignored. Additional scientific data that

has been provided to the FDA regarding the dangers of thimerosal in vaccines

has been ignored.

I am asking that you personally respond to this request regarding an FDA

recall of thimerosal-containing vaccines.

During a review required by the Food and Drug Modernization Act, it was

learned that infants receive more mercury in the first six months of life

than is considered safe according to federal guidelines. For a

twelve-to-fourteen month old child receiving vaccines on the Universal

Childhood Immunization Schedule as they are typically delivered (four to six

shots in one doctors visit), they may receive forty or more times the amount

ofmercury than is considered safe according to Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) guidelines. The EPA guidelines were confirmed to be accurate

through an independent evaluation conducted by the National Research Council

(NRC). The NRC published their mercury report in July.

In testimony to the Committee, the FDA witness stated that each of the

vaccines recommended on the Universal Childhood Imunization Schedule are now

available for use in a thimerosal free version. While the FDA proposes to

" phase out " thimerosal-containing vaccines over time, I implore you to

conduct a full recall ofthese products. If the only action that HUS takes is

a gradual phase out, children will continue to be put at risk every day. HHS

is leaving supplies of this toxic substance in doctors' offices, at Public

Health Clinics, and in managed care facilities. These vaccines will continue

to be injected in children for years to come -putting our nation's most

vulnerable population -our babies -at risk for mercury poisoning.

We all know and accept that mercury is a neurotoxin, and yet the FDA has

failed to recall the 50 vaccines that contain thimerosal. While thimerosal

has previously been ruled by the FDA to fit the " generally recognized as

safe " standard, when the FDA conducted their Over the Counter (OTC) drug

review they changed their minds. The FDA determined that mercury compounds

used as active ingredients in OTC drug products were not found to be

" generally recognized as safe. " Additionally the FDA has not approved any

mercury containing compounds as food additives and does not consider any

mercury containing compounds to be " generally recognized as safe. " On their

own website, the FDA states, " lead, cadmium, and mercury are examples of

elements that are toxic when present at relatively low levels. "

As you know autism rates in this country have skyrocketed. What used to be a

very rare condition is now occurring in 1 in 500 children nationwide. In the

sixth district ofIndiana, 1 in 400 children is autistic. In many areas, the

number is as high as 1 in 150 children. The difference in many ofthese cases

of autism is that the symptoms do not appear at birth, but shortly after the

delivery of shots in the second year of life.

Our children are the future ofthis country. As a Government we have a

responsibility to do everything within our power to protect them from harm,

including insuring that vaccines are safe and effective. Every day that

these mercury-containing vaccines remain on the market is another day HHS is

putting 8,000 children at risk. Given that thimerosal-free vaccines are

available, and the known risk of mercury toxicity, to leave

thimerosal-containing vaccines on the market is unconscionable.

The Chair of the Department of History at the University of Kentucky has

provided additional research to the FDA since the July 18 hearing confirming

the risks of thimerosal.

Each child who is vaccine-injured is a tragedy. From previous experience, we

know that even when HITS advised health care professionals to avoid using

oral polio and whole cell pertussis vaccines because ofthe higher rate

ofadverse events, many clinics and doctors continued to use up their

supplies ofthese vaccines ratherthan replace them with safer vaccines. How

many families were needlessly exposed to live polio and how many children

suffered seizures and other tragic injuries for the sake of medical profits?

To ignore an avoidable risk and to put 8,000 children a day in harm's way is

not only inhumane, it may be criminal.

Please personally respond to this request to recall all

thimerosal-containing vaccines by October 31. If you have any questions,

please contact Professional Staff Member, S. Clay at .

Sincerely,

Dan Burton, Chairman

Cc: Honorable Henry Waxman

Ranking Minority Member

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dawn

PROVE(Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Education)

P.O. Box 1071

Cedar Park, TX 78630-1071

prove@... (email)

http://vaccineinfo.net (web site)

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Subj: [PROVE] Massive Recall of Mercury Containing Vaccines Requested