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DISCLAIMER – The Autism Resource Foundation provides general information to the autism community. The information comes from a variety of sources, and the Autism Resource Foundation does not independently verify any of it, nor does it necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of the Autism Resource Foundation. Nothing on this website should be construed as medical advice. Always consult your doctor regarding the needs of your family.
Excerpt from Autism Facts.com
2005
A whistle blower comes forward from Merck Pharmaceuticals and supplies the lawyers fighting the pharmaceutical companies with the "Merck Memo" from Dr. Hillman to Gordon Douglas, showing that they knew that Thimerosal was being given to infants at 89 times the safe limit in 1991, eight years before health officials requested the removal of Thimerosal from vaccines. Merck stated that they sent the memo in discovery as required to the lawyers but that the printing company failed to copy it.
Dr. Havarinsasab and colleagues with the Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine at Linkoping University, Sweden, the Department of Chemistry at Umea University, Sweden and the Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, California published a study in "Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology" called, "Immunosuppresive And Autoimmune Effects of Thimerosal In Mice." They found that Thimerosal lead to a strong immunostimulation and autoimmunity reaction with the formation of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), the hallmark in detecting autoimmune disease.
The Meningococcal vaccine is approved for teens and adults. It is also being recommended for at risk pregnant women. Most of these contain full dose Thimerosal. The CDC stated no preference for Thimerosal-free vaccines.
Thimerosal-containing vaccines continue to be distributed by the United States through the World Health Organization to other countries. These vaccines have never been required or requested to have mercury removed and all still contain full dose Thimerosal.
January 2005
Dr. Jill James, a pediatric biochemist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a former Senior Research Scientist with the Food and Drug Administration, published "Thimerosal Neurotoxicity is Associated with Glutathione Depletion: Protection with Glutathione Precursors" in the "Journal of NeuroToxicology". She stated:
January 13, 2005
State Senator Evelyn Lynn filed S 0690 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in the state of Florida.
Maryland delegate Terry Gilleland, Jr. filed HB 86 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
January 18, 2005
Nebraska State Senator David M. Landis filed LB 569 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
January 19, 2005
Washington State Senators Rasmussen, Benton, Roach, Sweeker, Zarelli, Regala, Stevens, Shin, Delvin, Franklin and Mulliken sponsored Bill 5305 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state. They also introduce a Bill, SB 5305, to require insurers to provide insurance coverage to individuals with autism in their state.
January 24, 2005
Republican Senator Bill Frist and Judd Gregg introduced another Bill, Senate Bill 3 (Or S. 3) called, "Protecting America in the War on Terror Act of 2005." Bill Frist wrote the bill to stop litigation and limit damages paid to families who's children were hurt by vaccines. The Bill cites the IOM report to justify the sweeping protections for the vaccine manufacturers. It extends unprecedented liability protections to the manufacturers.
It bars states from making their own decisions about banning Thimerosal and eliminates State's rights to regulate mercury-containing vaccines. This would be a violation of the 10th amendment. It also eliminates State's rights to more fully inform citizens of safety risks of drugs and it eliminates a citizen's right to seek justice in a state court for drug and vaccine injuries. It also takes away the freedom of people to have their voices heard through their elected State Representatives and protect themselves from unsafe drugs like Vioxx, Celebrex, and unsafe vaccines.
The Bill restricts the Freedom of Information Act concerning drug and vaccine manufacturers, allowing them to conceal information about what they knew about vaccine and drug safety risks.
It limits the awards in federal courts by capping compensation to families of children damaged by vaccines. It allows the Department of Health, the Department of Justice and the defendants in the Federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to write the terms of their own defense in order to further limit awards to vaccine-injured children. It also gives tax credits, grants and patent extensions to the drug industry.
January 26, 2005
New Hampshire State Representative David Babson, Jr. filed HB 562 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
January 27, 2005
State Representative Kurt Granberg introduces Bill HB 511 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in the state of Illinois.
January 31, 2005
Minnesota State Senator Becky Lourey filed SF 639 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
February 2005
The House Resources Committee in Congress states in a report that the dangers of toxic mercury pollution in the environment have been overstated. The report is written by aides to the committee's majority republicans and is being released in anticipation of new regulatory proposals from the Bush administration. The report also states that there is no established link between mercury from coal-burning power plants and levels of mercury in fish. Congressman Richard Pombo, R of California stated:
The Bush administration disputes the Clinton administration determination that mercury should be regulated as a hazardous substance and that 450 power plants should be forced to buy the "maximum achievable control technology" to reduce it.
Representative Jim Gibbons, R of Nevada, chairman of the resource panel's energy and resources committee stated:
The controversial report comes at a time when coal-fired power plants, incinerators and other industries are trying to fend off attempts to crack down on their mercury emissions.
February 3, 2005
Tennessee State Senator Diana Black filed SB 824 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state. She also filed a Bill, SB 824, to require insurers to provide insurance coverage to individuals with autism in their state.
February 7, 2005
Tennessee State Representative Susan Lynn filed HB 902 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state. She also filed a Bill, HB 902, to require insurers to provide insurance coverage to individuals with autism in their state.
February 8, 2005
Republican Congressman Ric Keller introduced the Bill, H.R. 650, the "Vaccine Accessibility for Children and Seniors Act of 2005". The Bill imposes barriers to legal remedies for the vaccine injured. "Vaccine" is defined within the Bill to include any preservative, ingredient, or component of a vaccine. It establishes a federal cause of action for claims from vaccine injured or death after October 1, 1988, the year vaccines began to be increased that contained Thimerosal, except under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. It preempts all state actions for damages from such an injury or death.
It shields vaccine manufacturers from litigation and deters any litigation by threatening families of injured children and their lawyers with severe financial penalties if they lose in court. It requires a district court to suspend an attorney from practice if he or she did not certify the validity of the claim 3 times during that attorney's career. This is directed at all attorneys and law firms holding several cases of Thimerosal injury. It allows the court to suspend the attorney further if it considers it appropriate.
This bill also requires 'reliable scientific evidence' demonstrating the vaccine caused the injury before even bringing suit. This means that all Thimerosal suits will not get a chance to be proven in court as they would be stopped at that stage, as would any other vaccines with side effects not yet 'proven'. This could also mean all immediate reactions to a new vaccine that hasn't yet shown a pattern of injury that establishes it was caused by the vaccine. The Bill requires the removal and dismissal with prejudice to a federal court all pending state cases.
Various newspapers ran an article about the 1991 Merck Memo, handed over by a whistle blower to lawyers in a civil case against the vaccine manufacturers.
Ohio State Senator Teresa Fedor files SB 49 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
February 9, 2005
Republican Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana gave a speech on the floor of Congress informing all members of Congress of the Merck Memo, pointing out that the executives at Merck were aware that they were about to give huge doses of mercury to infants and small children that could damage their neurological systems. Burton called their actions criminal.
February 17, 2005
Republican Congressman David Weldon of Florida and Democrat Carolyn Maloney of New York introduce the Bill, H.R. 881, "Mercury Free Vaccines Act of 2005," or better said, reintroduced since the 2004 version never made it to the floor for a vote. This Bill had 32 co-sponsors.
It virtually eliminates mercury from vaccines, ensuring that the flu shot being given to pregnant women and children, would have to contain less than 1 microgram of mercury by 2006/07 and that all other childhood vaccines also contain no more than 1 mcg. of Thimerosal by July 1, 2006. This would eliminate any stockpiles of older Thimerosal-containing vaccines to be discarded. By January 1, 2009, all vaccines for adults and children would be banned if they contained more than 1 mcg. of Thimerosal. It also expresses that the CDC must give messages against administering mercury-containing vaccines to pregnant women.
This Bill has not made it to the floor for a vote.
February 21, 2005
Oregon State Senator Frank Shields files SB 823 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
February 23, 2005
State Representative Susan Goldstein files HB 1111 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in the state of Florida.
February 24, 2005
State Senator Mattie Hunter filed SB 1678 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in the state of Illinois.
New York Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg filed A 05543 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state. State Senator Skelos filed S 02707 the same day in New York, also to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
February 25, 2005
An advocacy group, Unlocking Autism, issued an open letter to President Bush. Prior to his reelection, the group had asked Bush to state his position on Thimerosal. The group's open letter reminded President Bush that he expressed full support of the removal of Thimerosal from childhood vaccines in a written response to them on September 22, 2004. The group requested that he issue an executive order completely banning the use of mercury for pregnant women and children under the age of 18. They maintained in their open letter that he has a duty to communicate his position to other Republicans in Congress now that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist introduced Senate Bill 3.
March 11, 2005
Vermont State Senator Virginia Lyons filed S. 143 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state. She also filed a Bill, S. 143, to require insurers to provide insurance coverage to individuals with autism in their state.
March 15, 2005
Democratic Congressman John Tierney of Massachusetts introduced a Bill, H. R. Res. 158, recognizing the importance of increasing awareness of autism, supporting programs for increased research and improved treatment, training, and support for those with autism or for those who care for people with autism. This Bill has yet to come to the floor for a vote.
Republican Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana introduced HR 1297 - National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Improvement Act of 2005, again to reintroduce the earlier versions.
March 16, 2005
Pennsylvania State Senator Stuart Greenleaf filed SB 391 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
March 17, 2005
Nevada State Assemblyman Angle filed AB 224 to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
April 2005
Thomas Burbacher publishes a NIH sponsored study called, "Comparison of Blood and Brain Mercury Levels in Infant Monkeys Exposed to Methylmercury or Vaccines Containing Thimerosal." He found that total brain concentrations of mercury was lower in the Thimerosal group but that the proportion of inorganic mercury in the brain of thimerosal infants compared to methylmercury infants was up to 71% vs 10%. The absolute inorganic mercury concentrations in the brains of thimerosal-exposed infants were approximately twice that of the methylmercury group. The half life of this highly toxic inorganic form was not determined because the full amounts persisted in the brains of the primates 200 days into the study.
He also made a statement concerning the IOM's recent report to back away from research into Thimerosal's link to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders:
Thomas Burbacher wanted to continue the study to evaluate the behavior and development of the primates after these exposures but the NIH would not continue to fund him.
April 19, 2005
Republican Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Democrat Chris Dodd of Connecticut introduced the Bill, S. 843, "Combating Autism Act of 2005".
It will give $860 million of federal funds toward research, screening, intervention and education efforts for autism, doubling the current federal funding.
However, the Bill gives sole discretion of this to the National Institute of Health (NIH), stating that the NIH must oversee a scientifically justified budget for research at the NIH. This give the NIH full discretion over what is scientifically justified. They will determine and establish priorities among critical scientific questions concerning autism spectrum disorders.
Further, the NIH is instructed to conduct research in the fields of neurobiology, genetics, and psychopharmacology (the use of psychiatric drugs). Not until July 2008, can they expand their research into areas of Immunology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and toxicology. In short, most autism research pointing to Thimerosal as a cause, and being the only research done concerning Thimerosal and autism, have been conducted in those areas being held back by this Bill and the NIH has sole discretion over whether or not these areas will ever be fully researched.
Rick Santorum comes under immediate attack publicly for these provisions. Chris Dood states that he was not aware of the provisions and would look into this.
Under public pressure, Santorum later agrees to work with autism organizations to revise the Bill.
May 5, 2005
State Representative Bradford R. Hill filed HB 3836 in Massachusetts to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
May 10 and 11, 2005
Missouri state Bill SB74 and 49, banning Thimerosal from vaccines in their state, passed the house and senate vote.
May 18, 2005
Republican Congresswoman Mary Bono of California and Democrat Diana DeGette of Colorado introduced a Bill, H.R. 2421, also named "Combating Autism Act of 2005". The Bill from Congress removed the provisions in the Senate Bill relating to the NIH. It also adds that the NIH must conduct basic and clinical research into possible environmental causes and risk factors of autism. This would force the NIH to do research on Thimerosal, mercury and its effects.
May 21 and 22, 2005
New York passes S 2707 banning Thimerosal from vaccines in their state.
May 24, 2005
Generation Rescue Organization runs an ad in "USA Today" stating that autism is preventable and reversible.
May 29, 2005
The house and senate passes Bill HB 511 in Illinois to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state. The Illinois state law passed unanimously in the State Senate and 135 to 1 in the House.
June 8, 2005
Generation Rescue Organization runs an ad in the "New York Times" showing the comparison between autism and mercury poisoning and quoting members of congress such as John Kerry, Dan Burton and Dave Weldon.
June 22, 2005
The Montel Williams show, titled, "Autism...Can it be Prevented?" aired. David Kirby, author of "Evidence of Harm" was a guest, as was Congressman Dave Weldon, Dr. Andy Shih, Chief Science Officer of the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR). Lyn and Tommy Redwood of Safeminds were also guest, as was another woman who said she ate tuna every day during her pregnancy. Her son is also autistic.
Robert Kennedy, Jr., a Senior Attorney for the National Defense Council, appeared on MSNBC's Scarborough Country, speaking out about how Thimerosal causes autism. Scarborough, who believes the same, stated that his son has Asperger's Syndrome.
June 25, 2005
The Illinois chapter of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases holds a meeting in which the transcripts show that the AAP lobbied heavily against the Bill to ban mercury in vaccines in that state and worked with the Department of Public Health in Illinois to render the law ineffective on the grounds of it being an emergency. The exemption provisions in the Bill included an economic emergency if the Illinois Department of Public Health could not cover the additional cost of $2 per vaccine. The Bill had not even been signed into law yet by the governor.
June 29, 2005
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt signed SB 74 into law, banning Thimerosal in vaccines in their state.
July 1, 2005
Delaware Bill, HB 108, to ban Thimerosal in vaccines in their state passes unanimously in both the state senate and house.
July 12, 2005
Delaware's Bill to ban Thimerosal in vaccines, HB 108, is signed into law by Governor Ruth Ann Minner.
July 20, 2005
"The Power of Truth March and Rally" occurs in Washington DC. It was organized and supported by Moms Against Mercury, the National Autism Association, Safeminds, CoMed, A-Champs, Dads Against Mercury, Generation Rescue, NoMercury, NVIC, Unlocking Autism, and Educate Before You Vaccinate. It was attended by approximately 700 parents and children. Members of Congress spoke including Dan Burton, Dave Weldon, Carolyn Maloney along with Author David Kirby and Dr. Boyd Haley.
(exact date unknown) Chuck Hagel, R of Nebraska introduced a Bill, S 1422 - Mercury Free Vaccines Act of 2005, to ban mercury in vaccines given to pregnant women and infants. Not one other senator co-sponsored this Bill.
September 27, 2005
Christopher Smith, R from New Jersey introduced HR 254 - Honoring the Autism Society of America on the Occasion of its 40th Anniversary. This Bill costs nothing to the government. It is just in honoring an organization that has raised awareness and worked to help families and autistic individuals for decades. It was never taken from committee to the floor for a vote.
October 6, 2005
Darrell Issa, R of California introduced HR 3970 - the Bioterror and Pandemic Preparedness Protection Act of 2005. This Bill is led by republicans and incorporates liability protections on vaccines extending beyond bioterrorism products.
It eradicates the safeguards that regulate the production of safe vaccines, gives accelerated drug approval, protections for the vaccine manufacturers for injuries resulting from vaccines, removes the financial incentives that promotes the production of safe vaccines and eliminates applicable anti-trust laws and state laws, such as those that ban the use of Thimerosal in childhood vaccines and vaccines used during pregnancy.
The Bill also creates a new Federal Agency called the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency (BARDA) that acts as the single point of authority to promote advanced research and development of vaccines for bioterrorism and natural disease outbreaks while shielding the agency from Freedom of Information Requests. The agency will act in secrecy as the public would not have access to information concerning safety standards and others in developing the vaccines, nor would they be able to challenge the manufacturing drug safety in court. The agency will partner with drug makers while placing information outside of public view, extends manufacturers prescription drug patents, allows the Department of Health and Human Services to sign exclusive sales contracts with particular drug makers, and forbids government purchases of generic versions of such new drugs or vaccines or public sale of such generic products for use of countermeasures.
October 7, 2005
Parents from around the country held the "Power of Parents" rally and march in Washington D.C.. They also rallied outside of the American Pediatric Association's convention the next morning to complain of the AAP's support of keeping Thimerosal in vaccines.
October 10, 2005
Hillary Rodham Clinton introduced the Bill S. 1828, "Influenza Vaccine Security Act". Over $200 million would be dispersed for increased vaccine production, education and vaccination rates. One of the main aspects of the Bill is to increase vaccination rates with a particular focus on CDC-defined priority populations including infants, children and pregnant women. The legislation makes no recommendation to have Thimerosal-free flu vaccines.
October 17, 2005
Christopher Smith, R of New Jersey introduced HR 4069 - TEACH Act of 2005, again trying to get this Bill passed. It has not made it out of committee to the floor for a vote.
Dan Burton, R of Indiana introduced HR 2486 - To amend the internal revenue code of 1986 to provide that amounts paid for foods for dietary use, dietary supplements, or medical foods shall be treated as medical expenses. This Bill would help families who spend tremendous amounts of money on casein and gluten free diets for autistic children, as well as the many different dietary supplements they need. It has not made it out of committee to the floor for a vote.
Richard Burr, R of North Carolina introduced S. 1873 - the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005. It is the mirror Bill of HR 3970 introduced in the Congress.
Burr told the committee that S 1873 "creates a true partnership" between the federal government, the pharmaceutical industry and academia to walk the drug companies "through the Valley of Death" when bringing a new vaccine to market. It will give the Department of Health and Human Services "additional authority and resources to partner with the private sector to rapidly develop drugs and vaccines."
Much of the support for the bill comes from Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and its members. In the 2002 election cycle, PhRMA contributed $3,505,052 to politicians, with 95% going to Republicans. The top recipient in the Senate was the bill's sponsor, Senator Richard Burr, who received $288,684, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.
November 2, 2005
Michael Enzi, R of Wyoming introduced S. 1955 - Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005 which takes away important consumer protections by state law creating greater difficulty in challenging health care denials. It also takes away state rights to set community ratings rules, preventing insurers from various premiums based on health status, age, gender and geography. As a result, retirees not yet eligible for medicare and those with chronic health conditions could be priced out of affording health insurance. It discourages preventative health care and promotes health plans that do not offer preventative benefits such as well child visits, breast and cervical cancer screening and diabetes monitoring. It takes away most state insurance coverage mandates such as any state law that requires coverage for the care and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
* Barack Obama, D of Illinois, John Kerry, D of Massachusetts, Gordon Smith, R of Oregon, and Patrick Leahy, D of Vermont introduced amendments to S. 1955- Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005 that was introduced by Michael Enzi, with the amendments meant to expand the medicaid programs for children under wraparound and Schip care. Wraparound services are provided for autistic children at home and at school for services that insurance does not provide such as teaching behavior and social skills, and providing assistance to teachers and families. Schip allows for health insurance for children not covered by private insurance which also benefits autistic children.
November 14, 2005
Generation Rescue Organization runs an ad in the "New York Times" publicly thanking the many scientists who have conducted research that helps show a connection between mercury and autism. A couple of the scientists reported afterward that their studies had nothing to do with the autism/thimerosal connection.
They also thanked the governors who banned thimerosal from vaccines for children in their states of California, New York, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Delaware.
November 17, 2005
Barack Obama, D of Illinois, introduced S. 2047, "Healthy Communities Act of 2005". The Bill is to identify and address problems in communities that are at high risk from environmental contaminants. The Bill only received one co-sponsor, Hillary Rodham Clinton, D of New York.
December 19, 2005
"Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act" was slipped into the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, H.R. 2863 after the negotiations were concluded in the middle of the night by Republican Senator Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, despite assurances to representatives that this provision would not be attached to the Bill. It gives unprecedented immunity protection to vaccine manufacturers. It allows Thimerosal to be used in vaccines, even in states where Thimerosal is banned as long as the Secretary of Health and Human Services states that it is a "countermeasure" for an epidemic. It provides immunity for all drugs and vaccines, even tylenol, as long as the Department of HHS concludes it is an epidemic needed to be addressed which could include child obesity, heart disease or diabetes. There is nothing in the language to say that an actual emergency or pandemic has to be occurring for the immunity to be enacted. It gives immunity even in the case of misconduct if the drug company acts negligently or recklessly. There is even immunity for willful misconduct unless the secretary of HHS states otherwise. It also excludes any federal or state court to review the secretary's decisions under the law.
It had been widely reported that Frist intended to attach this Bill to the Defense Appropriations Bill because of its being considered must-pass legislation.
December 21, 2005
The senate unanimously approved the Bill, but with much harsh reaction to the sneaky way the vaccine liability protection was attached. None of the voting Senators were aware the provision had been attached except those involved in the middle of the night insertion of it.
December 30, 2005
President Bush signed the Bill into law.