How McCain Jumped on Anti-Vaccine Wagon
Yesterday we noted that John McCain had become the first candidate to speak out in favor of the anti-vaccine lobby. It turns out that McCain's involvement began last year when he met Lin Wessels, an Iowa mom with an autistic child, on the campaign trail. Wessels' son was born premature in 2002 and diagnosed with autism two years later. She joined A-CHAMP, one of various activist mom groups that believe, despite evidence to the contrary, that a mercury-containing preservative called thimerosal caused their child to become autistic. Thimerosal was removed from nearly all shots given to babies six years ago but autism rates in the "un-thimerosaled" group continue to rise (a story that's been told in exhaustive detail; here's a good place to start). The story of Wessels' afflicted child and her effort to get politicians interested is told here and here. You can't help feeling sorry for her. That doesn't mean she's right, although she's become the momentary darling of the anti-vaxers, funded by a wealthy Portland investment banker named J.B. Handley.
Mindful of Obama's comments about judgement v. experience in regard to the Iraq war, let's hope that McCain doesn't drive us into another ditch. We don't need more misinformed parents failing to vaccinate their kids because of irresponsible politicians. (For those of you who read my piece on the CDC on March 3, this is also a reminder of why we need a solid vaccine safety branch -- to look into real safety issues, and thereby reassure the public).
Comments:
Posted 03/05/2008 11:57am with
Hello Mr. Allen,
So very nice to hear your misconstrued perception of the truth. You’ve made it more than obvious where you stand on this, so it comes as no surprise.
January 14, 2008
Mercury Remains in Vaccines
http://www.a-champ.org/mercuryremainsinvaccines.html
Government researchers and some journalists incorrectly assume that by 2001 mercury was removed from vaccines.
This is simply not the case. Most vaccines contain mercury today, albeit amounts lower than the amount used through at least
2001-2002. Many vaccines have continued to contain very dangerous amounts of mercury until a much later date, as the FDA revealed to Congressman Dave Weldon of Florida in 2003. The FDA letter showing that vaccines contained mercury for far longer than public health experts like to admit can be viewed below or downloaded here. The fact is, expiration dates for mercury
containing vaccines extended well beyond 2003. Vaccines containing mercury were routinely being administered well beyond then 2001 date cited by some researchers and public health officials, who desperately want to exonerate the safety of the nation’s vaccine program.
It is likely that mercury-containing vaccines remained on pediatric shelves and were administered to infants years beyond what is conventionally believed. Isn’t it time the data was disclosed showing the amount of mercury to which our children were exposed and which they continue to receive?
If you’d care to look for yourself, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’ s (FDA) own website, mercury remains in one formulation of the DTaP vaccine, the pediatric version of the Hepatitis B vaccine, and three of the four formulations of the influenza vaccine normally administered to children and pregnant mothers – and in amounts that exceed FDA and Environmental Protection Agency safety guidelines. In terms of all of the 43 currently manufactured U.S. licensed vaccines, mercury remains in 15 of them.” I just hate it when that happens, ‘cause all of you PRO-MERCURY ACTIVISTS keep telling the public that it’s GONE!!
Furthermore, we all know that the majority of the flu shots contain mercury, thimerosal, if you prefer. Always have. Still do.
Oh, and let us not forget that thimerosal has not ever been properly safety tested for use. Nope. NEVER! Not even once.
Another little matter we need to clear up. I am not anti-vax as you so kindly prefer to refer to those of us who chose to be PRO-SAFE VACCINE. Gee, I really don’t want to expose others to known neurotoxins. Shameful, isn’t it?
Lastly, please save your pity, presumptuous ignorance, arrogance and fear mongering tactics, we’ve no use for it. Been there, done that, heard it all before.
Lin Wessels
Sam’s MAMA