Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) has reintroduced the "Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Populations Act of 2007". Please call or fax your representative in the House and ask them to sign on to H.R.2832 today!

For contact information for your reps visit www.congress.org and type in your zip code. When you call your congressman's office, ask for their health staffer, let them know that you are a constituent and you are calling to ask that your congressman co-sponsor H.R.2832.

Legislation Aims to Resolve Thimerosal Controversy Maloney Introduces Bill to Require Comprehensive Study to Resolve the Question of a Possible Link between Mercury and Autism

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced the "Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Populations Act of 2007" (H.R. 2832), legislation that would require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct a comprehensive comparative study of vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, which may resolve the controversy about the possible link between autism and mercury or other vaccine components (click here for text of the legislation).

Many parents have raised concerns about the effect that thimerosal, which was widely used as a preservative in vaccines and is made of mercury - a known neurotoxin, may have had on a child's chances of developing autism and other neurological disorders. The study mandated by this new legislation would try to help resolve this controversy once and for all. "Vaccines have been instrumental in reducing the incidence of many once-common diseases, but we owe it to parents and children to study and resolve the question of the possible link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism," said Maloney. "What is ultimately needed to resolve this issue one way or the other is a comprehensive national study comparing outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated children. As the most scientifically advanced country in the world, we should be jumping at the chance to conduct a comprehensive national study to resolve the questions that have been raised. Parents deserve answers, and children deserve no less than absolutely certainty and safety." "The time has come to put the questions about thimerosal behind us and get some concrete answers about possible dangers associated with this vaccine preservative. Vaccines are critical to protecting public health, but we must know for certain that at the same time doctors are providing children with life-saving medicine that they are not also exposing them to a substance that could make them more prone to developing autism. As the world leader in medical research, it is incumbent upon the United States to take the lead on this matter and launch a comprehensive study on thimerosal so we can make smarter decisions about vaccines in the future," said Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), an original co-sponsor of the bill. Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) is the bill's other original co-sponsor.

This week, Generation Rescue is releasing a phone survey that offers a preliminary look at vaccinated versus unvaccinated groups. According to Generation Rescue co-founder J.B. Handley, "Our study was meant to highlight the critical importance of the research required by H.R. 2832. A sound study like the one proposed in the bill is needed to help resolve the issue of whether there is a link between vaccines and autism."

In the past, those who claim the preservative thimerosal has no effect on children have also claimed that a comprehensive study comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated populations could not be done in the United States because there was not a big enough unvaccinated population with which to compare the general vaccinated population. However, Dan Olmsted of UPI wrote a series of articles about the autism epidemic that identified a number of populations suitable for study, including: the Amish; children whose parents don't vaccinate for religious reasons; patients of Homefirst, an alternative medical practice in Chicago that does not vaccinate; and others. The Maloney legislation proposes comparing vaccinated populations with unvaccinated populations such as these.

A broad spectrum of vaccines containing thimerosal was manufactured for domestic use until 1999, and the nation's inventory of vaccines included some containing thimerosal for several years afterwards. Thimerosal is still used in most flu vaccines, and it remains in most vaccines administered to children in the developing world.

Background:

Maloney introduced similar legislation in the 109th Congress. Maloney also introduced a bill with Congressman Dave Weldon, M.D. (R-FL) last year that would give responsibility for the nation's vaccine safety to an independent agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, removing most vaccine safety research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Currently, the CDC has responsibility for both vaccine safety and vaccine promotion, which is an inherent conflict of interest that is increasingly garnering public criticism.

New Findings Emerge as Debate Rages in Court

Portland, OR - June 26, 2007 - As the first trial in Vaccine Court explores the relationship between vaccines and autism, a new survey released today indicates a strong correlation between rates of neurological disorders, such as ADHD and autism, and childhood vaccinations.

The survey, commissioned by Generation Rescue, compared vaccinated and unvaccinated children in nine counties in Oregon and California. Among more than 9,000 boys age 4-17, the survey found vaccinated boys were two and a half times (155%) more likely to have neurological disorders compared to their unvaccinated peers. Vaccinated boys were 224% more likely to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and 61% more likely to have autism.

For older vaccinated boys in the 11-17 age bracket, the results were even more pronounced. Vaccinated boys were 158% more likely to have a neurological disorder, 317% more likely to have ADHD, and 112% more likely to have autism. Complete survey results are available at www.GenerationRescue.org.

Generation Rescue commissioned the phone survey. Data was gathered by SurveyUSA, a national market research firm, which surveyed parents by phone on more than 17,000 children, ages 4-17, in five counties in California (San Diego, Sonoma, Orange, Sacramento, and Marin) and four counties in Oregon (Multnomah, Marion, Jackson, and Lane).

The survey asked parents whether their child had been vaccinated, and whether that child had one or more of the following diagnoses: Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), or Autism. The phone survey was chosen to mirror the methodology the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) uses to establish national prevalence for neurological disorders in their national phone survey.

Timed to the release of the survey results, Generation Rescue also ran full-page advertisements in Washington's Roll Call, The Oregonian, and The Orange County Register today. The ad compares the 36 pediatric vaccines the CDC recommends today to the 10 recommended in 1983, and asks, "Are We Over-Vaccinating Our Kids?"

"No one has ever compared prevalence rates of these neurological disorders between vaccinated and unvaccinated children," said J.B. Handley, co-founder of Generation Rescue, whose son was diagnosed with autism. "The phone survey isn't perfect, but these numbers point to the need for a comprehensive national study to gather this critical information."

In Washington, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) has been advocating for such a survey. Co-sponsored by Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), the "Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Population Act of 2006," or H.R. 2832, was introduced on June 22, and would require the National Institutes of Health to complete this research.

"Generation Rescue's study is impressive and forcefully raises some serious questions about the relationship between vaccines and autism. What is ultimately needed to resolve this issue one way or the other is a comprehensive national study of vaccinated and unvaccinated children," said Congresswoman Maloney. "The parents behind Generation Rescue only want information. These parents deserve more than road blocks, they deserve answers. We can and should move forward in search of those answers. That's why I've introduced a common sense bill that would require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct a comprehensive, comparative study on the possible link between autism and thimerosal."

From 1983 to 2007, autism rates have climbed from 1 in 10,000 children to 1 in 150 children, a growth rate of 6,000% (boys are significantly more affected by neurological disorders, accounting for approximately 80% of all cases). ADHD currently affects 1 in 13 children. In the same period, the CDC's recommended vaccine schedule more than tripled. The simmering debate over the cause of childhood neurological disorders shows no sign of cooling, but no study had ever been done to look at unvaccinated children.

Lisa Handley, co-founder of Generation Rescue, adds, "Everyone working with autism wants to identify the cause so we can focus on treatment and prevention. A national study like HR 5940 could help end this debate and focus all of our resources on helping our kids. Its time has come, and we hope Congress will choose to put our children first."

Click here to read complete survery results.

NAA Press Release

Physician's ties to drug companies prompt letter to NBC asking for Snyderman's dismissal and network retraction

Washington, DC - NBC's coverage of the Autism Omnibus Proceedings in the U.S. Federal Claims Court that began last week has sparked a firestorm of criticism among parents of vaccine-injured children from around the country. A letter protesting on-air statements made last week by NBC chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman has been sent to top NBC officials.

The letter, signed by over 50 advocacy organizations and physicians, objects to Dr. Snyderman's assertion on last Tuesday's Today show that the mercury-based preservative thimerosal no longer exists in vaccines. Thimerosal is still contained in most flu shots and several other vaccines as well.

Before coming to NBC, Dr. Snyderman served as ABC's medical correspondent for 17 years where she was briefly suspended for being paid to promote J & J's product Tylenol. She later spent four years with Johnson & Johnson as Vice President of Consumer Education. J & J's company Ortho Clinical Diagnostics is responsible for producing the thimerosal-containing RhoGAM shot administered to RH-negative women during and after pregnancy. Ortho is currently the respondent in litigation for fetal injuries associated with the shot, including autism.

"Tolerating such a blatant conflict of interest is bad enough, but the fact that NBC did not disclose Dr. Snyderman's Johnson & Johnson ties to viewers is completely unacceptable," according to National Autism Association Vice President and grandparent Ann Brasher. "It appears that Dr. Snyderman is speaking on behalf of J & J and not as an unbiased physician looking out for the best interests of children.

Also raising concern is Dr. Snyderman's unequivocal statement in an earlier NBC broadcast that there is "no science" to support a link between thimerosal and the development of autism. Advocacy organizations are quick to point out a plethora of peer-reviewed published science supporting the extreme neurotoxicity of thimerosal and the relationship between mercury exposure and neurological injuries with symptoms nearly identical to those of autism.

NBC has not responded to the letter sent last week from the advocacy organizations. To read the letter to NBC, click here.

With the first autism case now being heard in federal vaccine court in Washington D.C., it makes sense to ask: Why is anyone even still debating the possibility of a link between vaccines and autism? After all, for years, many government health officials, advisors and vaccine manufacturers have said there's no association.

Here are a number of reasons why the question remains open:

While government scientists, advisors and pharmaceutical companies have been responsible for infinite lifesaving and life improving medical advances, they are not infallible.

It's the same group that originally thought it was safe to use x-ray machines in shoe stores, gave pregnant women Thalidomide for morning sickness and once allowed mercury in medicines. They assured us Vioxx and Duract were safe painkillers, prescribed Rezulin for diabetics and then denied any of them were responsible for patient deaths. If we never questioned that group, we might not have discovered that Fen-phen and the dietary supplement Ephedra are not safe weight loss products, that antidepressants in kids can lead to suicidality and Viagra can cause blindness. The list goes on.

When it comes to vaccines, the same group failed to predict that the 1990's rotavirus (diarrhea) vaccine would have to be pulled from the market after infant deaths. They encouraged use of the oral polio vaccine (eventually discontinued after it gave too many children polio). And they allowed the use of a mercury neurotoxin preservative in childhood vaccines, only to admit later that they hadn't thought to calculate the cumulative amount kids were getting as more and more vaccines were added to the childhood immunization schedule.

Recent history demonstrates that too often, government health officials, mainstream doctors and pharmaceutical companies aren't on the leading edge of alerting us to health risks; they're bringing up the rear. Patients feel left to fend for themselves, seeking independent research and opinions on their own. They and their dogged, relentless determination have often been the catalyst that eventually brings medical dangers to the forefront.

Click here to read the full article.

Tom Bernard, the father of a child with autism, is publishing his first book, Wall and Mean. Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit SafeMinds and Autism Speaks.

Book Description

"Captures the tone and feel of Wall Street better than anything I've ever read. A snapshot of the trader's soul."-Michael Lewis

Wholesome Pennsylvania kid and Wall Street phenom George Wilhelm is poised to become one of the most successful young bond traders in the business. A gambler at heart, George has turned his old poker skills into big profits on the Emerging Markets desk. Now those same skills have got him trying to out-trade the sports bookies in Vegas, and George's hard-won security is in jeopardy as he racks up a ruinous gambling debt. When the Brooklyn mafia sends two hitmen to collect, things turn ugly in a hurry: these boys have clearly never heard of a fair fight. George must scramble to keep his pursuers away from the bank and his family, while risking everthing on an all-or-nothing trade. Set in the glitter and grime of New York City during the bond-market boom of 1993, Wall and Mean is a fast- paced and surprising debut from a veteran of The Street.

Click here to order your copy now.

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Please join a new Yahoo group called MIA-Mercury Induced Autism. The goal in the formation of this list was to create a resource where parents, grandparents, and anyone whose life has been impacted by mercury induced autism could go to seek information or find support.

To join the discussion please click here.