Unlocking Autism calls on
President Bush to issue Executive Order Banning Thimerosal
Baton Rouge, LA - Today Unlocking Autism
issued an open letter to President George W. Bush reminding him that he
expressed his full support for the removal of mercury from childhood
vaccines in a written response from the Republican National Committee dated
September 22, 2004 and requested that he issue an Executive Order banning
the use of the product for children under the age of 18 and pregnant women.
Prior to the election, Unlocking Autism, a non-profit organization
representing children with autism and their parents, asked President Bush to
state his position on the mercury preservative, Thimerosal, in vaccines. The
Baton Rouge, Louisiana based group maintains that the President has a duty
to communicate his position on the removal of mercury from vaccines to other
Republican Senators and Congresspersons now that Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist (R-TN) has introduced Senate Bill 3. The legislation would immunize
drug companies who produce mercury-containing vaccines from all liability
for vaccine-related autism due to mercury poisoning.
Dear President Bush,
On behalf of the members of Unlocking Autism, a national non-profit
organization, I request that you issue an Executive Order banning the use of
Thimerosal in vaccines for children and pregnant women.
In the summer of 2004, Unlocking Autism submitted a list of seven questions
to you with regard to issues faced by those families whose children have
autism spectrum disorders. We were so thrilled that you took the time to
respond. As soon as we received the completed questionnaire, we posted it on
our web site and informed the autism community of your answers.
The second question asked if you would support a ban on the use of
Thimerosal in children's and adult vaccines. You answered......
"I support the removal of Thimerosal from vaccines on the childhood national
vaccine schedule. During a second term as President, I will continue to
support increased funding to support a wide variety of research initiatives
aimed at seeking definitive causes and/or triggers of autism. It is
important to note that while they are many possible theories about causes or
triggers of autism, no one material has been definitely included or
excluded,"
.......that you would indeed support a ban with regard to any vaccines on
the children's national vaccine schedule containing Thimerosal.
While the mercury-based preservative has been removed as an active additive
in most vaccines on the children's schedule, there are still some vaccines
on the schedule that use Thimerosal, including the flu vaccine.
Additionally, while the preservative has been removed from most vaccines,
Thimerosal is still being used in the manufacturing process and then
"filtered out." The product is then labeled "Thimerosal free."
I realize that there are still some questions with regard to the possibility
of a connection between autism and vaccines, and more specifically the
Thimerosal connection, but I am writing to you to request that you issue an
Executive Order banning the use of Thimerosal in any vaccine given to any
child under the age of 18 and to pregnant women. When vaccines are packaged
in single dose vials, the use of this preservative is completely
unnecessary. The pharmaceutical manufacturers will be the first to admit
this.
Regardless of the possibility of a connection between neurodevelopmental
disorders like autism and mercury, it is not wise to expose any child, whose
brain is developing to a neurotoxin that contains mercury. Minuscule amounts
of mercury can kill neurons and destroy cells. So, regardless of the
autism/mercury debate, to use mercury at all makes no sense.
In 1982, twenty-three years ago, an FDA panel recommended that Thimerosal be
removed from over-the-counter products like contact lens solution because of
its toxicity and ability to cause cell death. It is time to remove it from
the vaccines we give our children as well.
We are asking you to adhere to the promise you made to our community on the
campaign trail to support the ban of Thimerosal. It is clear to me that if
you think it should not be used then it must be harmful. I would also
request that you inform Members of Congress about your concerns with regard
to Thimerosal, especially since Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has
authored S 3 which would protect the liability of pharmaceutical companies
that have used and continue to use this harmful substance.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience regarding
this matter.
With kindest regards,
Shelley H. Reynolds
President, Unlocking Autism
PO Box 15388
Baton Rouge, LA 70895
www.unlockingautism.org
Keys2UA@aol.com
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"I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical.
Even God had some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin."
~ Jerry Newport