Jennings Review-Five Stars

[Guest guest]

I guess this is a review of a review. But if you haven't read

Jennings' review of EOH, it is pasted below. You'll find a fair,

balanced and insightful piece that provides a highly condensed yet

accurate picture of the book and the deep currents of passion and

politics that fuel it.

Great to have you here, . When good journalists like you

give this issue an objective airing, our children win.

Thank you.

THE MERCURY CONNECTION

New book discusses the medical controversy linking autism with

vaccinations

By Jennings

Special to the Times-News

Journalist Kirby injected some fire into Autism Awareness

Month with the April 1 release of his book, Evidence of Harm, which

explores the extremely controversial and theoretical link between

past use of mercury in vaccines and the current autism epidemic in

the U.S

Publisher's Weekly declared it the " first serious journalistic

account " of this highly charged subject. The Centers for Disease

Control issued an announcement to healthcare providers

titled, " Important: Read Immediately, " which included talking points

to reassure concerned parents. A Financial Times reporter even

suggested that the book's success could presage a crash in the

pharmaceuticals market.

I read the book with more than casual interest. Having a close

family member with autism, I have spent hundreds of hours

researching possible causes and treatments. Originally I dismissed

the mercury-autism link as just another red herring. As I ran into

more and more studies that had all appearance of credibility and as

I learned the history and politics of mercury in medicinal products,

however, I felt compelled to look at the issue more closely.

Kirby's book is many things -- a and Goliath story, a multi-

layered mystery, a detailed summation of science to date -- but in

my opinion it is most important as a work of translation. Mainstream

healthcare providers often seem baffled when rational, well-educated

parents believe what appears to be a conspiracy theory rather than

reports from prestigious medical groups. By presenting these

parents' story, Kirby goes a long way toward explaining how they

acquired their passionate conviction and what it will take to change

their minds.

Background on thimerosal

The controversy centers on thimerosal, a mercury-based compound used

until recently to prevent contamination in many vaccines. Kirby, a

science contributor for the New York Times, concisely yet thoroughly

traces the product's history. It was formulated in the 1920s by the

Eli Lilly company and subsequently used as a preservative for

vaccines, as well as a topical antiseptic. Since it was in use prior

to the formation of the Food and Drug Administration, it was

grandfathered onto the list of approved products without undergoing

safety trials.

During the 1980s the Soviet Union did their own studies and banned

thimerosal from childhood vaccines. In 1982 the FDA convened an

independent panel calling for the removal of mercury-based

preservatives in over-the-counter topical products such as

Mercurochrome.

Meanwhile, however, several additional thimerosal-containing

vaccines were added to the schedule of childhood immunizations

during the late 1980s and 1990s. It was during this same time period

that the rate of autism in the United States began to skyrocket.

In 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement

recommending that " thimerosal-containing vaccines should be removed

as soon as possible. " This began a gradual removal of thimerosal

from regularly scheduled childhood vaccines, although it is still

used in some flu shots, tetanus boosters and other injections.

Whether or not the amount of thimerosal used in vaccines during the

1990s was hazardous is a subject of furious debate. Kirby presents

numerous scientific studies supporting both sides of the argument as

well as criticisms of the studies and subsequent rebuttals. He

covers the well-publicized CDC research, the epidemiological studies

from Denmark and the report from the Institutes of Medicine, which

did not find a link between autism and thimerosal.

He also covers lesser known clinical and laboratory research from

scientists at Columbia Universiy, MIT, Northeastern and other

universities. This research collectively supports an emerging theory

that a genetic subset of people, who would not be picked up in

epidemiological studies, are hampered in their ability to eliminate

mercury and are at increased risk of neurological harm from

exposure.

In short, Kirby rather convincingly shows that so far science has

failed to lay the argument to rest, regardless of what either side

declares.

Drama of words and actions

Beyond history and science, the words and actions of key players in

the debate fuel much of the book's drama. The book begins with a

classic who-done-it: in November 2002 someone anonymously slipped a

rider protecting Eli Lilly from thimerosal litigation into the

Homeland Security Act the night before it went to vote. Most

congressmen did not even know it was there as they entusiastically

voted for patriotism. While protests eventually led to the rider's

repeal, there have been repeated attempts to enact similar

legislation.

Also noteworthy was the rather astounding revelation that nobody

calculated that the addition of new vaccines would result in infants

receiving levels of mercury above federal guidelines until it was

too late. This is explained in a quote from Dr. Neal Halsey, who was

director of the Institute for Vaccine Safety: " I did not and others

did not go through the calculations. I do believe that if the

labeling had included the dose in micrograms, someone would have

picked this up earlier than it was picked up. ... I feel badly that

I didn't pick it up. "

Then there are the government meeting minutes, studies and

communications that parent groups obtained through the Freedom of

Information Act. Some of the comments found in these are troubling

at best, sinister at worst. While Kirby gives full context and

attribution for the comments, the following examples from a 2000

meeting of CDC officials and advisors provide a glimpse of what is

in the book:

" My gut feeling? It worries me enough ... I do not want (my)

grandson to get a thimerosal-containing vaccine until we know better

what is going on. "

" The medical legal findings in this study, causal or not, are

horrendous. "

A right to know?

From the midnight insertion of the Eli Lilly rider into the Homeland

Security Act to the Justice Department's efforts to seal records on

thimerosal-related materials, access to information is an underlying

theme of the book. One reason Kirby tells the story primarily from

the parents' point of view is because the CDC, FDA, American Academy

of Pediatrics and drug companies refused to grant interviews.

Regardless of how the thimerosal-autism mystery ends, the

controversy has brought to light troubling attitudes about how much

healthcare information the public should have.

Kirby quotes immunology authority Dr. Offit in reference to

removing thimerosal from vaccines: " I think we scared people

unnecessarily. And you did more harm than good in sort of

quote/unquote, allowing the parent to be fully informed. There's no

politically correct way to say this but being fully informed is not

always the best thing. You can take that out of context and make me

look like a jerk, but you know what I'm saying. You need to be

appropriately informed. "

Kirby's book is not perfect. By enriching the story with almost

cinematic detail, he sometimes makes minor errors, such as confusing

the Chattooga and Chattahoochee rivers. The compelling story of the

parents' battling bureaucrats occasionally lapses into melodrama.

On the whole, however, it is meticulously documented and

painstakingly researched. Those already familiar with the science

presented here are not likely to change their minds, but at least in

this book everyone has a chance to have their say. I think it's time

everyone started listening.