F. Kennedy Jr.: Time for CDC to Come Clean

[Guest guest]

F. Kennedy Jr.: Time for CDC to Come Clean

http://tinyurl.com/rzbz6

Correspondence newly obtained under the Freedom of Information Act raises

troubling new questions about

CDC's role in the Thimerosal scandal. Thimerosal is the mercury-based

vaccine preservative that has been linked to epidemics of neurological

disorders, including autism, in American children born after 1989.

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Responding to scientific studies linking dangerous levels of mercury to a

range of health disorders, the CDC in July 1999 recommended that the

nation's vaccine makers eliminate Thimerosal as a preservative, " as soon as

possible. "

But the newly released documents show that behind the scenes CDC was quietly

discouraging Thimerosal's removal. In a July 1999 letter, vaccine producer

Kline Beecham tells CDC that it is ready to produce non-Thimerosal DTP

(Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussis) vaccines immediately and has sufficient

inventories to supply the entire U.S. market during the remainder of 1999

and the first half of 2000, by which time other vaccine manufacturers would

have their Thimerosal-free DTP vaccines on line.

Thimerosal-laden DTP vaccines containing 25 micrograms of mercury apiece

were then being administered to American infants at two months, four months

and six months -- far exceeding EPA's recommended safe level for mercury.

Had CDC accepted Kline's offer, it could have immediately reduced the

mercury exposures to vaccinated six-month-old children by 40%.

However, in November, CDC mysteriously sent a letter back rejecting

Kline's offer. Then, on July 14, 2000 CDC published a deceptive press

release promising to require that all vaccines be Thimerosal-free as soon as

" adequate supplies are available. " This was a full 12 months after the

agency had denied Kline's proposal.

" If CDC were basing its decision on safety alone, it would have taken

Kline up on its offer. That's a no-brainer, " said a federal health

official who requested anonymity. " So there were other considerations beside

safety that were guiding their decision making. "

Among these " other considerations " were CDC's important concerns for the

preservation of the vaccine program, a bureaucratic impulse for

self-preservation, and protecting the economic interests of its vaccine

industry friends.

" Immediate withdrawal would send a strong message; 'We messed up!' " the

health official told me. " And I don't think they wanted to send that message

to parents, the public or those considering legal action. "

" There was also concern, " says the federal official, " that an immediate

withdrawal might discredit the international vaccine programs for which CDC

is an important partner. " The

World Health Organization has urged CDC against the banning of Thimerosal in

U.S. vaccines since that prohibition might discredit WHO's third world

inoculation programs. WHO, with U.S. funding, is now injecting children in

developing countries with the same amounts of Thimerosal we were giving

American kids at their highest exposures, but in a shorter time period. In

May 2001, WHO committed to " develop a strong advocacy campaign to support

the ongoing use of Thimerosal. "

But CDC insiders argue that CDC's primary concern was the economic impacts

on its pharmaceutical industry partners. " The big consideration was cost, "

says the federal health official. " A lot of CDC's friends in the vaccine

industry had stockpiled Thimerosal-based vaccines. If they couldn't sell

them the costs would total in the tens of millions of dollars. "

On July 14, 2000 CDC promised to complete the transition to Thimerosal-free

vaccines for children by first quarter 2001. But, probably for the reasons

stated above, its commitment sometimes seems half-hearted. CDC continues to

promote the use of Thimerosal in vaccines. The agency continues to send its

top spokesman Bernier around the country to testify before state

legislatures to derail state efforts to ban Thimerosal in vaccines. Last

week Bernier was testifying against a proposed Thimerosal ban in land.

CDC continues to exert muscular efforts to derail studies of American

cohorts -- the Amish, Christian Scientists, and home-schooled children --

who were not exposed to Thimerosal vaccines. Preliminary studies of these

groups indicate very low levels of the neurological disorders, including

autism, that have been associated with Thimerosal in vaccinated populations.

It's time for the CDC to come clean with the American public. Its tactics of

deception and obfuscation are jeopardizing the credibility of the entire

vaccine program, and therefore posing an enormous danger to public health.