WTHR Indianapolis: Safety of flu vaccine questioned

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http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=1597409 & nav=9TaiK95T

Safety of flu vaccine questioned

Tom /Washington Bureau Chief

Washington D.C., Jan. 12 - It has been a nagging issue

for a number of years. Can children be hurt by the mercury-derivative

Thimerosal, which has been used as a preservative in a number of vaccines?

Barbara Loe Fisher with the Vaccine Info Center says

there is little dispute that mercury is something to be avoided. " Mercury is a

known neurotoxin, it's known to be toxic to the brain. "

A suspected link between Thimerosal and autism in

children has mobilized parents and some lawmakers, including Indiana's Dan

Burton, who believes mercury-containing vaccines had a frightening impact on his

own grandson. " He flapped his arms, ran around banging his head against the

wall, lost his ability to communicate. "

Flu vaccines now being given children do contain varying

amounts of Thimerosal. Is it dangerous?

Pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly and

Company, which once made the ingredient, argue the most recent evidence says no.

Lilly Chairman Sidney Taurel says, " Two major studies which have come out

showing that there was no evidence of correlation between autism and

Thimerosal. "

Says the US Centers for Disease Control, " There is no

convincing evidence of harm caused by the small doses of Thimerosal in

vaccines. "

But some critics remain unconvinced.

Florida Congressman Dave Weldon, himself a doctor, has

proposed banning Thimerosal from all vaccines. " I have two kids, a five-year-old

and a 17-year-old and I would not give either of them those vaccines that

contain mercury. "

While the government says there is no risk from

Thimerosal in flu vaccines, it says some do contain less of it than others to

the point they are considered preservative-free.

The downside is those vaccines may be the hardest to

find.

The CDC has information on which flu vaccines are lowest

in mercury.