Last year we began a review of this nation's vaccine immunization program. While childhood immunizations have been lauded as one of the greatest advances in public health of the twentieth century, we have learned that there is a paucity of research evaluating the long term safety of these vaccines, particularly as they are currently given to babies, six shots in one day. We also have learned that the epidemic rise in pervasive developmental delays including autism may be unrecognized adverse effect of vaccines. Research conducted in England discovered that autistic children, who also suffer with chronic diarrhea and bowel disorders, have the measles virus in their bowel. We also learned that many of these vaccines are made with the preservative thimerosal.
Thimerosal is a derivative of mercury, which is a known neurotoxin.
We learned that mercury toxicity has very similar symptoms to autism. Many children who are treated for mercury toxicity show an improvement in the autistic symptoms. I have asked the Department of Health and Human Services to recall vaccines that contain thimerosal since most of the vaccines on the childhood immunization schedule are now available without thimerosal. However, thus far, they are satisfied with allowing companies to continue to sell these vaccines and putting 8,000 children in the United States at risk for mercury toxicity. As part of this investigation we looked at the advisory committees at the Centers for Disease Control and at the Food and Drug Administration and found that many of the individuals appointed as advisory council members had significant financial ties to the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the vaccines under consideration.