Burton and Physicians Call for Changes

When it comes to the health of the public, particularly the children, no one in the U.S. Congressional leadership has done more than Congressman Dan Burton (R) Indiana. He has held hearings into various aspects of public health, including his now famous hearings on conflict of interest within the CDC, FDA, and NIH. The testimony before his House Committee on Government Reform, has led to many discoveries, including one which he personally took action on. That discovery was the presence of Thimerosal in common vaccines.

On October 25, 2000, Congressman Burton wrote a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala which stated in part: "We all know and accept that mercury is a neurotoxin, and yet the FDA has failed to recall the 50 vaccines that contain Thimerosal...On their own website, the FDA states, 'lead, cadmium, and mercury are examples of elements that are toxic when present at relatively low levels'...Our children are the future of this country. As a Government we have a responsibility to do everything within our power to protect them from harm, including ensuring that vaccines are safe and effective. Every day that mercury-containing vaccines remain on the market is another day HHS is putting 8,000 children at risk. Given that Thimerosal-free vaccines are available, and the known risk of mercury toxicity, to leave Thimerosal-containing vaccines on the market is unconscionable."

Burton's letter comes at the same time that the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) unanimously supported the elimination of mandatory vaccination programs by states and school districts. In a resolution voted upon during the organizations's 57th Annual meeting in St. Louis, the members state, "The process of approving and "recommending" vaccines is tainted with conflicts of interest."

Jane M. Orient, M.D., Executive Director of the AASP stated, "Our children face the possibility of death or serious long-term adverse effects from mandated vaccines that aren’t necessary or that have very limited benefits. This is not a vote against vaccines. This resolution only attempts to halt blanket vaccine mandates by government agencies and school districts that give no consideration for the rights of the parents or the individual medical condition of the child."

While Congressman Burton has been ridiculed by the pro-pharmaceutical industry press, it appears that his concerns over the mercury levels in vaccines and other products is shared by a large segment of the medical community as well. Perhaps with the combination of his committee hearings and the statement of the AAPS, Secretary Shalala will take action and stop the mandatory "mercury poisoning" of our children.