We have carried out our political action plan by creating a petition and e-mailing each of our key stakeholders, as well as our legislator. Our petition currently has 41 supporters. We did not receive responses from the legislator, vaccine manufacturers, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Autism Speaks, as well as other key stakeholders. We did receive one response, however, from Patricia Arleo. We will continue to advocate for further research regarding this legislation both within our classrooms and within our profession. We will also continue to update this blog with any further information regarding contacted key stakeholders.
After emailing Patricia Arleo, a special-education teacher and health activist who has been working with children affected by autism for twenty-five years, we received the following email in return:
November 1, 2009
Dear Mercury-Free Vaccine bloggers,
Thank you for your interest in this bill and for notifying me about its progress in Congress through your blog. As an educator, I have seen the challenges children with autism face on an everyday basis. I have long been aware of the potential effects that mercury levels, even in the small doses that vaccines may contain, can have on children and their development. I have learned from my own research about the possible correlation between autism and such mercury-containing vaccines, notably the increase in autism cases with the increase in childhood vaccinations. In my experience, I have spoken with many parents who have refused to vaccinate their children for fear of this outcome. It is my opinion that children should be vaccinated in order to eliminate preventable diseases. However, I also recognize parental concerns about mercury levels in vaccinations. I believe that the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2009 will ensure that we keep out of vaccines what is potentially causing harm to our nation's children. Whether or not there is a link between autism and mercury-containing vaccinations, if we can eliminate the risk, we should. I believe that by doing so, it will also give parents the peace of mind they need in order to continue to vaccinate their children.
Your blog also mentioned the flu vaccine, especially the new H1N1 vaccine. I have noticed in my profession and neighborhood that parents are especially worried this year that their children will contract the flu. Some states, such as New York, have been declared to be in a state of emergency based on the number of flu cases already this year. As a result, it is imperative that children especially receive the vaccination this season. I was unaware that mercury was in some of these vaccinations, and I am sure many parents are unaware of this as well. If mercury is removed from some of the flu vaccines, it should be removed from them all. Or, at least we should be more aware of its existence in them. After reading the provisions of this bill and understanding the current issue surrounding it, I can say that I support its passage in Congress and the efforts that your blog is making to raise awareness and support.
Sincerely,
Patricia Arleo
Essex County Commission, Essex County, NJ
Special-Education Teacher
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Updates on Mercury in Vaccines and HR 2617
HR 2617 is currently being reviewed by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Although its status in Congress has not changed since the creation of this blog, the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2009 may influence a controversial issue in the news today. The CDC reports that while thimerosal has currently been removed from most other vaccines, most of the influenza vaccines this year still contain thimerosal. Although the CDC cites that some of the influenza vaccines do not contain thimerosal, the shortage of these vaccinations as cases of H1N1 and the flu flood the country have parents scrambling to get their children vaccinated, any form of the vaccination available. Parents may be unaware that the vaccines they are getting for their children contain any amount of thimerosal and may not even be aware of its possible neurotoxic effects in children, even in small doses. Although studies have not proven these effects, the risk is still present. If it is possible to take mercury out of these vaccines, then it should be done. The passage of this legislation could require the removal of thimerosal from the influenza vaccines, or at bare minimum, require that parents know of its presence prior to vaccine administration.
More information about thimerosal in 2009-2010 influenza vaccines can be found on the CDC's webpage: http://www.cdc.gov/Flu/about/qa/thimerosal.htm
Although its status in Congress has not changed since the creation of this blog, the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2009 may influence a controversial issue in the news today. The CDC reports that while thimerosal has currently been removed from most other vaccines, most of the influenza vaccines this year still contain thimerosal. Although the CDC cites that some of the influenza vaccines do not contain thimerosal, the shortage of these vaccinations as cases of H1N1 and the flu flood the country have parents scrambling to get their children vaccinated, any form of the vaccination available. Parents may be unaware that the vaccines they are getting for their children contain any amount of thimerosal and may not even be aware of its possible neurotoxic effects in children, even in small doses. Although studies have not proven these effects, the risk is still present. If it is possible to take mercury out of these vaccines, then it should be done. The passage of this legislation could require the removal of thimerosal from the influenza vaccines, or at bare minimum, require that parents know of its presence prior to vaccine administration.
More information about thimerosal in 2009-2010 influenza vaccines can be found on the CDC's webpage: http://www.cdc.gov/Flu/about/qa/thimerosal.htm
Contacted Key Stakeholders
Leading American vaccine manufacturers, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur, were contacted. These companies still produce the vaccines that contain thimerosal like some of the influenza vaccines as well as vaccines that are thimerosal-free. As a mass producer of vaccines, it is beneficial for these companies to be informed that a bill supporting the banning of thimerosal in vaccines is in the House of Representatives. Vaccine manufacturers are key stakeholders because this legislation directly affects the preservatives they can or cannot use in the production of vaccines. These companies will need to plan vaccine production accordingly in the event that this legislation passes.
The organization Autism Speaks was contacted because it is one of the largest organizations concerning autism in the United States. Autism Speaks was founded by Bob and Suzanne Wright, who were the grandparents of an autistic child. This organization seeks to increase awareness about autism and supports research about the causes, prevention, and treatment of autism.
Mr. and Mrs. Capaccio were contacted because they have two children. Their oldest child is autistic. They chose to get their oldest child vaccinated and chose not to vaccine their second child due to the belief that the vaccine had something to do with their first child developing autism. They are key stakeholders because this legislation directly affects their lives.
Mrs. Patricia Arleo, a special-education teacher for the Essex County Commission in New Jersey, was contacted because of her knowledge of children and autism and role as a health activist. She has been working in special-education for twenty-five years and has taught many students who suffer from autism. In teaching these children, Mrs. Arleo directly sees what a child with autism and his or her family goes through each day. Mrs. Arleo also sees reluctance of parents to get their children vaccinated due to media influences and knowledge of autism's onset. She is a key stakeholder because this legislation has the potential to decrease vaccinated children's risk of autism and encourage more of the children in her urban classroom to be vaccinated.
The American Academy of Pediatrics was contacted because they are supporter of thimerosal- free vaccines. They are a key stakeholder because they are a trusted resource for the public concerning children's health.
Mr. and Mrs. Capaccio were contacted because they have two children. Their oldest child is autistic. They chose to get their oldest child vaccinated and chose not to vaccine their second child due to the belief that the vaccine had something to do with their first child developing autism. They are key stakeholders because this legislation directly affects their lives.
Mrs. Patricia Arleo, a special-education teacher for the Essex County Commission in New Jersey, was contacted because of her knowledge of children and autism and role as a health activist. She has been working in special-education for twenty-five years and has taught many students who suffer from autism. In teaching these children, Mrs. Arleo directly sees what a child with autism and his or her family goes through each day. Mrs. Arleo also sees reluctance of parents to get their children vaccinated due to media influences and knowledge of autism's onset. She is a key stakeholder because this legislation has the potential to decrease vaccinated children's risk of autism and encourage more of the children in her urban classroom to be vaccinated.
The American Academy of Pediatrics was contacted because they are supporter of thimerosal- free vaccines. They are a key stakeholder because they are a trusted resource for the public concerning children's health.
Representative Carolyn Maloney was contacted because she is the sponsor of the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2009. Rep. Carolyn Maloney has also been a major supporter of legislation related to the protection and enhancement of women's rights. Rep. Carolyn Maloney was contacted through her website email engine.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Petition
Please visit http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/Hgfree to sign this blog's petition to support House Bill 2617: Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2009!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Key Stakeholders and Legislators
Key Stakeholders
-American Academy of Pediatrics
-Advisory Commission on Immunization Practices
-Vaccine manufacturers (GlaxoSmithKline)
-Department of Health and Human Services
-Consumers of vaccines
-Nurses and Health Care Providers
Legislators
-Rep. Carolyn Maloney and co-sponsors
-American Academy of Pediatrics
-Advisory Commission on Immunization Practices
-Vaccine manufacturers (GlaxoSmithKline)
-Department of Health and Human Services
-Consumers of vaccines
-Nurses and Health Care Providers
Legislators
-Rep. Carolyn Maloney and co-sponsors
Position and Political Action Plan
Position
The members of this blog support the passage of the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2009 (HR 2617). We personally feel that this bill will increase public support for recommended immunizations and decrease fear associated with the presence of mercury in vaccines. This decreased fear has the potential to increase the number of individuals who receive recommended vaccines. As student nurses we recognize the importance of immunizations as an aspect of preventive health. According to the CDC's annual National Immunization Survey (NIS), the percentage of U.S. children 19 to 35 months of age who have received the recommended series of childhood vaccines was 76.1 percent in 2008 (cdc.gov). This would support the Healthy People 2010's goal to increase the number of children who receive recommended vaccinations to 80%. While the majority of vaccines contain little to no traces of thimerosal currently, we think it is important to pass a law to continue this practice. Vaccines such as the influenza vaccine may still contain traces of thimerosal, which may be especially concerning to populations such as pregnant women. We feel that passage of this bill would decrease these concerns.
Political Action Plan
1) Continue updating our blog with the most recent information and political activity related to HR 2617
2) Contact key stakeholders and legislators and invite them to view and participate in our blog
3) Advocate for further research to be done related to the presence of mercury in vaccines within our community
4) Create an online petition advocating for this bill
The members of this blog support the passage of the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2009 (HR 2617). We personally feel that this bill will increase public support for recommended immunizations and decrease fear associated with the presence of mercury in vaccines. This decreased fear has the potential to increase the number of individuals who receive recommended vaccines. As student nurses we recognize the importance of immunizations as an aspect of preventive health. According to the CDC's annual National Immunization Survey (NIS), the percentage of U.S. children 19 to 35 months of age who have received the recommended series of childhood vaccines was 76.1 percent in 2008 (cdc.gov). This would support the Healthy People 2010's goal to increase the number of children who receive recommended vaccinations to 80%. While the majority of vaccines contain little to no traces of thimerosal currently, we think it is important to pass a law to continue this practice. Vaccines such as the influenza vaccine may still contain traces of thimerosal, which may be especially concerning to populations such as pregnant women. We feel that passage of this bill would decrease these concerns.
Political Action Plan
1) Continue updating our blog with the most recent information and political activity related to HR 2617
2) Contact key stakeholders and legislators and invite them to view and participate in our blog
3) Advocate for further research to be done related to the presence of mercury in vaccines within our community
4) Create an online petition advocating for this bill
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Scholarly Evidence to Support Proposed Change
Various articles and studies from scholarly journals have cited evidence suggesting that vaccines containing mercury have the potential to cause significant health concerns, especially for children. Notable articles are listed below:
Wakefield, A.J., et al (1998). Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The Lancet Volume 351, 637-641.
Wakefield, A.J., et al (1998). Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The Lancet Volume 351, 637-641.
This study proposed the interaction between the different viruses contained in the MMR (Mumps/Measles/Rubella) vaccine, could have a negative impact on the child’s immune system and lead to possible brain damage and autism. This study was later disproven due to small sample size and no definitive link between autism and the MMR vaccine, by not before the public latched on to the idea that the MMR vaccine caused or was linked to autism spectrum disorder. Thimerosal is a preservative used in the MMR vaccine.
Cave, S.F. (2008). The history of vaccinations in the light of the autism epidemic. Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine 14(6), 54-7.
This article gives an overview of past and recent research findings. Specific evidence is cited about California's decrease in the number of children diagnosed with Autism initially after thimerosal was removed from vaccines.
Miller, L. & Reynolds, J. (2009). Autism and Vaccination—The Current Evidence. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing 14(3), 166-172.
This article summarizes evidence found in various studies concerning the relationship between Autism and different vaccinations. Noted is the possible relationship between Thimerosal and Autism, as well as the CDC's actions in reducing Thimerosal content in vaccinations.
Pinchichero, Michael, et. al. (2009). Mercury Levels in Premature and Low Birth Weight Newborn Infants After Receipt of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines. The Journal of Pediatrics 5(4), 495-499.
This article reasoned that the blood half-life of intramuscular ethyl mercury from thimerosal in vaccines given to premature infants is substantially shorter than that of oral methyl mercury in adults. Because of the differing pharmacokinetics, exposure guidelines based on oral methyl mercury in adults may not be accurate for children who receive thimerosal- containing vaccines.
Pless, Robert, and John F. Risher. (2000). Mercury, Infant Neurodevelopment, and Vaccination. The Journal of Pediatrics 136(5), 571-573.
This article examines the concern for the relationship between Neurodevelopment of infants and vaccinations containing thimerosal. Its findings from other studies indicate a need for further study in this area to determine thimerosal's true effects.
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