Governmental Objectives and Political Influences

Potential Government Objectives related to the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2009 can be found in Healthy People 2010. Two of these objectives are as follows:

14-24a.
Increase the proportion of young children who receive all vaccines that have been recommended for universal administration for at least 5 years.


14-29a, b.
Increase the proportion of noninstitutionalized adults who are vaccinated annually against influenza and ever vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.



Healthy People 2010 states that "in 1998, 73 percent of children received all vaccines recommended for universal administration." Some parents are more hesitant to get their children vaccinated because they do not know the long-term adverse effects of thimerosal-containing vaccinations. There has been public concern in recent years due to the possible link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism.

Some key political influences include the Public Health Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the vaccine manufacturers. As stated in H.R. 2617, "In July 1999, the Public Health Service and the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a joint statement, which was later endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, proclaiming: `[The] Public Health Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agree that thimerosal-containing vaccines should be removed as soon as possible."