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Minnesota Natural Health Legal Reform Project
A 501[c]4 non-profit political action organization

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 29, 2008

Parents should request kids’ flu shots without mercury now

St. Paul, MN – People concerned about vaccine protection from influenza should ask their physicians for shots that do not contain mercury, says the Minnesota Natural Health Coalition.

On Wednesday, Feb. 27 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend flu shots for children 6 months to 18 years of age. However the CDC did not inform the media or the general public that more than 90% of the 2007-08 flu vaccine supply contains 25 micrograms of mercury from the preservative Thimerosal.

Infants and pregnant women are most vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of mercury in all forms. The Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water limit for mercury is 2 parts per billion, but cell studies show mercury can kill cells at levels as low as 0.5 ppb. The E.P.A.’S classification of liquid hazardous waste is 200 ppb; the current “preservative” level of mercury in flu shots is 50,000 ppb.

Unfortunately people getting flu shots are not receiving informed consent about mercury levels in their vaccines. Conversely this week the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Thalidomide, "a drug once banned worldwide for causing birth defects, is showing promise as a possible treatment for ovarian cancer." However “the government imposes strict rules whenever thalidomide is used” and “the drug label warns of ‘severe, life-threatening human birth defects.’" Before it’s given, disclosure is required.

“Mothers do everything they can to protect their unborn babies from harm; most pregnant women
will not smoke, drink alcohol, or eat fish with high levels of mercury,” says Tim Kasemodel of the Minnesota Natural Health Legal Reform Project. “Anyone opposed to informing mothers of mercury
in the flu shot denies them the right to protect themselves and their unborn child from unnecessary mercury exposure. They could avoid the risk by choosing a mercury-free flu shot."

Across the U.S., thousands of parents in recent years have reported that their children regressed into autism-like symptoms following the administration of mercury-containing vaccines. In the Federal Autism Omnibus Proceedings, the U.S. government has already conceded one vaccine/autism case. On Feb. 25 journalist David Kirby quoted the sealed NVICP document on the Huffington blog: “The vaccinations received on July 19, 2000, significantly aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disorder, … which predisposed her to deficits in cellular energy metabolism, and manifested as a regressive encephalopathy with features of ASD.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/government-concedes-vacci_b_88323.html

Mercury-free flu vaccines are available on request. In the April 1, 2004 Los Angeles Times, a spokesman said Aventis “encourages parents who are concerned to ask their doctors to order thimerosal-free vaccines.” According to Len Lavenda, the company believes "we will be able to produce a sufficient amount" of mercury-free vaccines, "providing we're notified early enough." Now is the time that parents should ask their doctors to order next year’s mercury-free flu vaccines.

Consumers who want the Minnesota Department of Health to set a preference for mercury-free vaccines and provide informed consent about mercury content in the flu shot should contact their legislators and ask them to support these two bills, SF 1780 and HF 1917.

Contact Jerri Johnson (651) 688-6515 Jerrijohn@aol.com or Nancy Hokkanen (952) 831-3777.
Minnesota Natural Health Legal Reform Project.

The Minnesota Natural Health Legal Reform Project is a 501[c]4 non-profit political action organization.
MNHLRP; PO Box 315; Rosemount, MN 55068; Email mnhlrp@charter.net; (651) 322 - 4542