Dirty Politics in NJ Concerning Thimerosal Ban Legislation

Managing Editor's Note: Here's a letter from H. Downing of the NJ Coalition for Vaccination Choice. You'll note that pediatrician Dr. Meg Fiisher, who represented the AAP on Larry King Live with Jenny McCarthy has a fine quote: Fisher: “My point is it’s [removing thimerosal] a done deal. This legislation is perpetuating false ideas about vaccines, like it’s some evil neurotoxin.” 

It’s an election year.  We seem inured to corruption; the same tale seems to be told over and over again.  We are not powerless, however.

Here is a story to make you think twice before electing the same old politician. 

Vaccines still contain mercury.  It is an added ingredient in some, and is used in the manufacturing process for many.  This is a topic that should concern all of us.  Large and powerful states, including California, New York and Illinois have passed bills to ban mercury in vaccines.  In New Jersey, however, the bill continues to languish in the legislature.

Did you ever wonder why?

Through persistent and responsible adherence to the legislative process, the people of New Jersey have sought protection for themselves and their families.  Politicians do not play by the same rules.  Behind closed doors, our legislators have unfairly abused their power to repeatedly hold the bill from a vote.  Let us know if you think this is acceptable.
If you are angry, take note of the Action Items at the end of this article.

The story begins in 2005.  Concerned citizens composed legislation that would phase mercury (thimerosal) out of vaccines given to children and pregnant women.  That bill is now A1055/S359.  Mercury is used in vaccines as a preservative in multi-dose vials.  Manufacturers are willing and able to forego the preservative by selling single-dose vials.  Mercury is a known neurotoxin, and has been removed from most other drugs/medicine.
Under the 1997 FDA Modernization Act, Congress ordered the FDA to determine the levels of mercury in pharmaceutical agents.  FDA officials were disturbed to learn that children were receiving mercury in levels that exceeded federal safety guidelines.

Primary sponsors of this NJ legislation to phase out mercury are Assemblyman Peter Biondi, Assemblywoman Linda Stender, Senator Andrew Ciesla, and Senator Anthony Bucco. The language of the legislation addresses a three-year phase out:

* In the first year, an influenza vaccine could contain up to .5 micrograms of mercury per .25 milliliter dose for children under age 3, and 1 mcg of mercury per .5 milliliter dose for persons over age 3.  It would allow other vaccines to contain “trace amounts” (concentration of less than .0002%) of mercury.

* The second year would only permit trace amounts.

* By the third year, only mercury-free vaccines could be administered in the state of New Jersey.  In the event of an emergency shortage, people would be notified in advance that the vaccine contained mercury.

The first hearing on the “thimerosal ban bill” was scheduled with barely a day’s notice for March 13, 2006. Safe-vaccine advocates prepared testimony overnight to be ready in time to speak before the Assembly Health Committee. Dr. Larry Rosen rescheduled his clients to speak on behalf of the thimerosal ban. 

Assembly Health Committee Chairman Herb Conaway asked those in support of the thimerosal ban to speak first.  Dr. Rosen presented facts, and spoke passionately in support of the ban.  Numerous parents spoke in support of the ban. Chairman Conaway did not demonstrate respect for this group.  He did not appear interested nor concerned, and he was seen to roll his eyes as Dr. Rosen spoke. 

It was then time for “Herb’s side” to present their case.  He had lined up two doctors from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Dr Meg Fisher and Dr Steven Rice.  Chairman Conaway smugly stated, “Finally, some real science” as they walked up to the podium.  Here are quotes which demonstrate their shocking disregard for and lack of understanding of the science regarding the use of thimerosal in vaccines.

Dr Rice (commenting on the Denmark study): “These are perfect studies.”

Dr Rice: “It’s a reasonable goal to get mercury out of vaccines, but do we need this legislation?” (alluding to the “work” the politicians have to do to write a bill and pass it)

Dr Fisher (paraphrased): We don’t need this legislation. Perpetuating false and misleading information about vaccines won’t help, and might even harm. It has driven the cost up – singles dose has to have a little more vaccine in each bottle. We are looking at more unimmunized children. We had a vaccine supply problem for the last 10 years. It will inhibit our ability to mass-produce vaccines when and if we need them, even with the exemption this law provides. Why do we want to handcuff vaccine manufacturers? What you heard over the last hour is that thimerosal causes autism – we know it doesn’t. It [this legislation] takes our energy, our dollars, and makes us disprove something none of us believe to start with.

Conaway: “All I’ve found is that thimerosal causes local skin reactions.
I searched the NIH website all night.”

Fisher: “My point is it’s [removing thimerosal] a done deal. This legislation is perpetuating false ideas about vaccines, like it’s some evil neurotoxin.”

Fisher: “We’ve been giving this vaccine [preservative] for over 50 years, we have lots of information that it hasn’t done harm. You read the Danish study.”

Fisher: “Stop the distractions. This legislation is a distraction.”

Fisher (when asked “You’re of the firm opinion that thimerosal is not detrimental to brain cells?”): “I didn’t say that. If you pour thimerosal on a brain, of course it will be a toxin.”

Fisher (when asked “You represent AAP. In July 2001, they stated mercury is toxic in all forms.”): “Both of us would agree with that. But look at what has happened since 1999. Thimerosal is out of all major vaccines, except trace amounts and the influenza vaccine. Influenza, we’re well on our way. If you made this law in 1999 when nothing was happening, that’s one thing, but in 2006 you don’t need this legislation.”

Rice: “The dosage makes the poison. There are many things that in small amounts are therapeutic.”

Fisher (after stating she gives her mother the flu shot): “My mother has Alzheimer’s.”

Fisher: “They [vaccines] would still be efficacious [with thimerosal removed]. We have been removing the thimerosal since 1999. There are still trace amounts due to manufacturing steps. The vaccine manufacturers will have to figure out a different way to make these if you don’t allow thimerosal. There is not enough vaccine if we have a pandemic. You run the risk that you can’t protect your population. None of the other preservatives have been used for 50 years or have been proven safe. If you pass this law, you’ll force use of one of these, and then 50 years later we’ll find they’re not safe. Without thimerosal, has to be single dose or other preservative.”

Fisher (when asked “Why not just limit the thimerosal vaccines for
children?”): “You can do that…but it’s already been done.”

Health Committee members asked telling questions.  One stated he was no longer going to give his mother the flu shot after hearing all this testimony.  Dr. Rosen addressed some of Dr. Fisher’s and Dr. Rice’s errors in a wrap-up and stated:

“This is about safety, not causation. The burden is on safety.” 

Assemblyman Biondi said:

“If the industry was taking it [thimerosal] out, I never would have drafted this legislation. But they’re not doing it.   Fine, let the studies prove that thimerosal does not cause autism.  But in the meantime, until it is proven, let’s be safe and take it out.  We need control over pharmaceutical companies; it’s a monetary issue.  I wasn’t so passionate about this issue until I heard what the AAP doctors had to say.  Pharma wants the vaccine to last longer. And will it really take a whole new manufacturing system to create a vaccine without thimerosal?

Just eliminate the thimerosal! They can do that tomorrow.”

Unbeknownst to the supporters of the legislation, they had all but Conaway on their side. And unbeknownst to the supporters, Conaway held the vote.

***

The second hearing on the legislation again was scheduled with only a day’s notice for May 11, 2006.  Chairman Conaway did not let parents speak.  He allowed for a vote for this time and the legislation passed.

This meant that it would go before the full Assembly to be heard.   It also meant that it could possibly also be heard by the Senate Health Committee.  

The legislation never made it for vote in full Assembly.

Thanks to Chairman Conaway and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, a backdoor deal silenced the legislation. On June 21, 2007, the eve of the budget vote, Conaway whispered his deal to Roberts:  if the thimerosal legislation goes for a vote, Conaway wouldn’t vote to pass the budget.

Roberts didn’t put the thimerosal legislation up for a vote.  It was the only piece of legislation that didn’t come up for a vote that night. 

Speaker Roberts confessed to parent activist Geoff Dubrowsky that he had held the bill due to Chairman Conaway.  Roberts promised Dubrowsky that he would bring the bill up for a vote in full Assembly in the fall.  Roberts did not keep his promise.

***

Dirty politics in New Jersey.  Constituents play by the rules.  We help to write the legislation, attend the hearings, rally supporters to write in to their legislators.  But behind the scenes, dirty politicians play games.  The bill was not heard because Big Pharma doesn’t like it.  Fast forward to 2009.  Mercury is still in our flu shots in large amounts. And now, the flu shot is mandated for children up to age five.  Children receive two flu shots in the first year and then one shot annually.

Over ninety percent of flu shots given in New Jersey contain thimerosal. Adult flu vaccines contain 25 micrograms of mercury.   Pediatric flu vaccines contain12.5 micrograms of mercury.  When doctors run out of the pediatric doses, there is no law preventing the administration of adult flu vaccines to children. 

***

A few interesting points on other NJ legislation:

* Assemblyman Conaway is the primary sponsor on a bill (A3485) that prohibits the sale of mercury batteries and consumer products that use mercury batteries. So it’s ok to inject mercury into infants, but not ok to sell mercury batteries or dispose of them as solid waste?!

* Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt has since introduced a similar legislation (A2318) that prohibits vaccinating children under three and pregnant women with vaccines containing mercury above a certain level. The wording of the legislation was based on the already-passed California bill. A2318 has not moved either.

* Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle has since introduced a similar legislation (A3595) that requires parents of children receiving influenza vaccinations to be informed of thimerosal-free alternatives. A3595 has not moved either.

***

Action Items

Come November 2009, Assemblyman Conaway is up for reelection. Let’s show him that we don’t support dirty politics in NJ by voting him out!
 

1) If you’re in NJ District 7, vote him out! Leah Arter and Harry Adams are both new candidates that are running in this district. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue – it is time to move Herb the Roadblock out of office!

District 7 - Beverly City, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Cinnaminson Township, Delanco Township, Delran Township, Edgewater Park Township, Florence Township, Maple Shade Township, Merchantville Borough, Mount Holly Township, Palmyra Borough, Pennsauken Township, Riverside Township, Riverton Borough, Westampton Township, Willingboro Township

2) If you know someone in NJ District 7, call/email them to vote Assemblyman Conaway out!

3) If you live in New Jersey, write your Assembly members and Senator and ask them to sponsor or co-sponsor bill A1055/S359. The easiest way to do this is go to www.congress.org , enter in your zip code, then choose to write your ‘State’ officials – you can write to both your Assembly members and to your Senator all at once.
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

 

Comments

[Julie Swenson]

Chris, You just got pwned, punk.

BTW, feel free to drink a cup of mercury. Go on...we'll happily watch. Moron.

[Chris is from J&J]

Chris, how dare you come into a site full of parents of severely autistic kids and call us morons. YOU my friend, are commenting from the Johnson and Johnson server in New Jersey. Now, you might sell baby shampoo, shall I call my friend Anthony C and ask him? Or you might work for a pharma division. Either way, you will not come in here and sucker punch my readers. Consider yourself knocked out of AoA.

Kim (floating like a butterfly) Stagliano

[Chris]

You're all morons. Thimerosal is not worth worrying about.

[Ray Salomone]

New Jersey's vaccine laws are so draconian because of one simple reason. Many major pharmaceutical firms have their headquarters in NJ. Big business owns politicians. End of story.

BTW- I heard through the Park Avenue grapevine that the CEO of Novartis travels with armed security. What's he so worried about?

Ray Salomone
Greco Roman Wellness

Eat fresh whole foods
Exercise Intensely
Move like you mean it!

[Chun Wong]

What a brilliant post, very thorough. Although I don't live in NJ, I can understand how this matter must be incredibly frustrating for those who live there and who are worried about mercury in vaccines. Mercury is a well-known neurotoxin and it just shouldn't be in medicines and vaccines that are given to children and pregnant women.

[Kevin Barry]

As Twyla Ramos discovered, no one is monitoring how much Thimerosal is in vaccines. http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/04/more-emails-fro.html

[Kathy Blanco]

SMD

I think there has been enviromental violations from vaccine plants...think about it, they have to dump some product sometimes? Just wondering out loud...

[SMD]

I don't live in NJ but I did until I was 21. Something has always bothered me about that mandatory flu shot law that was passed a few years ago. I wondered why would NJ, a state with the highest Autism rate in the country, pass such a draconian law...and as far as I know they were the only state to have done so? After all, there was no epidemic of NJ kids dying from the flu to warrant a mandatory annual flu shot.

I got curious and started looking up where the headquarters for the major vaccine companies are located and lo and behold: wouldn't you know two are in NJ and one is across the river in NY. Now, none of these vaccines companies located there actually make the flu shot. Yet, I started thinking about how in industry and the corporate world one company will often own a significant percentage of stock in a rival company: for example it is either Mazda or Toyota, I forget which, that owns 30% of Ford.

So, that got me wondering if vaccine companies own significant percentages of each other's stock? If so, it would be interesting to look at campaign contributions to the NJ state legistlature the year that law was passed.

[MadDad's wife]

In the name of the saving the pharmaceutical industry money, she isn't just killing or maiming America's children, but taking out her own mother by shooting her up with mercury and aluminum! No kidding she has Alzheimers!
THIS is the face of the AAP? THIS group we trust our babies to? (or used to).
God help us all.

[Anne Dachel]

I'm having a hard time getting beyond the comment about Dr. Meg Fisher of the AAP:

Fisher (after stating she gives her mother the flu shot): “My mother has Alzheimer’s.”

Here's the video of Dr. Boyd Haley on Mercury Autism and Alzheimer's
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=7383821

Anne Dachel
Media editor

[jruch]

This NJ group is very impressive. Thanks for posting this.

According to the CDC price list:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/cdc-vac-price-list.htm

offering the single dose preservative free version of Fluvirin only adds $0.75 to the price (not the cost). Now, think of the crap that people spend money on when getting ready for a child. For less than the cost of a small fries at McDonalds, you can ensure that 25 micrograms of mercury stays away from a fetus.

Dsitrict 7 does not strike me as the heart of pharmaceuticals in NJ, so I'm a little puzzled by this. I guess the money follows seniority.

[Teresa Conrick]

I hope these rude and ignorant people are ousted pronto. Hell, I wish I lived In NJ just so I could go vote this jerk, Conaway, out!!!

Things are not perfect with IL regarding mercury free but the Bill did pass 4 years ago. The trick done here was put an exemption on it:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/MercuryExempt/Thimerosal_exemption_announcement122805final.pdf

-- December 28, 2005 --"the Illinois Department of Public Health has determined
that insufficient amounts of preservative-free Influenza vaccine are available
to protect the health of Illinois residents, and will issue an exemption for the
influenza vaccine."

This has been done yearly so the Law in many respects is not being adhered to the way it was meant.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/shots.htm

So unscrupulous people--yep, they're here too, and loopholes, won the day while safety and science are scoffed at.

But....stay tuned as Goliath does eventually fall.

[Kathy Blanco]

I'm with Maggie, this wicked soup is for a cauldren of witches and devil worshipers. What's next? Ban Aluminum (should be), and MSG (should be), and so on? For me, the evil neurotoxin is the whole vaccine. Why perpetuate their business any more, they had their chance to do the right thing? Now, let's do our part, and just cease vaccinating our kids. You would be surprised how healthy they would be, and how normal?

[Jack]

Dr. Fisher: It has driven the cost up – singles dose has to have a little more vaccine in each bottle. We are looking at more unimmunized children. We had a vaccine supply problem for the last 10 years. It will inhibit our ability to mass-produce vaccines when and if we need them, even with the exemption this law provides. Why do we want to handcuff vaccine manufacturers?

This quote highlights the bizarreness of the FDA.

Let me explain why single dose vials use more material (thereby taking longer to manufacturer-more batches- and costing more money to make). You can't get every drop out of the vial and into the syringe. So, if you need a 0.5 ml dose you need to put 0.55 ml in the vial. And if 0.55 ml is your low limit you might want to put 0.57 ml in the vial (depending on the accuracy of your filling system) because you might get some variability and you don't want a lot of underfill rejects. So, 0.07 ml or 14% of your fill is essentially waste. In a ten-dose vial of 5 ml you still only need 0.05 or 0.07 ml extra, so your waste is now 1.4% instead of 14%. So, instead of 10 batches to make your whole supply maybe you need 11. It is about money, and of course the cost of the vial. Now you ten vials instead of one and they each have a cost.

Here's the part that kills me. A significant amount of vials are needed for all sorts of safety testing and long-term stability testing by the FDA (and then retains for those tests in case the test gets messed up). Some these are of little value. And in many cases because a set number of vials would be required to do the testing using 5 ml vials costs you much more sample-wise, so there is some real loss there that off-sets the benefit. Anyway, many of these tests have no real value in assuring you are safe and the product is good. But if pharma suggested FDA lower their standards for testing (you know so they could make more product and save the kids from shortages like Dr. Fisher wants) the whole world would be in an uproar.

So, they save money not by reducing unnecessary testing or by making the process smarter, but by putting a known neurotoxin in a 10 dose vial. Crazy.

[Maggie]

THIS is why no one should EVER take a vaccine. Too many dirty politicians and doctors. Thank you NJ Coalition for Vaccination Choice for going up against such evil.

[Tim Kasemodel]

In Minnesota we did not even attempt to try passing a bill this legislative session. Too much politics, too much fiscal problems and I am too damn tired - My son comes first this year.

In Minnesota the longest tenured and most respected leaders of the DFL party (in control now) are from districts that contain all the large hospital centers - Duluth, Rochester (Mayo Clinic) and downtown Minneapolis. These Representatives and Senators hold the Chair positions in the Health policy and Finance committees and have been bought and paid for by the AAP and Pharma. There are however a growing number of rising stars on both sides of the aisle that believe in what we are talking about.

Watch these short videos and you will see the incompetence of the MDH and medical community (the idiot doctor will amaze you!) shows through and many brave Representatives on the committee see right through them. In the end, it came down to politics.

You will like this.

Ensuring Mercury-Free Vaccines Hearing in MN Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dYfbi9SlMY

Ensuring Mercury-Free Vaccines Hearing in MN Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqO_PulbKgw&feature=related

[bad apple]

There are a slew of politicians, media talking heads, health officials in high positions of authority, and leaders in the autism support group communities who are disseminating the misinformation that there is no longer thimerosal in vaccines; there is even one I know of who has recently become highly regarded in the biomedical community. I no longer believe that some of them are unaware of their error, as I’ve taken the time to personally notify some of them.

Perhaps some feel that this is some kind of concession that must be made—this failure to acknowledge that children are still being exposed to poisons via vaccines, perhaps cummulatively in levels as high as ever. Refusal to acknowledge this fact does have the convenient, for some, result of allowing those responsible to deny responsibility. Perhaps some people think that the important thing is that we move forward with helping those children severely affected by autism, and that such a concession is worth it if it means we move forward to help those severely affected even if it means that more children will be harmed who wouldn’t otherwise have to have been harmed.

Thimerosal is STILL present in the same old toxic concentrations (twenty five micro grams per dose) in flu vaccines which in recent years are being advised for pregnant women and children. Don’t take my word for it, visit the FDA’s website here

http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm#t1

then scroll down to table one, and you’ll see this under the influenza vaccine section of the table. (Fluzone and Fluviron)

Not to mention the old people who are, more and more, suffering from dementia. I don’t believe that they, or the children who might be lost to autism because of a flu shot they might receive next fall, are an acceptable concession to moving forward with acknowledging that vaccines could have caused harm in some people. It’s not okay, in my opinion, to merely keep on saying “oh, but the thimerosal’s been removed!” or “oh, but it’s been mostly removed!”

Perhaps I am too jaded. But I can think of no reason why there seem to be people who otherwise support our efforts who nonetheless seem to want to perpetuate this dangerous misinformation.

I would think that we’ve had enough of ugly back room deals by now.

[htbenz]

The same situation is also playing out in Rhode Island ... almost the exact same script ... 1 days notice before a hearing... the AAP, CDC and health dept come out in droves to be opposed by possibly 2 or 3 parents ... the chairman stares lovingly when the Big Pharmas have the microphone ... but pouts, sulks and rushes the parents when it is there turn. He has also held the bill for 4 going on 5 years...

[Sick_of_this]

>> * By the third year, only mercury-free vaccines could be administered in the state of New Jersey. <<

When toys are found to contain lead, there is no delay, total recall is applied and presto...
This debate is total nonsense. Why isn't the community crying shame and outrage ? Playing kind with these ''silent war'' criminals is not going to cure the world of such madness and get ride of toxins anywhere else. Its time to be radically green! A neurotoxin is a neurotin damn it! What's wrong with reality as far as vaccines are concerned ? Why are these scumbags get away with poisoning children and women??
Do you seriously think a vitamin or herbal formula would be allowed to contain the same amounts of Hg found in vaccines... Sure not! So what the Hell is going on with these people ? Plain and clear: Evil, get it Fisher ?!
Count the days before you are sent to jail with a bus load of fellow ugly liars. Get real and stop being so naive about these human butchers. Stop smiling at them and give them room to breath. They do not deserve such a smooth treatment. No wonder why autism is riding so wildly... Shame. Pure shame.

[karenatlanta]

I can't get past the first paragraph here.
It's making me never want to see a pediatrician again in my life. The people we trusted with our babies, utter morons!
Any bum on the street can look at the Material Data on Thimerosal and see that it's toxic to organs, developing babies and the CNS and deem this unfit for children.
It's in the manufacturer's warnings.
Crazy, greedy, medical elite this woman is.
It is beyond belief.

[kathleen]

Fisher: “My point is it’s [removing thimerosal] a done deal. This legislation is perpetuating false ideas about vaccines, like it’s some evil neurotoxin.”

Oaky, maybe it's not an "evil" neurotoxin...it's just a simple neurotoxin. Is that better?

[Gayle]

As always, Louise (et al), you amaze me! It is time to clean house.