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Vaccine Compound Is Harmless, Study Says, as Autism Debate Rages
NY Times ^ | September 27, 2007 | GARDINER HARRIS

Posted on 09/26/2007 11:59:25 PM PDT by neverdem

Yet another study has found that a controversial vaccine preservative appears to be harmless. But the study is unlikely to end the increasingly charged debate about vaccine safety.

The study examined whether thimerosal — a mercury-containing vaccine preservative that was almost entirely eliminated from childhood vaccines by 2002 — is associated with neurological or certain psychological problems in children ages 7 to 10.

Some parents’ groups and prominent legislators contend that thimerosal has caused an epidemic of childhood autism. Several studies have examined this question and found no evidence that thimerosal is associated with autism.

The most recent study did not assess thimerosal’s association with autism directly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is conducting a separate autism and thimerosal study that is expected to be published next year.

In this study, published yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from the C.D.C. and several managed-care organizations subjected 1,047 children to 42 neurological and psychological exams, which included I.Q. tests, how well children recalled a list of names and whether they could repeat the names backward, their manual dexterity, and whether they stuttered or had tics.

The researchers also took detailed medical histories to determine whether the subjects’ mothers were exposed to thimerosal while pregnant, and how much thimerosal the children were exposed to in their first seven months of life.

After subjecting the data to nearly 400 different statistical measures, researchers found 19 different possible associations between thimerosal and various mental outcomes — most of which suggested that thimerosal was actually beneficial.

Researchers largely dismissed these associations as statistical flukes.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: autism; health; immunization; medicine; vaccination
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1 posted on 09/26/2007 11:59:29 PM PDT by neverdem
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To: neverdem

I just watched a great video presentation by a medical doctor on autism and mercury link.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6890106663412840646

In one part the presenter noted that if the pediatritian dropped the vaccine on the floor and the vial broke.. the liquid on the floor would be considered toxic waste by the EPA. Yet we are injecting infants with multiple doses of this. Which is insane/idiotic.

I highly recommend freepers watch at least the first 30 mins of the video.


2 posted on 09/27/2007 12:06:45 AM PDT by ran20
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To: neverdem

What is the vaccine actually vaccinating against?


3 posted on 09/27/2007 12:16:54 AM PDT by Vanders9
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To: neverdem

Somebody needs to bring suit against Edwards


4 posted on 09/27/2007 12:23:10 AM PDT by Greenpees (Coulda Shoulda Woulda)
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To: ran20

Actually methylmercury is the dangerous substance. Thimerosal contains ethylmercury which is relatively benign.

There is a wealth of misleading information about thimerosal on the internet and elsewhere. I would take it with an enormous grain of salt.


5 posted on 09/27/2007 12:27:26 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: Straight Vermonter

Enormous is quite the understatment


6 posted on 09/27/2007 12:30:30 AM PDT by SShultz460
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To: ran20; Incorrigible; All
In one part the presenter noted that if the pediatritian dropped the vaccine on the floor and the vial broke.. the liquid on the floor would be considered toxic waste by the EPA. Yet we are injecting infants with multiple doses of this. Which is insane/idiotic.

Early Thimerosal Exposure and Neuropsychological Outcomes at 7 to 10 Years

The entire article is a FReebie. I've only read up to the conclusion of the abstract.

ran20, anyone should know that EPA want hazardous substances measured down to zero parts per megagazillion. We are not injecting infants with multiple doses of thimerosal. All pediatric vaccinations now use single unit doses. They have no thimerosal which is only used for the multi-use vials of the seasonal influenza vaccine as a preservative against bacterial contamination. No thanks for your link. Why not read the story?

7 posted on 09/27/2007 12:49:22 AM PDT by neverdem (Call talk radio. We need a Constitutional Amendment for Congressional term limits. Let's Roll!)
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To: neverdem

Yes its been a positive change, for the last few years we’ve stopped injecting with mercury or at least drastically reduced the amount. It will be interesting to see in the coming years as the children enter school if there is the same prevelance of some of the nueropsychological problems.

I also support other parents rights to choose whats best for their children. I made sure to get a mercury free vaccines. Another parent might prefer mercury in the vaccine they give their children. The advantage being it is about half the price. And indeed it may be harmless, with some other yet unknown reason for the spike for the problems.


8 posted on 09/27/2007 12:59:38 AM PDT by ran20
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To: neverdem
Since pure mercury is dangerous I’d be suspect of anything that had it in a compound. (Of course chlorine fits this description too, but it’s harmless when combined with sodium to make table salt)
9 posted on 09/27/2007 1:43:07 AM PDT by Nateman
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To: ran20

>>>it may be harmless, with some other yet unknown reason for the spike for the problems.

About three years ago I read an article that illustrated as the diagnosis of autism rose, there was a corresponding decrease in the more vague diagnosis of “retardation”, “slowness” and similar loose terms commonly used for decades.

I suspect if thimerosal had never been invented the debate would be exactly where it is now, just blaming something else.


10 posted on 09/27/2007 2:17:32 AM PDT by tlb
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To: tlb

You got it.

Many MDs are reluctant to use those terms any longer. Unfortunately this can prevent children from getting the proper care and special ed.


11 posted on 09/27/2007 2:25:38 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: neverdem

Well, now that we have found that China loves to poison us with lead, it would be interesting to correlate the increase in autism with the length of time we have had such cozy relations with our beloved global partner.


12 posted on 09/27/2007 2:49:13 AM PDT by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like what you say))
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To: ran20

You might want to watch this video...

How Mercury Causes Brain Neuron Degeneration

http://commons.ucalgary.ca/mercury/


13 posted on 09/27/2007 4:43:49 AM PDT by dgallo51 (DEMAND IMMEDIATE, OPEN INVESTIGATIONS OF U.S. COMPLICITY IN RWANDAN GENOCIDE!)
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To: Vanders9
What is the vaccine actually vaccinating against?

See comment# 7. Drug companies used thimerosal as a preservative in a number of common childhood vaccines that used to be distributed as multiple dose vials of each vaccine, e.g. 100 doses of MMR or DPT or inactivated polio, etc. MMR means the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and DPT means the combined diptheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine. Now these combined vaccines are only administered as one single dose from a single vial for each kid.

2007 Child & Adolescent Immunization Schedules

14 posted on 09/27/2007 12:44:47 PM PDT by neverdem (Call talk radio. We need a Constitutional Amendment for Congressional term limits. Let's Roll!)
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To: dgallo51

Thanks I’ve seen that demonstration before, quite clear what is happening. Its a very good 21st century biology presentation too.


15 posted on 09/27/2007 6:50:11 PM PDT by ran20
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To: neverdem

One speculation was that in those 100 dose vials the mercury would tend to settle at the bottom. So one person getting an injection early on in the vial’s use would get hardly any exposure. While the last child could get a mega dose.

Another issue is that mercury toxicity depends on what other medications are present in the body, and what other minerals are present in the vaccine and or concentrated in the body. For example Tylenol apparently dramatically increases the toxicity.


16 posted on 09/27/2007 6:55:29 PM PDT by ran20
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To: ran20

The mercury in thimerosol is activated by the radiation from overhead high tension wires, and fed by food that is heated in microwave ovens.


17 posted on 09/27/2007 7:01:33 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: neverdem

Facts won’t matter much to the anti-vaccine tinfoil crowd. They should be here any minute to show us.


18 posted on 09/27/2007 7:16:09 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: Straight Vermonter
I also thought that most pharmacies stopped using a mercury-based preservative and that the only uses of it were where there was still a stock and not enough funds to throw it away and replace it (urban clinics, etc.).
19 posted on 09/27/2007 7:47:09 PM PDT by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (Liberals are blind. They are the dupes of Leftists who know exactly what they're doing.)
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To: ran20
One speculation was that in those 100 dose vials the mercury would tend to settle at the bottom. So one person getting an injection early on in the vial’s use would get hardly any exposure. While the last child could get a mega dose.

That speculation has no basis in physical chemistry. It's solubility in water is 1000 grams per liter.

Another issue is that mercury toxicity depends on what other medications are present in the body, and what other minerals are present in the vaccine and or concentrated in the body. For example Tylenol apparently dramatically increases the toxicity.

Do you have any respectable links on that?

20 posted on 09/27/2007 7:47:54 PM PDT by neverdem (Call talk radio. We need a Constitutional Amendment for Congressional term limits. Let's Roll!)
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