From the December 2005 Idaho Observer:

Flu vaccine and pregnancy

SANTA FE—On Dec 6,2005, Dr. Ken Stoller, Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine and Santa Fe pediatrician, attended a session of Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish’s Children’s Cabinet. There he spoke with the New Mexico Health Secretary, Michelle Grisham. Grisham accused Stoller of distortions regarding his efforts to have vaccines containing thimerosal eliminated in New Mexico.

In speaking on the lack of effectiveness of the flu vaccine, Dr. Stoller found little justification for exposing New Mexico residents to levels of toxic mercury far in excess of EPA safety limits. A person would need to weigh 275 pounds by the EPA’s own standards to be able to eliminate the 12.5 mcg of mercury found in the children’s flu vaccine for this year. Another 12.5 mcg booster is recommended one month later. Pregnant women are given the adult flu vaccine with 25 mcg of mercury despite no studies showing the vaccine is effective or safe for pregnant women. The EPA tells us that a person would have to weigh 550 pounds to safely process that much mercury.

This mercury easily passes the placental barrier and enters the baby. With the blatant lack of federal oversight in this matter, six states have passed and signed into law bans on the use of mercury in vaccines for children. New Mexico should have equal concern for the weakest and most vulnerable of its residents. By anyone’s standards, it is unconscionable to inject a known neurotoxin into little babies, toddlers, and pregnant women.

Dr. Stoller warned that a single dose of a thimerosal-containing flu vaccine exceeds the EPA’s definition of liquid hazardous waste by 250 times, and if it were dropped on the floor of the meeting, it would require the Santa Fe FD Hazmat team to evacuate the building until the toxic spill was contained.

Grisham told Stoller she did not agree with the way he was characterizing the mercury in the flu vaccine. Stoller pointed out that the potential systemic and neurotoxic effects of thimerosal can easily be found in the Manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). For example, the Eli Lilly MSDS states: 1) exposure in-utero can cause mild to severe mental retardation and motor coordination impairment; 2) is known to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm (thimerosal will cause spontaneous abortions).

A pediatrician representing the Department of Health told Dr. Stoller that mercury is tolerated in flu vaccine for pregnant women because the benefits outnumber the risks. Stoller pointed out however, using the CDC’s own morbidity and mortality statistics, the number of documented flu deaths each year in the U.S. are far below 100 people, not the 36,000 people per year the CDC tells the media and public. Stoller said the reality of the true flu risk, and the horrible truth about the toxicity of mercury in vaccines and its link to the epidemic of neurodevelopmental disorders is the real distortion brought on by an unholy alliance between the federal health agencies and the pharmaceutical industry.

Grisham said no one is complaining to her about mercury in flu vaccine. Dr. Stoller told her that was the point - the public doesn’t even know mercury is in the vaccine.

Dr. Stoller concluded, "Pregnancy has traditionally been a time when doctors are highly protective of their patients with regard to exposure of the fetus to drugs. In the case of the influenza vaccine, it seems that caution has been carelessly discarded."

~Courtesy of Anne McElroy Dachel, Chippewa Falls, WI. For more information, go to www.nationalautismassociation.org or www.safeminds.org