For Immediate Release:
Contact: Jaillene Hunter, 

(202) 225-3671; (202)-577-5285
February 17, 2005
Jaillene.Hunter@mail.house.gov

Weldon/Maloney Introduce Legislation
Banning Mercury From Vaccines
Legislation Eliminates This Exposure For Children and Pregnant Women 

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Reps. Dave Weldon, M.D. (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) reintroduced H.R. 881 today eliminating mercury from vaccines. Given increasing concerns about mercury exposures and the body's ability to eliminate mercury, this bill will virtually eliminate the mercury exposure from vaccines.

In 1999 the Public Health Service and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended removal of thimerosal from child vaccines. Five years later, thimerosal (50% mercury) remains in childhood vaccines. Last year, the CDC recommended that children receive the flu vaccine without recommending that infants and pregnant women get only the mercury-free dose.

"Our bipartisan legislation is necessary to stop CDC from rolling back the clock when it comes to eliminating this mercury exposure to for infants and pregnant women," said Rep. Weldon, a physician. "Our bill sets in place a law giving vaccine manufacturers and public health officials a realistic but firm timetable for elimination of mercury."

"It's a simple concept: kids shouldn't be given anything that's toxic. The pharmaceutical industry is starting to get the mercury out, but we need to know that it's gone without any doubt," said Maloney.

Mercury is a neurotoxin and is harmful to the developing central nervous system of fetuses and infants. The EPA found that 1-in-6 infants are born with a blood mercury level above the level considered safe by the EPA. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration and the EPA have warned pregnant women and young children to limit their consumption of certain fish in order to reduce mercury exposures.

The Legislation:

• Requires that beginning with the 2006/07 flu season, the flu shots for children under age three and pregnant women may not contain more than 1 microgram (mcg) of mercury;
• Requires that beginning with the 2007/08 flu season, the flu shots for children under age six and pregnant women may not contain more than 1mcg of mercury;
• Requires by July 1, 2006, all other routinely administered childhood vaccines, may not contain more than 1mcg of mercury and on Jan 1, 2009, all pediatric, adolescent and adult vaccines that contain more than 1mcg of mercury are banned;
• Expresses the Sense of the Congress that the CDC should incorporate into its vaccine promotion messages, a recommendation against administering a mercury-containing vaccine to pregnant women.