Autism/Vaccines - clause in the Homeland Security Act

[Guest guest]

Please forgive me in advance for posting this here if

it goes against this group's policy - I do remember

seeing a post about the smallpox vaccine and I hope

I'm correct in thinking I saw it here. I'm a part of

so many groups that I get confused sometimes:)

 

Anyhow, here's an article an acquaintance sent me

after hearing about my cautious stance regarding

vaccinating my future children:

 

Bill shielding drug makers outrages autistic kids' kin

 

 

by Thomas Caywood

Friday, December 13, 2002

 

 

It's hard to tell who Nicole Bernier is more outraged

at: the drug companies she blames for causing her

son's autism or the politicians who shielded them from

lawsuits like hers under the guise of homeland

defense.

 

 

``These companies are going to get away with it,''

Bernier said. ``They've damaged thousands of children,

and the government is aiding them in escaping their

responsibility.''

 

The New Bedford mother is one of hundreds of local

parents of autistic children suing pharmaceutical

giant Eli Lilly and Co. and other drug makers over

their former use of Thimerosal in childhood vaccines.

 

Some medical researchers believe the preservative is

linked to rising rates of autism. A Lilly spokesman,

however, dismissed the alleged connection as mere

speculation.

 

``There's simply no credible scientific link,''

Lilly's Ed Sagebiel said.

 

Until last month, juries around the country would have

decided the matter. But two paragraphs quietly tacked

on to the end of the 475-page Homeland Security Act

passed by Congress in November changed all that.

 

Those two paragraphs, tucked into the bill aimed at

fighting terrorism, shield vaccine makers from

lawsuits seeking billions in damages for the families

of autistic children.

 

The law instead steers thousands of plaintiffs like

Bernier to the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation

Program, which pays out uncapped awards from a fund

replenished annually by the federal government and a

75-cent tax on vaccines.

 

``It's our tax dollars,'' Bernier scoffed.

 

She joined one of the class action lawsuits against

the vaccine makers a year and a half ago after a Rhode

Island law firm contacted her.

 

Her 6-year-old son, Jevyn Neves, didn't show symptoms

of autism until he was 2, which she sees as a sign

that vaccines he got around that time caused her son's

disease.

 

On Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton),

who represents New Bedford, blamed the clause

protecting drug companies on Republicans who pushed

the Homeland Security Act.

 

``At the very least, Congress has to amend the law and

take that out,'' Frank said yesterday.

 

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) blasted the

clause on the floor of the Senate.

 

``This provision has nothing to do with bioterrorism

preparedness or homeland security and everything to do

with rewarding a large contributor to the Republican

Party,'' he charged.

 

Sagebiel, the Lilly spokesman, said his company had

nothing to do with inserting the clause into the

security law.

 

But, he added, the provision simply closes a loophole

that has been exploited by trial lawyers angling for a

big payday.

 

``It's not just bad for us, but it's bad for the

families of autistic children who pin their hopes on

these inappropriate lawsuits,'' he said.

 

Bernier said she was counting on a big jury award or

settlement to ensure her son will always get the best

care possible.

 

Bernier has nothing but scorn for the politicians who

voted for the Homeland Security Act, although she

concedes many probably didn't know about the provision

protecting drug makers.

 

``I'm outraged at them,'' she said. ``If it were their

children, it wouldn't have happened.''

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Erica,

 

Not off topic or off policy at all ;o)

 

Love,

 

Doc

 

PS. Thanks for posting this.

 

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

 

-

erica zbyszewski

herbal remedies

Friday, December 13, 2002 12:33 PM

[herbal remedies] Autism/Vaccines - clause in the Homeland Security Act

Please forgive me in advance for posting this here ifit goes against this group's policy - I do rememberseeing a post about the smallpox vaccine and I hopeI'm correct in thinking I saw it here. I'm a part ofso many groups that I get confused sometimes:)Anyhow, here's an article an acquaintance sent meafter hearing about my cautious stance regardingvaccinating my future children:Bill shielding drug makers outrages autistic kids' kinby Thomas Caywood Friday, December 13, 2002It's hard to tell who Nicole Bernier is more outragedat: the drug companies she blames for causing herson's autism or the politicians who shielded them fromlawsuits like hers under the guise of homelanddefense.``These companies are going to get away with it,''Bernier said. ``They've damaged thousands of children,and the government is aiding them in escaping theirresponsibility.''The New Bedford mother is one of hundreds of localparents of autistic children suing pharmaceuticalgiant Eli Lilly and Co. and other drug makers overtheir former use of Thimerosal in childhood vaccines.Some medical researchers believe the preservative islinked to rising rates of autism. A Lilly spokesman,however, dismissed the alleged connection as merespeculation.``There's simply no credible scientific link,''Lilly's Ed Sagebiel said.Until last month, juries around the country would havedecided the matter. But two paragraphs quietly tackedon to the end of the 475-page Homeland Security Actpassed by Congress in November changed all that.Those two paragraphs, tucked into the bill aimed atfighting terrorism, shield vaccine makers fromlawsuits seeking billions in damages for the familiesof autistic children.The law instead steers thousands of plaintiffs likeBernier to the federal Vaccine Injury CompensationProgram, which pays out uncapped awards from a fundreplenished annually by the federal government and a75-cent tax on vaccines.``It's our tax dollars,'' Bernier scoffed.She joined one of the class action lawsuits againstthe vaccine makers a year and a half ago after a RhodeIsland law firm contacted her.Her 6-year-old son, Jevyn Neves, didn't show symptomsof autism until he was 2, which she sees as a signthat vaccines he got around that time caused her son'sdisease.On Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton),who represents New Bedford, blamed the clauseprotecting drug companies on Republicans who pushedthe Homeland Security Act.``At the very least, Congress has to amend the law andtake that out,'' Frank said yesterday.U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) blasted theclause on the floor of the Senate.``This provision has nothing to do with bioterrorismpreparedness or homeland security and everything to dowith rewarding a large contributor to the RepublicanParty,'' he charged.Sagebiel, the Lilly spokesman, said his company hadnothing to do with inserting the clause into thesecurity law. But, he added, the provision simply closes a loopholethat has been exploited by trial lawyers angling for abig payday.``It's not just bad for us, but it's bad for thefamilies of autistic children who pin their hopes onthese inappropriate lawsuits,'' he said.Bernier said she was counting on a big jury award orsettlement to ensure her son will always get the bestcare possible.Bernier has nothing but scorn for the politicians whovoted for the Homeland Security Act, although sheconcedes many probably didn't know about the provisionprotecting drug makers.``I'm outraged at them,'' she said. ``If it were theirchildren, it wouldn't have happened.''