Don't stop shots; ban thimerosal

To the editor:

In regard to your recent series of articles on autism, you presented both sides of the vaccine debate. However, a recent Speak Out caller contends that our nation is plagued by a terrible myth: "Vaccines are somehow connected with autism." The Southeast Missourian highlighted several studies during the series that both refute and support this hypothesis.

Here's one way to look at the issue. The pediatric dose of the hepatitis B vaccine contained 12.5 micrograms of mercury. A six-ounce can of tuna contains about 17 micrograms. So what's the big deal? Lots of people eat tuna and are not affected. Here's the big deal. The ethylmercury in the vaccine was being injected into the bodies of babies who could not get rid of the mercury properly since the blood-brain barrier, a membrane that prevents harmful substances from reaching the brain, is not fully mature.

Vaccinations are extremely important to the health of our children, and no one can dispute the millions of lives that have been saved. What can be disputed is thimerosal (ethylmercury) as an ingredient in vaccines. Shouldn't our children receive vaccines that are free from a substance that has been shown to attack nerve cells and emotional and mental functioning? (See Dr. Boyd Haley at the University of Kentucky for the results of his studies.) I'm not advocating for parents to stop vaccinations. I'm advocating for parents to educate themselves and push for thimerosal-free vaccines.

SARAH REINECKE

Jackson