A Los Angeles Times article today reports that Merck, a leading manufacturer of prescription drugs, knew the overuse of mercury in their vaccines posed a dangerous health threat to children.
As cited by the article, a 1991 memo issued by Merck said that 6-month-old children who received their shots on schedule would get a mercury dose up to 87 times higher than guidelines for the maximum daily consumption of mercury from fish.
The memo, issued eight years before the FDA acknowledged the overuse of mercury in vaccines, goes on to discuss safety concerns and at one time states that the large use of mercury in their vaccines presents a "perception of hazard."
A number of parent and advocacy groups have been fighting for the removal of mercury in vaccines. Lujene Clark, president of NoMercury.org, has led the fight to ban mercury in vaccines in numerous states. California and Iowa passed bans in 2004.
Just last month, senate bill "S.3" was introduced to prevent such bans. If passed, not only would the bill remove states' rights, it would further protect pharmaceutical companies like Merck from vaccine-related litigation. "Because drug companies like Merck are so easily protected by certain friends on the Hill, they have no incentive to reveal such findings or right the wrong that's been done," says parent Wendy Fournier. "It is astounding that memos like this remain hidden and corporations that are supposed to be the benchmark of safety, end up covering up the dangers."