Lawmaker spreads anti-vaccine disinformation
As the measles outbreak linked to Disneyland expands, a New Hampshire state lawmaker is promoting discredited, anti-vaccine myths.
Rep. Max Abramson (R-Seabrook), who moved to the Granite State as part of the Free State Project, posted a link to a story on Natural News that claims vaccines contain dangerous levels of mercury, 25,000 times higher than what the EPA allows in drinking water.
“The FDA is saying that there is still mercury in nearly all vaccines,” Abramson wrote on Facebook. “Thimerosal, which is approximately 50% mercury by weight, has been one of the most widely used preservatives in vaccines. … It is in almost every vaccine.”
Actually, the FDA is saying the opposite. In 1999, as a precautionary measure, public health officials urged vaccine manufacturers to reduce or eliminate thimerosal in vaccines. “Thimerosal has been removed from or reduced to trace amounts in all vaccines routinely recommended for children 6 years of age and younger,” an FDA report notes. The one exception is the inactivated influenza vaccine and Thimerosal-free versions of that vaccine are readily available.
Furthermore, Abramson conflates the ethyl mercury in Thimerosal with methyl mercury, the toxic metal that can cause brain damage. “The difference is important,” obstetrician-gynecologist Jennifer Gunter tells USA Today. “Consider the huge difference between ethyl alcohol, which is drinking alcohol found in wine and beer, and methyl alcohol, also called wood alcohol, which can cause blindness.”
One Facebook commenter confronted Abramson over his post. “Thimerosal was phased out for most vaccines in the US and Europe years ago,” he wrote. “Please put the tinfoil hat back on so we can identify you.”