Media misleads on vaccine suit

Vaccines are a good thing - but what goes into vaccines often isn't.

Today, a special court ruled against parents of autistic children who said that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine caused autism.

Immediately, the media and its collaborators used this as an excuse to lapse into attack mode against anyone who dares to question thimerosal - a mercury-laden vaccine preservative. They claim the ruling is "proof" that thimerosal is safe and that anyone who disagrees is out to sicken children.

I'd hate to rain on the media's parade, but the MMR vaccine never contained thimerosal - so this ruling doesn't suggest thimerosal is safe at all. In fact, the government had already acknowledged the dangers of thimerosal.

To deny thimerosal is dangerous is in the same category as denying climate change. Last year, regulars of right-wing website Free Republic assailed thimerosal critics - but that's to be expected from the same site where regulars also insist climate change is a hoax.

Even adults are urged not to eat tuna from mercury-filled streams. I once had a thermostat that had to be recalled because it contained mercury. If mercury is bad for adults to even be around, how can anyone think it's a good idea to inject babies with a vaccine that contains a mercury-laden ingredient?

To that question, the response from the thimerosal industry's fellow travelers is that scientific literature contradicts thimerosal's critics. They never say how. Somehow I doubt scientific literature urges people to inject mercury into their bloodstreams.

I have no doubt that autism also has additional causes besides thimerosal. That doesn't make thimerosal any safer.

Science took a beating at the hands of media talking heads today.