Action Alert : April 2007

Help Make Vaccines Mercury-Free In Minnesota!

Minnesota HF 1917 and SF 1780 will “set a preference for mercury free vaccines”. Whenever there is a choice between vaccines with or without mercury, providers will administer the mercury free option. If a mercury-free vaccine is not available, a vaccine containing mercury may be given but the patient must be given informed consent.

We need your help to ensure that your legislators vote for this bill!

Minnesota citizens are still at risk of receiving vaccines containing mercury (Thimerosal). The Material Safety Data Sheet for Thimerosal says that “exposure in children may cause mild to severe mental retardation." (Eli Lilly)

Any time is a good time to call your legislators on this issue. Even if session is over, ask them to vote for this next year.

Please call your senator and representative and ask her/him to vote for the safest possible vaccines – those that are mercury-free. Don’t know your legislators? Call 651 296 2146 to find your legislators, or go to http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html

When you call your legislator, you will get either a voice mail message or a legislative assistant will answer. You can give a very simple message (please support the bill to set a preference for mercury-free vaccines) or you can share more information. Here are some main points:

• I am your constituent. (Give your address to identify that you are in their district).
• Please vote for SF 1780 HF 1917, “Setting a Preference for Mercury Free Vaccines”.
• Mercury is toxic and has never been tested for safety in vaccines and should not be used until testing has shown that it is safe.
• Mercury-free vaccines are available – We should stop using ones with mercury.
• Seven states have now passed similar legislation, many more pending.
• Ask what their position is, and let us know at (651) 322-4542
• If you have a personal story to share, do that.

Your phone call is a powerful message to your senator and representative that this is an important issue to you.

If this is the weekend or evening, you can still call now and leave a message on voice mail - it will be counted.

Questions? Call (651) 322-4542 or contact us at mnhlrp@charter.net.

And can you do one more thing? Pass this information on to others who care about removing mercury. Thanks!

Jerri Johnson
Minnesota Natural Health Legal Reform Project
http://www.mnhlrp.org
Telephone: (651) 322-4542