Federal Government Admits Child's Autism is Linked to Vaccinations
Weldon's Vaccine Safety Legislation Eliminates Conflicts of Interest,
Funds Vigorous Safety Office

Press Release from Congressman Dave Weldon
Contact: Jeremy Steffens (202) 225-3671 jeremy.steffens@...
March 6, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a press conference earlier today, in federal
court the Federal Government admitted to Dr. Jon and Terry Poling that
their child's autism was directly related to the five vaccines their
daughter received at 20 months of age. Yet, the federal government
lacks a vigorous and independent vaccine safety program to investigate
this issue further and to discern which other children may be at risk.

"Sadly, the federal government is ill-prepared to address the serious
issues raised by this admission," said US Congressman Dave Weldon, a
physician.

"As vaccine safety concerns have grown over the past decade, CDC's
response has been to bury their head in the sand hoping the problem
would go away. After today's admission, the CDC responded by digging
deeper."

"They sent their vaccine promotion officer - rather than their vaccine
safety officer - out to reassure the public that 'large studies don't
support a relationship between vaccines and autism.' It's past time
for the Federal government to replace their statistics books and
calculators with microscopes and research so that we can understand
the biological mechanisms that are taking place. We need to be able to
develop safer vaccines and screen for children who are at risk."

"I am a strong supporter of childhood immunizations, but it is
critically important that our immunization program have a vigorous,
independent and well-funded safety program," added Weldon.

"The CDC is the principle federal agency charged with vaccine safety
research, but they are seriously conflicted. Their top priority is
maintaining high immunization rates, while vaccine safety ranks near
the bottom both in priorities and funding. "

Reps. Dave Weldon, M.D. and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced the
Vaccine Safety and Public Confidence Assurance Act of 2007 (H.R. 1973)
to establish an independent office to address, investigate, and head
off potential vaccine safety problems in an objective and
nonconflicted office whose sole purpose is vaccine safety and
evaluation. The bill funds the program at $80 million.

"The public has begun to question whether our government is doing all
it can to ensure vaccine safety-and they are absolutely right to do
so," said Congresswoman Maloney.

"When we in government require children to be vaccinated, we must make
every possible effort to ensure that vaccines are safe."