4 Ore. Families Sue 12 Drug Cos.
By JASON GEORGE
.c The Associated Press
BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) - Four Oregon families who say their children were
harmed by mercury contained in vaccines filed a lawsuit Wednesday against 12
companies that make drugs or distribution them.
``Something terrible happened to my son,'' said Tory Mead, whose son has
autistic symptoms the family attributes to mercury in a vaccine. The lawsuit
was announced at the Mead home.
The suit contends that four children - one from each of the families -
developed neurological problems as a result of thimerosal, a preservative
containing mercury used in multi-dose vials since the 1930s.
The families claim that a shortened immunization schedule in the 1990s gave
their children toxic levels of mercury.
The complaint, filed in Multnomah County Court, contends 6 million children
throughout the United States received potentially toxic levels of mercury.
Five of the companies named in the lawsuit - Pfizer, Inc., Abbott
Laboratories, Integra Biosciences, Merck and Company and Baxter International
Inc. - said they could not comment on pending litigation.
Mariann Caprino, a spokeswoman for Pfizer, also said that company does not
make or distribute vaccinations.
Thimerosal is used as an extra safeguard against contamination. Drug
companies have been phasing out the preservative because of concerns about
mercury risks to some children.
AP-NY-07-11-01 1900EDT
Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news
report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed
without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active
hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
4 Ore. Families Sue 12 Drug Cos.
By JASON GEORGE
.c The Associated Press
BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) - Four Oregon families who say their children were
harmed by mercury contained in vaccines filed a lawsuit Wednesday against 12
companies that make drugs or distribution them.
``Something terrible happened to my son,'' said Tory Mead, whose son has
autistic symptoms the family attributes to mercury in a vaccine. The lawsuit
was announced at the Mead home.
The suit contends that four children - one from each of the families -
developed neurological problems as a result of thimerosal, a preservative
containing mercury used in multi-dose vials since the 1930s.
The families claim that a shortened immunization schedule in the 1990s gave
their children toxic levels of mercury.
The complaint, filed in Multnomah County Court, contends 6 million children
throughout the United States received potentially toxic levels of mercury.
Five of the companies named in the lawsuit - Pfizer, Inc., Abbott
Laboratories, Integra Biosciences, Merck and Company and Baxter International
Inc. - said they could not comment on pending litigation.
Mariann Caprino, a spokeswoman for Pfizer, also said that company does not
make or distribute vaccinations.
Thimerosal is used as an extra safeguard against contamination. Drug
companies have been phasing out the preservative because of concerns about
mercury risks to some children.
AP-NY-07-11-01 1900EDT
Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news
report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed
without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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