To the editor:

I am concerned by the mixed messages sent by our public health officials. They continue to urge high-risk groups, pregnant women and children over six months of age to receive the flu shot.

The package insert on this year’s flu vaccine lists the thimerosal concentration at 1:10,000. This is equivalent to a concentration of 100,000 parts per billion (ppb). Since this material is 50 percent mercury, this puts the mercury concentration, in the vaccine vial, at 50,000 ppb.

To put this in perspective, liquid waste that exceeds 200 ppb is considered hazardous waste. Drinking water cannot exceed 2 ppb. It’s hard to imagine that injecting pregnant women, the elderly and infants with levels of mercury, 250 times higher than hazardous waste regulations, is safe. Ask the health department what is done with the remaining flu shots since they are considered hazardous waste.

Besides being a cumulative systemic poison, thimerosal is a strong, but dangerous, immune system “activator” with strong autoimmune effects. A recent PowerPoint presentation by the American Academy of Pediatrics at Miami Children Hospital states, “Factors that influence the relative increase in developmental delays and behavioral problems: More use of immunizations and antibiotics.” It is hard to convince those that make a living giving vaccines to look at the research. Please visit nomercury.org for more information on the risk of mercury-containing vaccines.

Kerry Weinmaster,

Lawrence