Trace Amounts

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Trace Amounts: Autism, Mercury, and the Hidden Truth is a 2014 anti-vaccination biographic film by Eric Gladen, who claims to have experienced mercury poisoning after receiving a tetanus vaccine. In the film, he presents his investigation on the cause of his condition, argues that vaccines should be made without mercury, and claims that mercury and aluminium content of vaccines is linked to autism, a claim that is contrary to the scientific consensus. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The film questions a 2011 journal article which described the vaccine-autism connection as "the most damaging medical hoax of the last 100 years". [1] [6] [7]

The film has been promoted by celebrities including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. [8] [9] It was marketed through targeted "boutique screenings" to celebrities known to be sympathetic to the anti-vaccination cause, including Jim Carrey, Ed Begley, Jr., and Bob Sears, [10] and is credited with inspiring Carrey's "Twitter meltdown" following passage of California Senate Bill 277, which removed personal belief exemptions from vaccination requirements. [5] [11] It has also been used by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his lobbying efforts targeting Oregon lawmakers who could influence Oregon Senate Bill 442, which sought to remove personal belief exemptions from vaccination requirements, but was subsequently withdrawn. [12] [13]

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References

  1. 1 2 Flaherty, DK (October 2011). "The Vaccine-autism Connection: A Public Health Crisis Caused by Unethical Medical Practices and Fraudulent Science". Ann Pharmacother. 45 (10): 1302–1304. doi:10.1345/aph.1Q318. PMID   21917556. S2CID   39479569.
  2. ↑ "Thimerosal and Vaccines". CDC. 25 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Review of Trace Amounts". Skeptical Raptor. 15 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "Facts about vaccines". Washington Post.
  5. 1 2 "Jim Carrey calls Calif. governor 'corporate fascist' in vaccine law rant". Boston Globe. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  6. ↑ Immunization Safety Review Committee, Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Institute of Medicine (2004). Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. ISBN   0-309-09237-X.
  7. ↑ Doja A, Roberts W (2006). "Immunizations and autism: a review of the literature". Can J Neurol Sci. 33 (4): 341–346. doi: 10.1017/s031716710000528x . PMID   17168158.
  8. ↑ "The Robert Kennedy Jr. Anti-Vaccine Tour". Collide-a-Scape. Discover Magazine. April 13, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Panel sides with science, passes vaccine measure". Sacramento Bee. April 8, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  10. ↑ "The anti-vaccine crowd gets its Hollywood moment at premiere". LA Times. February 5, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Secret Anti-Vaxxer Film Campaign Targeted Jim Carrey, Other Wealthy Celebs". Hollywood Reporter. February 2, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Oregon lawmakers: Reject vaccine bill". Statesman Journal. March 6, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Oregon senator to propose new school vaccine policy". Statesman Journal. March 12, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
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