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Remember now, he said, "kinder, gentler, compassionate conservative..."
Justice Dept. Seeks to Seal Vaccine Papers
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 � The Bush administration asked a federal claims court today to seal documents relating to hundreds of claims that a mercury-based preservative in vaccines, thimerosal, has caused autism and other neurological disorders in children. Lawyers for the Justice Department asked for the protective order on behalf of Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, whose department administers a government fund to compensate people injured by vaccines. About 1,000 families have filed claims under the program, asserting that their children suffered mercury poisoning from the vaccines, which until recently included the preservative. The claims are being heard by a special master, George Hastings, in a so-called vaccine court that was created in 1986, when Congress passed the measure setting up the government fund. Lawyers for the families said they were outraged by today's move. They said the government was trying to prevent families from obtaining damaging information about the preservative, which could later be used against drug companies in civil courts.

posted by An Old Curmudgeon 2:33 PM