Closed CDC Press Conference on Autism & Thimerosal Being Held Today

From the National Autism Association:

Parents ask: why weren't autism groups notified? Why the secrecy? Where is the transparency?

Word has leaked out about a secret CDC press conference being held in Washington DC today, Tuesday, July 18th. The Director of the CDC, Dr. Julie Gerberding, will be speaking. The meeting is closed to only a select, handpicked group of reporters. Although the meeting topic is autism and thimerosal, no autism groups were informed of the press conference, and no autism groups have been invited to attend.

Here is yet another example of CDC's lack of community involvement and lack of transparency. The Power of Truth autism rally in Washington DC is starting tomorrow. Groups who have set up the march believe this CDC press conference is a shameful attempt to head off publicity from the rally that would direct attention to the role of thimerosal and vaccines in autism.

The groups are preparing a statement on the press conference which will be issued later today. The press conference is at 2:00 pm. Below is the announcement from the CDC on the meeting:

Dr. Gerberding, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and representatives from other government agencies will participate in a press conference this afternoon, July 19th, at 2pm. The call will communicate the importance of infants and children receiving their recommended vaccinations on time, and reassure parents that vaccines are safe. The renewed attention to the potential causal link between thimerosal, a vaccine preservative, and autism will also be addressed during the press conference.

Kelly's Comments: If there is nothing to hide, why not invite parents and concerned groups assembling in Washington from all over the country today? Why is this press conference closed? Why go to such lengths to squelch the unified call for investigation into thimerosal's dangers?