TO:  Families whose loved ones have had hepatitis B vaccine reactions
>And NVIC members
>FROM:  Barbara Loe Fisher, President NVIC
>RE:   U.S. Congressional Hearing on Hepatitis B Vaccine And NVIC Press
>Conference on Tuesday, May 18, 1999
>
>DATE: May 10, 1999
>
>Today, it was confirmed that the Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human
>Resources subcommittee of the House Committee on Government Reform will
>hold a hearing on Hepatitis B Vaccine on Tuesday, May 18, 1999 at 10
>a.m. in room 2247RHOB (Rayburn House Office Building), S. Capitol St. &
>Independence Avenue, S.E., in Washington, D.C..
>
>Congressman John Mica (R-FL), Chairman of the subcommittee, has called
>the hearing to investigate the reports of adults, children and babies
>suffering immune and neurological injuries and death following receipt
>of hepatitis B vaccine. The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC)
>is working with the subcommittee to provide hepatitis B vaccine victims
>with a forum. Currently one adult and two parents of children who were
>injured or died after hepatitis B vaccination are scheduled to speak on
>the first panel. There will be several other panels, which will include
>Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
>officials, physician organization spokespersons, and expert
>physician/scientist witnesses (both those medical experts critical of
>the vaccine, such as Bonnie Dunbar, Ph.D., and those promoting the
>vaccine).
>
>NVIC hopes to persuade Congress to (1) conduct a full investigation into
>the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, how it was licensed by the FDA and
>how it was recommended by the CDC for universal use, particularly in
>children and newborn infants; (2) obtain special funds from Congress
>earmarked for independent researchers (non-industry, non-government
>agency) to investigate the biological mechanisms involved in hepatitis B
>vaccine injury and death with the goal of identifying predisposing
>biological markers which could be used as pre-screening techniques as
>well as point the way to development of therapies to repair the immune
>and neurological damage; (3) call for national informed consent
>protections within vaccination laws.
>
>NVIC will also hold a national press conference on the same day;
>Tuesday, May 18 after the hearing is over. The press conference will
>take place either in front of the Capitol Building or in a room in the
>Capitol. We need as many hepatitis B vaccine victims to come to the
>hearing and press conference as possible to show Congress and the nation
>that this is a big problem.  We expect to have national coverage of this
>hearing and our press conference. You can tell your story of what
>happened to you or your child at the press conference, as only three
>people will be allowed to tell their stories at the hearing itself.
>
>I know it is very difficult for many of you to come because you or your
>children are very sick but if you can make it, please come. If you can't
>be here, please write testimony to be included in the congressional
>record of this hearing. Write a letter addressed to the committee
>describing what happened to you and what you would like to see done.
>Send your testimony to Kathi Williams, NVIC, 512 W. Maple Ave., Suite
>206, Vienna, VA 22180 and we will hand deliver it to the committee. Mark
>the outside of the envelope Hepatitis B Vaccine Testimony.
>
>If you have an e-mail address, please forward it to NVIC as soon as
>possible so we can communicate with you one-on-one in the quickest way
>possible. Send your e-mail to spsweeney@mindspring.com
>
>If you decide to come to Washington, D.C. next week and decide to fly
>in, it is less expensive and convenient to fly into Baltimore-Washington
>Airport, take the commuter train (Am-Trak) from BWI to Union Station on
>Capitol Hill and then take a taxi to the Rayburn House Office Building
>(about 10 blocks away).  Flying into National Airport is the easiest
>way, because that airport is only 10 minutes from Capitol Hill by taxi
>or
>metrorail (subway).  If you would like us to book you into a hotel or
>help you with travel arrangements, please call Kathi Williams at
>703-938-3783.
>
>We are sorry this is such short notice, but the hearing was just
>confirmed today as taking place.  Please call us at 703-938-3783 and let
>us know if you are coming to the hearing. Our telephone lines are
>overwhelmed, so if you get a voicemail it is because we are using all
>six of our lines. Leave a message and we get back in touch with you.
>
>We are very pleased that Congress is beginning to take notice. There are
>many people suffering from the effects of the hepatitis B vaccine. This
>is a first step toward finding the answers we need.
>
>TO NVIC MEMBERS: Even if you or a family member has not suffered from
>the Hep B vaccine we still need you at the hearing and the press
>conference to show your support for this committee's action. We need to
>demonstrate that a lot of parents are concerned about the problems with
>the mass vaccination system and hepatitis B vaccine in particular.
>Please e-mail or call if you can attend.