Difference between revisions of "Thimerosal"
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| − | '''Thimerosal''' is a [[mercury]]-containing preservative that has been used in some [[vaccines]] and other products since the 1930's. "Thimerosal consists of 49.6% ethyl mercury, an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal that allows manufacturers to sell the vaccine in large, multi-dose containers without fear of contamination."<ref>http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=685311</ref> Mercury has long been known to be highly toxic. | + | '''Thimerosal''' is a [[mercury]]-containing preservative that has been used in some [[vaccines]] and other products since the 1930's. "Thimerosal consists of 49.6% ethyl mercury, an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal that allows manufacturers to sell the vaccine in large, multi-dose containers without fear of contamination."<ref>http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=685311</ref> [[Mercury]] has long been known to be highly toxic. |
In July 1999 the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated from vaccines as a precautionary measure. | In July 1999 the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated from vaccines as a precautionary measure. | ||
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Today, the government claims that all routinely recommended childhood vaccines manufactured for the [[United States]] [[market]] contain either no thimerosal or only trace amounts. But physicians continued to use vaccines containing thimerosal long after the recommendation of its elimination, in order to clear the old inventory of pharmaceutical companies.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/glossary.htm#t</ref> | Today, the government claims that all routinely recommended childhood vaccines manufactured for the [[United States]] [[market]] contain either no thimerosal or only trace amounts. But physicians continued to use vaccines containing thimerosal long after the recommendation of its elimination, in order to clear the old inventory of pharmaceutical companies.<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/glossary.htm#t</ref> | ||
| − | About 80% of flu vaccines contain thimerosal as of 2007.<ref>http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=685311</ref> | + | About 80% of flu vaccines contain thimerosal -- 25 micrograms of [[mercury]] -- as of 2007. As reported in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:<ref>http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=685311</ref> |
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| + | :"Using the standards set for methyl mercury consumption - the kind that's in fish - an average 130-pound person getting the flu shot would exceed the daily limit by more than four times. A 22-pound baby would get more than 25 times the amount of mercury considered safe. And doctors are recommending that many babies and children get two flu shots this season." | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 23:43, December 26, 2007
Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative that has been used in some vaccines and other products since the 1930's. "Thimerosal consists of 49.6% ethyl mercury, an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal that allows manufacturers to sell the vaccine in large, multi-dose containers without fear of contamination."[1] Mercury has long been known to be highly toxic.
In July 1999 the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated from vaccines as a precautionary measure.
Today, the government claims that all routinely recommended childhood vaccines manufactured for the United States market contain either no thimerosal or only trace amounts. But physicians continued to use vaccines containing thimerosal long after the recommendation of its elimination, in order to clear the old inventory of pharmaceutical companies.[2]
About 80% of flu vaccines contain thimerosal -- 25 micrograms of mercury -- as of 2007. As reported in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:[3]
- "Using the standards set for methyl mercury consumption - the kind that's in fish - an average 130-pound person getting the flu shot would exceed the daily limit by more than four times. A 22-pound baby would get more than 25 times the amount of mercury considered safe. And doctors are recommending that many babies and children get two flu shots this season."
