Difference between revisions of "Thimerosal"
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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. It has since been removed from all early childhood vaccines. | 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. It has since been removed from all early childhood vaccines. | ||
| − | Today, the government claims that all routinely recommended childhood vaccines manufactured for the [[United States]] [[market]] contain either no thimerosal or only trace amounts.<ref> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines & Immunizations Glossary, entry for Thimerosal [http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/glossary.htm#t] | + | Today, the government claims that all routinely recommended childhood vaccines manufactured for the [[United States]] [[market]] contain either no thimerosal or only trace amounts.<ref> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines & Immunizations Glossary, entry for Thimerosal [http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/glossary.htm#t]</ref> 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. |
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> | 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> | ||
Revision as of 05:17, February 18, 2009
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Thimerosal is "a mercury-containing preservative that has been used in some vaccines and other products since the 1930's."[1] "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."[2] 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. It has since been removed from all early childhood vaccines.
Today, the government claims that all routinely recommended childhood vaccines manufactured for the United States market contain either no thimerosal or only trace amounts.[3] 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.
About 80% of flu vaccines contain thimerosal -- 25 micrograms of mercury -- as of 2007. As reported in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:[4]
- "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."
"[T]he EPA limits would result in a maximum daily exposure of 0.9 micrograms of mercury for a twenty-pound child."[5]
References
- ↑ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines & Immunizations Glossary, entry for Thimerosal [1] Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative that has been used in some vaccines and other products since the 1930's. There is no evidence that the low concentrations of thimerosal in vaccines have caused any harm other than minor reactions like redness or swelling at the injection site. However, 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, all routinely recommended childhood vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market contain either no thimerosal or only trace amounts.
- ↑ http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=685311
- ↑ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines & Immunizations Glossary, entry for Thimerosal [2]
- ↑ http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=685311
- ↑ http://www.doctorvolpe.com/newsletters/browseUpdates.php?catID=34
