New York bans mercury in vaccines

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New York bans mercury in vaccines

June 27, 2005

http://www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/news/news-ng.asp?id=60916-new-york-bans

 

27/06/2005 - In the US, the New York Senate last week

passed that would prohibit the administration of any

vaccine containing more than a trace amount of mercury

to children under the age of three or pregnant women.

 

Thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines that

contains 50 per cent ethyl mercury, has been used in

vaccines for years as a preservative to help prevent

life-threatening bacterial contamination. However,

vaccine manufacturing technology has advanced in

recent years, and it is no longer necessary to add

preservatives containing mercury to vaccines,

according to the bill’s sponsor, Sen Dean Skelos.

 

" Childhood vaccinations have had a significant and

measurable public health benefit, " said Sen Skelos.

" But with scientific uncertainty regarding the safety

of the mercury-based preservative thimerosal to

children, readily available alternatives and a

consensus between the major federal health agencies

that thimerosal use should be reduced or eliminated,

we must err on the side of caution and end its use in

New York State.

 

The bill has now been passed on to Governor George

Pataki for signature.

 

Two other US states, California and Iowa, have already

enacted legislation banning the use of more than a

trace amount of thimerosal in vaccines. Similar

legislation is pending in the states of Delaware,

Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri,

Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,

Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah and Washington.

 

Vaccine manufacturers say that as of 2000, vaccines

recommended for use in children and infants have all

been available in versions that contain no

(‘thiomersal-free’) or only trace amounts (‘thiomersal

preservative-free’) of the compound, with the

exception of some multidose vials intended for use in

the developing world. This is because where several

doses are taken from the same container, thiomersal

offers better protection from contamination than other

preservatives such as 2-phenoxy ethanol, according to

the World Health Organisation.