As the saying goes, something smells here. Many pro-thimerosal publications (or at least, not-pro-anti-thimerosal publications) include language that must be read very carefully. This language is similar to the "no added MSG" language we see on some foods. the point is, the language does not say there is no MSG ... just that there is no ADDED MSG.
In our context, that language is typically similar to "... these vaccines contain no thimerosal as a preservative" ... note this does not actually say that there is no thimerosal, only that it is not being used as a preservative.
Well might one ask, "what the heck is it doing in the vaccine then?" I don't have a satisfactory answer, but apparently thimerosal can also be used as part of the manufacturing process. This is often referred to as a "trace" amount of thimerosal.
But one has to ask - since there is no safe amount of thimerosal - why we should ever tolerate even the tiniest amount?
On July 5, 2005, the Food and Drug Administration released a list of vaccines with thimerosal (49.6 percent ethyl mercury). The following vaccines, still contain mercury as part of their manufacturing process or as a preservative.
DtaP - Tripedia, Aventis Pasteur, Inc. Dtap-HepB-IPV - Pediarix, GlaxoSmithKline DT - Aventis Pasteur, Inc DT - Aventis Pasteur, Ltd. Td - Massachusetts Public Health Decavac - Aventis Pasteur, Inc Td - Aventis Pasteur, Inc. Energix - GlaxoSmithKline Hepatitis B - Recombivax HB (adult/adolescent available in preservative-free & thimerosal (mercury) containing vaccines; HepA/HepB - Twinrix - GlaxoSmithKiline Influenza: ALL INJECTED FLU VACCINES Japanese Encephalitis - JE-VAC, Biken Meningococcal - Menomune - Aventis Pasteur, Inc. Amounts range from .5 micrograms to 25 micrograms. Check the CDC's web site for exact amounts. Vaccines with .5 micrograms are usually described as "low dose mercury" vaccines. However, there has never been any safety testing on thimerosal, so no one knows how much mercury is enough to cause harm.
Lead, a less potent neurotoxin than mercury, is considered unsafe at any level.
posted by Ginger Taylor at 5:59 PM on Aug 29, 2005
"Not Just the Flu Vaccine"
1 Comment -
As the saying goes, something smells here. Many pro-thimerosal publications (or at least, not-pro-anti-thimerosal publications) include language that must be read very carefully. This language is similar to the "no added MSG" language we see on some foods. the point is, the language does not say there is no MSG ... just that there is no ADDED MSG.
In our context, that language is typically similar to "... these vaccines contain no thimerosal as a preservative" ... note this does not actually say that there is no thimerosal, only that it is not being used as a preservative.
Well might one ask, "what the heck is it doing in the vaccine then?" I don't have a satisfactory answer, but apparently thimerosal can also be used as part of the manufacturing process. This is often referred to as a "trace" amount of thimerosal.
But one has to ask - since there is no safe amount of thimerosal - why we should ever tolerate even the tiniest amount?
Get rid of thimerosal altogether!
12:30 AM