Will the removal of thimerosal change your ability to get vaccination?

Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Decisions of the Ministry of Health & Humanitarian Services (HHS) to delete thimerosal from the vaccine has caused much fear. One group is the people who wonder if they have taken something dangerous. Another group wondered whether it would affect their child’s access to the vaccine needed.

The first group is expected to make their worries rest. The amount of the Himerosal that you get through non -dangerous vaccination. We have more than 100 years of data to prove this.

Is this decision affecting vaccine access a little more complex. The short answer is not. The longer answer is that there is no reason it should be, and we really hope not.

We talked to the pediatrician Joshua Jakum, MD, about this concern and asked what parents could do to make sure their children remained safe.

Will the Thimerosal decision affect my child’s vaccine?

At present, there is no vaccine for children for children under the age of 6 years containing thimerosal, And They have not been for more than two decades (since 2001). Many, such as the MMR vaccine and chickenpox (varicella), have Never contains thimerosal.

FDA 1997 Modernization Law

In 1997, experts reviewed the Kanak -Kanakak vaccine schedule. They found that when the baby gets 3 different vaccines at the same time, the total Thimerosal is higher than the recommended guidelines.

3 vaccines are:

• DTAP
• Hepatitis B.
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)

All three are now free thimerosal.

What caused the FDA modernization law?

No reported effects that encourage change. But most of them, especially when thinking about children, medical professionals tend to be very careful.

Jakum agreed that the process was very careful. “This is an important part of our system,” he said.

Childhood immunization schedule is dynamic, which means changing when we learn more. This is also through routine reviews, where doctors see not only individual components, but also what the total effect is.

Data is collected continuously and re -examined regularly. Every time there is a possible improvement, such as the FDA modernization law, it is made immediately.

Which vaccine has thimerosal?

Some flu vaccines do it, but usually only multi-dose flu vaccines. This is usually only given to adults.

About 4% of the current flu vaccine has a thimerosal. That means it might be more difficult to get a flu vaccine this season, because 4% can be removed from use.

Adult tetanus keepers and 1 from meningococcal vaccines for adolescents also include thimerosal. There is an alternative for both.

But why does the vaccine have thimerosal?

Medical supply needs to be stored safely, which means preventing the growth of microbes that are potentially dangerous. In 1928, just before the thimerosal was available, multi-dose bottles of diphtheria vaccine were contaminated with staph infections. Many children who get this vaccine died of bacteria. Safe preservatives, such as tegerosal, help prevent this tragedy.

Starting in the 1930s, Thimerosal was added to:

• Antiseptic ointment
• Medical cream and gel
• Nose spray
• Eye drops
• Lens Solution Contact
• Vaccine

How many thimerosal in this vaccine?

25 microgram (represented as μg or MCG).

It is very difficult to visualize this small amount. Dust spots are estimated at around 10 micrograms. It takes 1,000 micrograms to be equal to 1 milligram.

How do we know that it is not dangerous?

Thimerosal has been used since the 1930s. We have almost 100 years of safety data. The addition and reduction of the vaccine has not been connected to side effects.

If thimerosal is connected to conditions such as autism, the diagnosis will decrease after the transfer. Conversely, the opposite has happened.

When we get rid of harmful substances from use, we usually see positive effects occurs quickly. For example, when we stop using gasoline, there is a decrease that can be observed in several health problems faced by children. This can be measured through blood lead levels.

There has been no change related to eliminating thimerosal.

So why is that prohibited?

Good question. We are not sure. Jakum agreed that it was likely because of confusion about the difference between ethylmercury and methylmercury. While these two compounds are the same -just built on mercury, the effect in the body is very different.

Compounds built from the same building block are not the same. That is why carbon dioxide, which we breathe, and carbon monoxide is different. And that is only with a single oxygen molecule difference. Likewise, regardless of the same name and general material, ethyl and methylmerkuri are not the same.

When methylmercury accumulates in the body, it can cause serious health problems. Usually, this is due to repeated exposure, like a diet with many fish that are stained in mercury.

Thimerosal contains ethylmercury. Ethylmercury is far less concerning. It is damaged in the body faster, which prevents it from building. You have to consume large amounts at once to be negatively affected.

Do I need to call the pediatrician now to schedule the rest of my child’s vaccine?

If your child is not up to date on any vaccine, they must be. Especially with the school begins. But until now, they should not be affected.

Adults who are looking for their cold flu vaccine this winter must look a little harder.

Yes, but the flu vaccine is not one important, right?

While 2 children tragically died of measles last year, 216 Children die from flu. Mostly not vaccinated.

In healthy children, flu vaccine reduces the risk of death by almost 66%.

96% of the flu vaccine is made without thimerosal. If you are really worried about it, you can ask your provider at the time of vaccination about the specific types used. Hopefully, producers will increase this production to calculate the loss of other options.

Talk to your doctor

It might be difficult to know what is true online. Take your concern directly to your doctor. They can give you verified and walking information through your unique problems and medical history.