Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 Don't know about the aluminum, but, wanted to comment on your eye drops topic... my own experience at two different hospitals was that the staff was so inculcated as to "procedure" that when an informed parent attempted to REFUSE the eye drops (because of no risk factors)... they accused me of child abuse -- and COULD NOT even answer the question of WHY it was important.... Despite my refusal, since I have no STDs, THEY PUT THEM IN ANYWAY!!! I am sure they probably contained thimerosal (1999 and 2000.) ... hmmmm, anyone know how to look this up?Thanks, ~D From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On Behalf Of HollySent: Sunday, May 07, 2006 1:58 AMEOHarm Subject: Aluminium up? Hi Group,My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the amount of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said when babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) just in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as well. Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 they no longer use silver nitrate drops. instead they use erythromycinan-an antibiotic. my first child had them and had a goopy eye for a month afterward. i heard that because the drops cloud the baby's vision, it can interfere with the bonding process. in australia they do not routinely give babies the eyedrops. that's how "important" it is.Holly <inticci@...> wrote: Hi Group, My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the amount of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said when babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) just in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as well. Holly Get amazing travel prices for air and hotel in one click on FareChase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 Aluminum is used as an adjuvant in vaccines. Thimerosal is a preservative. They wouldn't increase an adjuvant to replace thimerosal. Critical Decisions Count http://users.adelphia.net/~cdc/VaccineIngredients.htm#Aluminum > > Hi Group, > > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the amount > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said when > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) just > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as > well. Holly > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 Hi ! Could it be that Thimerosal is somehow acting as an adjuvant after all and could it be the reason why they don't want it out? Jo Pike Re: Aluminium up? Aluminum is used as an adjuvant in vaccines. Thimerosal is a preservative. They wouldn't increase an adjuvant to replace thimerosal.Critical Decisions Counthttp://users.adelphia.net/~cdc/VaccineIngredients.htm#Aluminum>> Hi Group,> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the amount > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said when > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) just > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as > well. Holly> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 I think Jo may be right. I have seen documents that show precisely this - that our vaccine regulators (international) are concerned that the antigenicity of vaccines and therefore efficacy will be/has been reduced by the removal of thimerosal. This is never promoted but is a dirty little secret. Thimerosal provokes an immune response - we now know from several studies that part of the problem with thimerosal is that it provokes production of cytokines, B cells and other immune responses - without telling anyone publicly the authorities know that vaccine efficacy depends in part on thimerosal. So, contrary to what should be the case thimerosal removal might reduce antigenicity to the point that more adjuvant is necessary. It is a DIRTY LITTLE SECRET. This will be part of a presentation being made at Autism One on why the authorities are opposing the thimerosal ban legislation in a seeming " reversal " of the 1999 PHS and AAP recommendations. Presentation by Lujene and Krakow. On May 7, 2006, at 10:04 AM, Jo Pike wrote: > Hi ! Could it be that Thimerosal is somehow acting as an adjuvant > after all and could it be the reason why they don't want it out? >  > Jo Pike >> Re: Aluminium up? >> >> Aluminum is used as an adjuvant in vaccines. Thimerosal is a >> preservative. They wouldn't increase an adjuvant to replace >> thimerosal. >> >> >> Critical Decisions Count >> http://users.adelphia.net/~cdc/VaccineIngredients.htm#Aluminum >> >> >> >> > >> > Hi Group, >> > >> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the >> amount >> > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said >> when >> > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put >> > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) >> just >> > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as >> > well. Holly >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006  I honestly believe the only reason thimerosal is in vaccines is due to old snake oil logic that it works wonders. Did people go crazy from VD, or the treatment? Re: Aluminium up?Aluminum is used as an adjuvant in vaccines. Thimerosal is a preservative. They wouldn't increase an adjuvant to replace thimerosal.Critical Decisions Counthttp://users.adelphia.net/~cdc/VaccineIngredients.htm#Aluminum>> Hi Group,> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the amount > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said when > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) just > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as > well. Holly> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 Hi Jo! Nice to hear from you. Hope everything is going great! Any chemical can promote an immune response. Of course, thimerosal isn't approved as an " adjuvant " . I found an interesting abstract from 1977. Arch Dermatol Res. 1977 May 27;258(3):235-9. Related Articles, Links The adjuvant effect of tuberculin in experimental sensitization to merthiolate. Magnusson B, Moller H. When guinea pigs were sensitized to tuberculin by exposure to complete Freund's adjuvant the size of the intradermal PPD test was positively correlated to the body weight of the animal. Old Tuberculin showed stimulating effect in a subsequent sensitization to merthiolate (thimerosal). The high frequency of delayed cutaneous allergy to merthiolate in Swedish population is probably explained by sensitization through intradermal testing with tuberculin containing merthiolate as a preservative. PMID: 583641 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] > > > > Hi Group, > > > > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the > amount > > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said > when > > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put > > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) > just > > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as > > well. Holly > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006  So..., if we don't poison ourselves, we don't get antigenicity. This is the best that can be done?? If this is true, then the whole vaccine program is totally flawed. + Re: Aluminium up?Aluminum is used as an adjuvant in vaccines. Thimerosal is a preservative. They wouldn't increase an adjuvant to replace thimerosal.Critical Decisions Counthttp://users.adelphia.net/~cdc/VaccineIngredients.htm#Aluminum>> Hi Group,> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the amount > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said when > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) just > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as > well. Holly> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 Yes, the program is flawed. That's their DIRTY LITTLE SECRET. The only it way it works-with vaccines as they currently exist- is by poisoning people. Some it poisons a little and they seem ok. Some never recover. On May 7, 2006, at 2:15 PM, H wrote: > So..., if we don't poison ourselves, we don't get antigenicity. > This is the best that can be done?? > If this is true, then the whole vaccine program is totally flawed. >  >  >  >> + Re: Aluminium up? >>>> >>>> Aluminum is used as an adjuvant in vaccines. Thimerosal is a >>>> preservative. They wouldn't increase an adjuvant to replace >>>> thimerosal. >>>> >>>> >>>> Critical Decisions Count >>>> http://users.adelphia.net/~cdc/VaccineIngredients.htm#Aluminum >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> > >>>> > Hi Group, >>>> > >>>> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the >>>> amount >>>> > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said >>>> when >>>> > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put >>>> > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) >>>> just >>>> > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as >>>> > well. Holly >>>> > >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006  Yes, the program is flawed. That's their DIRTY LITTLE SECRET. Could it be that Thimerosal is somehow acting as an adjuvant after all and could it be the reason why they don't want it out? I believe it is about the controlled release and blocking of serotonin http://tinyurl.com/gk7jc , the objective of the original program. http://tinyurl.com/e6tpx http://tinyurl.com/eguom They will never remove it. Peace; ... http://tinyurl.com/jz48p Pre-emptive treatment in Lilly study stirs debate - May 1, 2006 The behavior modification plan of the MKULTRA Violence Control Centers included: http://tinyurl.com/lf8wu (click: Reagan Era - Violence Center) Studies of violent individuals.Experiments on prisoners from Vacaville and Atascadero, and hyperkinetic children. http://tinyurl.com/gwc4c Experiments with violence-producing and violent inhibiting drugs.Hormonal aspects of passivity and aggressiveness in boys.Studies to discover and compare norms of violence among various ethnic groups.Studies of pre-delinquent children.It would also encourage law enforcement to keep computer files on pre-delinquent children, which would make possible the treatment of children before they became delinquents. http://tinyurl.com/2ozo3 June 19, 2004 Bush plans to screen whole US population for mental illness ...Olanzapine (trade name Zyprexa), one of the atypical antipsychotic drugs recommended as a first line drug in the Texas algorithm, grossed $4.28bn (£2.35bn; 3.56bn) worldwide in 2003 and is Eli Lilly's top selling drug. A 2003 New York Times article by Gardiner reported that 70% of olanzapine sales are paid for by government agencies, such as Medicare and Medicaid. Eli Lilly and MKUTLRA http://zmagsite.zmag.org/May2004/levine0504.html There is one Eli Lilly piece of history so bizarre that if told to many psychiatrists, one just might get diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic and medicated with Zyrprexa. Former State Department officer Marks in The Search for the “Manchurian Candidateâ€: The CIA and Mind Control, The Secret History of the Behavioral Sciences (1979)—along with the Washington Post (1985) and the New York Times (1988)—reported an amazing story about the CIA and psychiatry. A lead player was psychiatrist D. Ewen Cameron, president of the American Psychiatric Association in 1953. Cameron was curious to discover more powerful ways to break down patient resistance. Using electroshock, LSD, and sensory deprivation, he was able to produce severe delirium. Patients often lost their sense of identity, forgetting their own names and even how to eat. The CIA, eager to learn more about Cameron’s brainwashing techniques, funded him under a project code-named MKULTRA. According to Marks, Cameron was part of a small army of the CIA’s LSD-experimenting psychiatrists. Where did the CIA get its LSD? Marks reports that the CIA had been previously supplied by the Swiss pharmaceutical corporation Sandoz, but was uncomfortable relying on a foreign company and so, in 1953, the CIA asked Eli Lilly to make them up a batch of LSD, which Lilly subsequently donated to the CIA. Eli Lilly and LSD http://tinyurl.com/nkha6 All around the world, the CIA tried to stay on top of the LSD supply. Back home in Indianapolis, Eli Lilly & Company was even then working on a process to synthesize LSD. Agency officials felt uncomfortable having to rely on a foreign company for their supply, and in 1953 they asked Lilly executives to make them up a batch, which the company subsequently donated to the government. http://tinyurl.com/gw2m2 Lysergic acid is a metabolite of LSD, a hallucinogenic drug. Lysergic acid and similar compounds, collectively known as serotonin antagonists, bond to the same D-receptors used by serotonin. Through this action, lysergic acid blocks serotonin and redirects neural pulses. Eil Lilly and Thimoersal http://tinyurl.com/jrqaq Thimerosal is an organic compound that is 49.6 percent ethylmercury. Eli Lilly and Co., the Indianapolis-based drug giant, developed and registered thimerosal under its trade name Merthiolate in 1929 and began marketing it as an antibacterial, antifungal product. It became the most widely used preservative in vaccines. http://tinyurl.com/zmze4 In platelets, thimerosal causes aggregation, increase of arachidonic acid metabolism, and exocytotic release of serotonin. http://tinyurl.com/qgf8y Thimerosal induces a release reaction, seen in ultrastructural study and revealed by measurement of 14C-serotonin release. http://tinyurl.com/hw4e7 Autism and its Connection with the Neurotransmitter Serotonin. Eli Lilly and Prozac http://www.prozac.com/index.jsp http://tinyurl.com/foglu PROZAC may help to correct this imbalance by increasing the brain's own supply of serotonin. Eli Lilly and Strettera http://www.strattera.com/index.jsp http://tinyurl.com/kssty Strattera very selectively affects only the norepinephrine pathways. It does not influence the function of other neurotransmitters. Eli Lilly and Zyprexa http://www.zyprexa.com/index.jsp http://tinyurl.com/hc9w4 Zyprexa, like the other atypical antipsychotics, appears to work by by blocking certain serotonin and dopamine receptors. Unlike some other medications it blocks the serotonin receptors more potently than the dopamine receptors. http://tinyurl.com/2ozo3 (P.S., For some strange reason Zyprexa reminds me of Dypraxa, in "The Constant Gardener", for some odd reason). H.W. Bush 1976-1977 Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 1977-1979 Eli Lilly Corporate Director, appointed by the father of the future Vice President Dan Quayle who owned controlling interest in the corporation. 1981-1989 Vice-President H.W. Bush under President Reagan 1981-1989 Director or President Reagan’s "Drug Task Force" 1989-1993 President H.W. Bush and Vice-President Danforth (Dan) Quayle?? 2001-2008 H.W. Bush’s son becomes President W. Bush with Vice-President (Dick) Cheney -----Original Message-----From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ]On Behalf Of J. KrakowSent: Sunday, May 07, 2006 2:31 PMEOHarm Subject: Re: Re: Aluminium up?Yes, the program is flawed. That's their DIRTY LITTLE SECRET.The only it way it works-with vaccines as they currently exist- is by poisoning people. Some it poisons a little and they seem ok. Some never recover.On May 7, 2006, at 2:15 PM, H wrote: So..., if we don't poison ourselves, we don't get antigenicity.This is the best that can be done??If this is true, then the whole vaccine program is totally flawed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 Take a look at the MSDS for silver nitrate. It doesn't sound like it should be used in the eyes at all! On page 4 (of 7), of the MSDS, it mentions that silver nitrate is incompatible with thimerosal. Aasa http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Silver_nitrate-9927411 barb beaudot <mnkygrl9@...> wrote: they no longer use silver nitrate drops. instead they use erythromycinan-an antibiotic. my first child had them and had a goopy eye for a month afterward. i heard that because the drops cloud the baby's vision, it can interfere with the bonding process. in australia they do not routinely give babies the eyedrops. that's how "important" it is.Holly <inticci@...> wrote: Hi Group,My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the amount of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said when babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) just in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as well. Holly Get amazing travel prices for air and hotel in one click on FareChase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 Had to check out what ie said....his usual BS...remember this one? http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/112/6/1394 Right arrow Infectious Disease & Immunity PEDIATRICS Vol. 112 No. 6 December 2003, pp. 1394-1397 SPECIAL ARTICLE Addressing Parents' Concerns: Do Vaccines Contain Harmful Preservatives, Adjuvants, Additives, or Residuals? A. Offit, MD* and Rita K. Jew, PharmD{ddagger} * Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania {ddagger} Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ABSTRACT TOP ABSTRACT PRESERVATIVES ADJUVANTS ADDITIVES MANUFACTURING RESIDUALS CONCLUSION REFERENCES Vaccines often contain preservatives, adjuvants, additives, or manufacturing residuals in addition to pathogen-specific immunogens. Some parents, alerted by stories in the news media or information contained on the World Wide Web, are concerned that some of the substances contained in vaccines might harm their children. We reviewed data on thimerosal, aluminum, gelatin, human serum albumin, formaldehyde, antibiotics, egg proteins, and yeast proteins. Both gelatin and egg proteins are contained in vaccines in quantities sufficient to induce rare instances of severe, immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions. However, quantities of mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, human serum albumin, antibiotics, and yeast proteins in vaccines have not been found to be harmful in humans or experimental animals. Key Words: vaccine safety • thimerosal • aluminum • formaldehyde • gelatin • egg proteins • yeast proteins Abbreviations: FDA, Food and Drug Administration • DTaP, diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis • Hib, Haemophilus influenzae type B • EPA, Environmental Protection Agency • ATSDR, Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry • MMR, measles-mumps-rubella • IgE, immunoglobulin E • CJD, Creutzfeld- disease • BSE, bovine spongiform encephalopathy • vCJD, variant Creutzfeld- disease Vaccines contain live viruses, killed viruses, purified viral proteins, inactivated bacterial toxins, or bacterial polysaccharides. In addition to these immunogens, vaccines often contain other substances. For example, vaccines may contain preservatives that prevent bacterial or fungal contamination (eg, thimerosal); adjuvants that enhance antigen-specific immune responses (eg, aluminum salts); or additives that stabilize live, attenuated viruses (eg, gelatin, human serum albumin). Furthermore, vaccines may contain residual quantities of substances used during the manufacturing process (eg, formaldehyde, antibiotics, egg proteins, yeast proteins). Some parents, alerted by stories in the news media or on the World Wide Web, are concerned that substances such as thimerosal, formaldehyde, aluminum, antibiotics, and gelatin are harmful. We review safety data obtained from human exposure and experimental animal studies that address these concerns. PRESERVATIVES TOP ABSTRACT PRESERVATIVES ADJUVANTS ADDITIVES MANUFACTURING RESIDUALS CONCLUSION REFERENCES Preservatives are used in some vaccines to prevent bacterial or fungal contamination. The requirement for preservatives in vaccines arose from many incidents in the early 20th century of children who developed severe and occasionally fatal bacterial infections after administration of vaccines contained in multidose vials.1 For example, in 1916, 4 children died, 26 developed local abscesses, and 68 developed severe systemic infections after receipt of a typhoid vaccine contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus.1 As a consequence of this and similar incidents, preservatives have been required for vaccines contained in multidose vials (with some exceptions) since the 1930s.2 Three preservatives are used in vaccines licensed in the United States: phenol, 2-phenoxyethanol, and thimerosal (Table 1). Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, has been the focus of intense scrutiny by the US Congress and the news media after its removal from most childhood vaccines in 2001. Attention by the news media has caused some parents to fear that thimerosal contained in vaccines might harm their children. View this table: [in this window] [in a new window] TABLE 1. Preservative Content in Vaccines Licensed in the United States, 2003 Removal of thimerosal from vaccines was precipitated by an amendment to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act, which was signed into law on November 21, 1997.3 The amendment gave the FDA 2 years to " compile a list of drugs and foods that contain intentionally introduced mercury compounds and ... [to] provide a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the mercury compounds in the list... . " The amendment arose from a long-standing interest in lessening human exposure to mercury, a known neurotoxin and nephrotoxin. At the time the FDA Modernization Act was passed, it was recommended that infants receive 3 different vaccines that contained thimerosal: diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP), hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). Infants who received all of these vaccines could have been exposed to a cumulative dose of mercury as high as 187.5 µg by 6 months of age.4 This value exceeded guidelines recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) but did not exceed those recommended by the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR) or the FDA (Table 2).4 Therefore, thimerosal was removed from most childhood vaccines by 2001 as a precautionary measure.5 View this table: [in this window] [in a new window] TABLE 2. Exposure Limits for Mercury in Infants & #8804;6 Months of Age by Percentile Body Weight Established by the EPA, the ATSDR, and the FDA Although no published studies to date have compared the incidence of neurodevelopmental delay in children who received thimerosal-free or thimerosal-containing vaccines, several facts are reassuring that the level of mercury contained in vaccines was not likely to be harmful. Thimerosal contains 49.6% mercury by weight and is metabolized to ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Ethylmercury is contained in many drugs as well as biologicals. Adults and children who are exposed inadvertently to large quantities of ethylmercury acutely (quantities 1000- to 1 000 000-fold greater than those found in vaccines) can sustain permanent neurologic damage and death.6–11 However, no data exist on the capacity of low-dose, chronic exposure to ethylmercury to harm the developing nervous system. Guidelines for chronic exposure to ethylmercury were extrapolated from guidelines for methylmercury (the most common form of mercury found in the environment) established by the EPA, ATSDR, and FDA.4 Guidelines from the EPA were based in part on data from pregnant women in rural Iraq who were exposed to large quantities of methylmercury.12 In October 1971, Iraq imported >90 000 metric tons of methylmercury-treated seed grain. The grain, distributed free of charge to farmers throughout the country, was used to make bread. Consumption of this bread caused an extensive outbreak of methylmercury poisoning, resulting in >6000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths. By examining the quantity of methylmercury contained in hair from mothers who ingested methylmercury and comparing calculated exposures to methylmercury with the frequency of neurologic symptoms in their offspring (eg, psychomotor retardation, seizures, impaired vision or hearing), a dose-response curve for fetal exposure to methylmercury and neurologic damage was established. The EPA determined guidelines by taking the lowest quantity of methylmercury that might have resulted in harm to the fetus, bracketing that dose with 95% confidence intervals and dividing the lower confidence interval by an " uncertainty " factor of 10.4 By using data from pregnant women in Iraq who were exposed to methylmercury in the environment to establish guidelines for chronic exposure of infants in the United States to ethylmercury in vaccines, 2 important assumptions were made: 1) that the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of methylmercury are the same as those of ethylmercury and 2) that the central nervous systems of the fetus and newborn are equally susceptible to the harmful effects of mercury. However, the pharmacokinetics of ethylmercury and methylmercury are not the same. Methylmercury has a biological half-life in blood of approximately 50 days compared with that of approximately 7 days for ethylmercury.4,13 Because ethylmercury is excreted from the body far more quickly than methylmercury, cumulative dose guidelines would be very different. In support of this important difference, Pichichero et al13 found that the level of mercury detected in the blood of 40 full-term infants who were 6 months of age or younger and received thimerosal-containing DTaP, hepatitis B, and Hib vaccines did not exceed recommended guidelines.13 Furthermore, the developing central nervous system of the fetus is more susceptible to environmental and toxic insults than that of the newborn.14–17 Removal of thimerosal from most vaccines caused several unanticipated consequences. First, before the availability of thimerosal-free DTaP, hepatitis B, and Hib vaccines, hospitals were advised to defer the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine to 2 to 6 months of age in infants of hepatitis B-seronegative mothers.18 Some hospitals misinterpreted this guideline and suspended administration of the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine for all newborns.19–21 As a consequence, 1 institution reported that 3 infants of hepatitis B-seropositive mothers did not receive the recommended birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine.22 Another institution reported the death from acute hepatitis B-induced liver failure of a 3-month-old infant who was born to a hepatitis B-seropositive mother; the infant did not receive the hepatitis B vaccine.19 Furthermore, although thimerosal-free vaccines are now available, many hospitals continue to defer the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine inappropriately.19–21 Second, the removal of thimerosal from vaccines caused some parents and physicians to believe that vaccines that contain thimerosal were harmful, independent of dose or age of administration. For example, although contrary to recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,23 some parents and physicians were hesitant to give any thimerosal-containing vaccines to children (eg, influenza vaccine to children at high risk of severe influenza infection). Third, although thimerosal was removed from vaccines in part to " maintain the public's trust in immunization, " some physicians found that parents were less confident in professional groups that recommended vaccines before than after removal of thimerosal.24 ADJUVANTS TOP ABSTRACT PRESERVATIVES ADJUVANTS ADDITIVES MANUFACTURING RESIDUALS CONCLUSION REFERENCES Aluminum salts are the only adjuvants currently licensed for use in the United States (Table 3). Aluminum salts include aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, and potassium aluminum sulfate (alum). Aluminum-containing vaccines are prepared by adsorption of antigens onto aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate gels or by precipitation of antigens in a solution of alum.25 View this table: [in this window] [in a new window] TABLE 3. Aluminum Salt (Adjuvant) Content in Vaccines Licensed in the United States, 2003 Aluminum salts were found initially to enhance immune responses after immunization with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids in studies performed in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.26–30 Early studies suggested that aluminum salts reduced the rate of elimination of antigens at the site of inoculation (ie, depot effect).31 However, subsequent studies questioned the importance of the depot effect and found that aluminum salts enhanced antigen uptake by antigen-presenting cells (eg, dendritic cells),32 activated antigen-presenting cells,32 or induced production of cytokines33 and complement.34 The importance of each of these mechanisms in enhancing antigen-specific immune responses remains unclear. The safety of aluminum has been established by experience during the past 70 years, with hundreds of millions of people inoculated with aluminum-containing vaccines. Adverse reactions including erythema, subcutaneous nodules, contact hypersensitivity, and granulomatous inflammation have been observed rarely.35 Aluminum-containing vaccines are not the only source of aluminum exposure for infants. Because aluminum is 1 of the most abundant elements in the earth's crust and is present in air, food, and water, all infants are exposed to aluminum in the environment. For example, breast milk contains approximately 40 µg of aluminum per liter, and infant formulas contain an average of approximately 225 µg of aluminum per liter.36–40 Vaccines contain quantities of aluminum similar to those contained in infant formulas (Table 3). However, because large quantities of aluminum can cause serious neurologic effects in humans,41 guidelines were established by the ATSDR. For determining the quantity of aluminum below which safety is likely, data were generated in mice that were inoculated orally with various quantities of aluminum lactate.42 No adverse reactions were observed when mice were fed quantities of aluminum as high as 62 mg/kg/day. By applying uncertainty factors of 3 (for extrapolation to humans) and 10 (for human variability), the ATSDR concluded that the minimum risk level for exposure to aluminum was 2 mg/kg/day.43 The half-life of elimination of aluminum from the body is approximately 24 hours.41 Therefore, the burden of aluminum to which infants are exposed in food36–40 and vaccines (Table 3) is clearly less than the guideline established by the ATSDR and far less than that found to be safe in experimental animals.41,42 ADDITIVES TOP ABSTRACT PRESERVATIVES ADJUVANTS ADDITIVES MANUFACTURING RESIDUALS CONCLUSION REFERENCES Additives are used to stabilize vaccines from adverse conditions such as freeze-drying or heat. In addition, additives are added to vaccines to prevent immunogens from adhering to the side of the vial. The types of stabilizers used in vaccines include sugars (eg, sucrose, lactose), amino acids (eg, glycine, monosodium salt of glutamic acid), and proteins (eg, gelatin or human serum albumin). Three issues surround the use of protein additives in vaccines: 1) the observation that immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions are a rare consequence of receiving gelatin-containing vaccines, 2) the theoretical concern that human serum albumin might contain infectious agents, and 3) the theoretical concern that bovine-derived materials used in vaccines might contain the agent associated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy ( " mad-cow " disease). Hypersensitivity to Gelatin In 1993, Kelso et al44 reported the case of a 17-year-old girl in California who developed profuse rhinorrhea, hives, laryngotracheal edema, lightheadedness, and a blood pressure of 70/50 within 5 minutes of receiving a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Her symptoms resolved after treatment with epinephrine and diphenhydramine. When later describing the event, the girl stated that it was " kind of like what happens when I eat Jell-O. " 44 Subsequent testing found that the only component of the vaccine to which the patient was allergic was gelatin. Before 1993, immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to the MMR vaccine were attributed to an allergy to egg proteins.45 This assumption was based on the fact that both the measles and mumps components of MMR vaccine are grown in chick embryo fibroblast cells. However, most patients with hypersensitivity to MMR vaccine were not allergic to eggs.44 The observation by Kelso et al prompted a closer look at the capacity of gelatin-containing vaccines to induce hypersensitivity reactions. Studies in Japan confirmed the findings of Kelso et al that immediate hypersensitivity to MMR vaccine was associated with the presence of gelatin-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE),46 not an allergy to egg proteins. At that time, the rate of immediate hypersensitivity to MMR in Japan was approximately 20-fold higher than that in the United States.47,48 The increased incidence of immediate-type hypersensitivity to gelatin in Japan was explained in 2 ways. First, DTaP vaccines made in Japan contained gelatin, whereas DTaP vaccines made in the United States did not.48 Second, the type of gelatin used in Japan was not hydrolyzed.48 Hydrolysis converts high molecular weight gelatin (>100 000 Da) to low molecular weight gelatin (between 2000 and 5000 Da). Low molecular weight gelatin is less likely to stimulate gelatin-specific IgE than high molecular weight gelatin.49 When Japanese vaccine makers eliminated gelatin from DTaP and switched to the use of hydrolyzed gelatin in the MMR vaccine, the incidence of gelatin-specific immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions decreased dramatically to levels similar to those found in the United States.50 Although the incidence of anaphylaxis to gelatin is currently very low (approximately 1 case per 2 million doses), gelatin is the most common identifiable cause of immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to gelatin-containing vaccines.51,52 A list of vaccines that contain gelatin is provided in Table 4 (all gelatin is of porcine origin). View this table: [in this window] [in a new window] TABLE 4. Gelatin Content of Vaccines Licensed in the United States, 2003 Some patients with immediate hypersensitivity reactions to gelatin have a history of allergies to gelatin-containing foods.51 This is explained, in part, by the extensive cross-reactivity found between bovine gelatin contained in many foods and porcine gelatin contained in vaccines.53 Therefore, it would be of value to ask about food allergies before vaccination with gelatin-containing vaccines.54 If children have either a history of food allergy to gelatin or a history of immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to gelatin-containing vaccines, then gelatin-containing vaccines should not be administered and an immunologic evaluation should be performed.54 Evaluation may include either detection of gelatin-specific IgE by solid-phase immunoassay or skin testing with increasing concentrations of gelatin.54 Vaccination of people who have immunologic evidence for gelatin hypersensitivity should be performed with the ready availability of equipment and medications required for the treatment of anaphylactic reactions or deferred completely. Theoretical Risk of Infectious Agents in Human Serum Albumin Human serum albumin (0.3 mg/dose) is contained in measles vaccine (Attenuvax; Merck and Co, West Point, PA); mumps vaccine (Mumpsvax; Merck and Co); rubella vaccine (Meruvax; Merck and Co); and measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMRII; Merck and Co). Because human serum albumin is derived from human blood, there is a theoretical risk that it might contain infectious agents. However, the FDA requires that human serum albumin be derived from blood of screened donors and be manufactured in a manner that would eliminate the risk of transmission of all known viruses. The result is that no viral diseases have ever been associated with the use of human serum albumin. Theoretical Risk of " Mad-Cow " Disease From Bovine-Derived Reagents Creutzfeld- disease (CJD) in humans is caused by a unique infectious agent (proteinaceous infectious particles, or prions) that also causes encephalopathies in other mammals such as cows (bovine spongiform encephalopathy [bSE]) and sheep (scrapie).55 Between 1995 and 1997, a new " variant " form of CJD (vCJD) in humans was reported from the United Kingdom after an outbreak of BSE in cows.56–60 The timing of these events raised the possibility that people who ate products from cows that were infected with BSE developed vCJD. Several epidemiologic, clinical, and pathologic features of vCJD supported a causal link between BSE and vCJD.55,61–64 Vaccines contain several reagents that are derived from cows (eg, gelatin, glycerol, enzymes, serum, amino acids). Because of concerns about vCJD, the FDA recently prohibited the use of bovine-derived materials obtained from countries that are known to have cattle that are infected with BSE.65 However, before this ban, some materials used in vaccines might have been obtained from cows that were infected with BSE in England. (It should be noted that US vaccine manufacturers were not allowed to use bovine products imported from outside the United States to protect against the possible importation of foot-and-mouth disease). This raised the question of whether children who were inoculated with vaccines were at risk for vCJD. Newspapers reported this possibility in the late 1990s,66 and some parents were concerned about bovine-derived products contained in vaccines. However, several epidemiologic observations and features of the manufacturing process should reassure parents that vaccines could not cause vCJD. First, prions are detected in the brain, spinal cord, and retina of cows with BSE and not in blood or other organs.55 Therefore, serum (present in media that support the growth of microorganisms or cells used to make vaccines) is not likely to contain prions. Consistent with these observations, no cases of CJD have been transmitted by blood or blood products, and a history of blood transfusion does not increase the risk for CJD.67–69 Second, prions are not detected in connective tissue of cows with BSE.55 Therefore, gelatin (made by boiling the hooves and skin of pigs or cows) is unlikely to contain prions. Third, epidemiologic evidence does not support vaccines as a cause of vCJD in England.70 Human exposure to cows that were infected with BSE in England was likely to have occurred after 1983, and vaccines that contained bovine-derived materials were likely to have been administered to children after 1985. If vaccines that are routinely administered in the first 2 years of life caused vCJD, then no cases of vCJD would have been expected to occur in people who were born before 1985. However, all cases of vCJD occurred in people born who were before 1985 and half before 1970.70 MANUFACTURING RESIDUALS TOP ABSTRACT PRESERVATIVES ADJUVANTS ADDITIVES MANUFACTURING RESIDUALS CONCLUSION REFERENCES Residual quantities of reagents that are used to make vaccines are clearly defined and well regulated by the FDA. Inactivating agents (eg, formaldehyde), antibiotics, and cellular residuals (eg, egg and yeast proteins) may be contained in the final product. Inactivating Agents Inactivating agents separate a pathogen's immunogenicity from its virulence by eliminating the harmful effects of bacterial toxins or ablating the capacity of infectious viruses to replicate. Examples of inactivating agents include formaldehyde, which is used to inactivate influenza virus, poliovirus, and diphtheria and tetanus toxins; ß-propiolactone, which is used to inactivate rabies virus; and glutaraldehyde, which is used to inactivate toxins contained in acellular pertussis vaccines. Formaldehyde deserves special consideration. Concerns about the safety of formaldehyde have centered on the observation that high concentrations of formaldehyde can damage DNA and cause cancerous changes in cells in vitro.71,72 Although formaldehyde is diluted during the manufacturing process, residual quantities of formaldehyde may be found in several current vaccines (Table 5). Fortunately, formaldehyde does not seem to be a cause of cancer in humans,73 and animals that are exposed to large quantities of formaldehyde (a single dose of 25 mg/kg or chronic exposure at doses of 80–100 mg/kg/day) do not develop malignancies.74,75 View this table: [in this window] [in a new window] TABLE 5. Formaldehyde Content of Vaccines Licensed for Use in the United States, 2003 The quantity of formaldehyde contained in individual vaccines does not exceed 0.1 mg (Table 5). This quantity of formaldehyde is considered to be safe for 2 reasons. First, formaldehyde is an essential intermediate in human metabolism and is required for the synthesis of thymidine, purines, and amino acids.76 Therefore, all humans have detectable quantities of formaldehyde in their circulation (approximately 2.5 µg of formaldehyde/mL of blood).77 Assuming an average weight of a 2-month-old of 5 kg and an average blood volume of 85 mL/kg, the total quantity of formaldehyde found naturally in an infant's circulation would be approximately 1.1 mg—a value at least 10-fold greater than that contained in any individual vaccine. Second, quantities of formaldehyde at least 600-fold greater than that contained in vaccines have been given safely to animals.74,75 Antibiotics Antibiotics are present in some vaccines to prevent bacterial contamination during the manufacturing process. Because antibiotics can cause immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions in children,78,79 some parents are concerned that antibiotics that are contained in vaccines might be harmful. However, antibiotics that are most likely to cause immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions (eg, penicillins, cephalosporins, sulfonamides)78,79 are not contained in vaccines. Antibiotics that are used during vaccine manufacture include neomycin, streptomycin, polymyxin B, chlortetracyline, and amphotericin B. Only neomycin is contained in vaccines in detectable quantities (Table 6). However, immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to the small quantities of neomycin contained in vaccines has not been clearly documented.80,81 Although neomycin-containing products have been found to cause delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions,82,83 these reactions are not a contraindication to receiving vaccines. View this table: [in this window] [in a new window] TABLE 6. Neomycin Content in Vaccines Licensed for Use in the United States, 2003 Cellular Residuals Egg Proteins Egg allergies occur in approximately 0.5% of the population and in approximately 5% of atopic children.84 Because influenza and yellow fever vaccines both are propagated in the allantoic sacs of chick embryos (eggs), egg proteins (primarily ovalbumin) are present in the final product. Residual quantities of egg proteins found in the influenza vaccine (approximately 0.02–1.0 µg/dose) are sufficient to induce severe and rarely fatal hypersensitivity reactions in children with egg allergies.85,86 Unfortunately, children with egg allergies also have other diseases (eg, asthma) that are associated with a high risk of severe and occasionally fatal influenza infection.87,88 For this reason, children who have egg allergies and are at high risk of severe influenza infection should be given influenza vaccine via a strict protocol.86–90 In contrast to influenza vaccine, measles and mumps vaccines are propagated in chick embryo fibroblast cells in culture. The quantity of residual egg proteins found in measles- and mumps-containing vaccines is approximately 40 pg—a quantity at least 500-fold less than those found for influenza vaccines.91 The quantity of egg proteins found in measles- and mumps-containing vaccines is not sufficient to induce immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions, and children with severe egg allergies can receive these vaccines safely.92 Yeast Proteins Hepatitis B vaccines are made by transfecting cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) with the gene that encodes hepatitis B surface antigen, and residual quantities of yeast proteins are contained in the final product. Engerix-B (GlaxoKline, Research Triangle Park, NC) contains no more than 5 mg/mL and Recombivax HB (Merck and Co) contains no more than 1 mg/mL yeast proteins. Immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions have been observed rarely after receipt of hepatitis B vaccine (approximately 1 case per 600 000 doses).93 However, yeast-specific IgE has not been detected in patients with immediate-type hypersensitivity94–96 or in nonallergic patients97 after receipt of hepatitis B vaccine. Therefore, the risk of anaphylaxis after receipt of hepatitis B vaccine as a result of allergy to baker's yeast is theoretical. CONCLUSION TOP ABSTRACT PRESERVATIVES ADJUVANTS ADDITIVES MANUFACTURING RESIDUALS CONCLUSION REFERENCES Parents should be reassured that quantities of mercury, aluminum, and formaldehyde contained in vaccines are likely to be harmless on the basis of exposure studies in humans or experimental studies in animals. Although severe anaphylactic reactions may occur rarely after receipt of vaccines that contain sufficient quantities of egg proteins (eg, influenza, yellow fever) or gelatin (eg, MMRII), children who are at risk for severe infection with influenza can be desensitized to influenza vaccine, and gelatin-specific allergies are very rare. Immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to neomycin or yeast proteins have not been clearly documented and remain theoretical. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Some vaccines discussed in this article are manufactured by Merck and Co. Dr Offit is the co-holder of a patent on a bovine-human reassortant rotavirus vaccine that is being developed by Merck. Dr Offit's laboratory support comes from the National Institutes of Health, and he does not receive personal support or honoraria from Merck and does not have a financial interest in the company. FOOTNOTES Received for publication Feb 20, 2003; Accepted May 1, 2003. Reprint requests to (P.A.O.) 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Lack of induction of IgE and IgG antibodies to yeast in humans immunized with recombinant hepatitis B vaccines. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol.1988; 85 :130 –132[iSI][Medline] PEDIATRICS (ISSN 1098-4275). ©2003 by the American Academy of Pediatrics P3Rs: Read all P3Rs Parents' worries about thimerosal in vaccines are well founded! Mark R. Geier, MD, Ph.D., et al. Pediatrics Online, 12 Mar 2004 [Full text] Re: Parents' worries about thimerosal in vaccines are well founded! paul a offit, et al. Pediatrics Online, 17 Mar 2004 [Full text] Offit and Jew incorrect on 2003 Vaccination Schedules S. Hooker Pediatrics Online, 31 Mar 2004 [Full text] response to brian hooker A Offit, et al. Pediatrics Online, 1 Apr 2004 [Full text] > >>>> > > >>>> > Hi Group, > >>>> > > >>>> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the > >>>> amount > >>>> > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said > >>>> when > >>>> > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put > >>>> > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) > >>>> just > >>>> > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as > >>>> > well. Holly > >>>> > > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 Does anyone actually listen to Offit anymore? I don't even think the peds are bamboozled anymore. Re: Aluminium up? Had to check out what ie said....his usual BS...remember this one?http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/112/6/1394Right arrow Infectious Disease & ImmunityPEDIATRICS Vol. 112 No. 6 December 2003, pp. 1394-1397SPECIAL ARTICLEAddressing Parents' Concerns: Do Vaccines Contain HarmfulPreservatives, Adjuvants, Additives, or Residuals? A. Offit, MD* and Rita K. Jew, PharmD{ddagger}* Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital ofPhiladelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, andWistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania{ddagger} Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ABSTRACTTOPABSTRACTPRESERVATIVESADJUVANTSADDITIVESMANUFACTURING RESIDUALSCONCLUSIONREFERENCESVaccines often contain preservatives, adjuvants, additives, ormanufacturing residuals in addition to pathogen-specific immunogens.Some parents, alerted by stories in the news media or informationcontained on the World Wide Web, are concerned that some of thesubstances contained in vaccines might harm their children. Wereviewed data on thimerosal, aluminum, gelatin, human serum albumin,formaldehyde, antibiotics, egg proteins, and yeast proteins. Bothgelatin and egg proteins are contained in vaccines in quantitiessufficient to induce rare instances of severe, immediate-typehypersensitivity reactions. However, quantities of mercury, aluminum,formaldehyde, human serum albumin, antibiotics, and yeast proteins invaccines have not been found to be harmful in humans or experimentalanimals.Key Words: vaccine safety • thimerosal • aluminum • formaldehyde •gelatin • egg proteins • yeast proteinsAbbreviations: FDA, Food and Drug Administration • DTaP,diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis • Hib, Haemophilus influenzaetype B • EPA, Environmental Protection Agency • ATSDR, Agency forToxic Substances Disease Registry • MMR, measles-mumps-rubella • IgE,immunoglobulin E • CJD, Creutzfeld- disease • BSE, bovinespongiform encephalopathy • vCJD, variant Creutzfeld- diseaseVaccines contain live viruses, killed viruses, purified viralproteins, inactivated bacterial toxins, or bacterial polysaccharides.In addition to these immunogens, vaccines often contain othersubstances. For example, vaccines may contain preservatives thatprevent bacterial or fungal contamination (eg, thimerosal); adjuvantsthat enhance antigen-specific immune responses (eg, aluminum salts);or additives that stabilize live, attenuated viruses (eg, gelatin,human serum albumin). Furthermore, vaccines may contain residualquantities of substances used during the manufacturing process (eg,formaldehyde, antibiotics, egg proteins, yeast proteins).Some parents, alerted by stories in the news media or on the WorldWide Web, are concerned that substances such as thimerosal,formaldehyde, aluminum, antibiotics, and gelatin are harmful. Wereview safety data obtained from human exposure and experimentalanimal studies that address these concerns. PRESERVATIVESTOPABSTRACTPRESERVATIVESADJUVANTSADDITIVESMANUFACTURING RESIDUALSCONCLUSIONREFERENCESPreservatives are used in some vaccines to prevent bacterial or fungalcontamination. The requirement for preservatives in vaccines arosefrom many incidents in the early 20th century of children whodeveloped severe and occasionally fatal bacterial infections afteradministration of vaccines contained in multidose vials.1 For example,in 1916, 4 children died, 26 developed local abscesses, and 68developed severe systemic infections after receipt of a typhoidvaccine contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus.1 As a consequence ofthis and similar incidents, preservatives have been required forvaccines contained in multidose vials (with some exceptions) since the1930s.2Three preservatives are used in vaccines licensed in the UnitedStates: phenol, 2-phenoxyethanol, and thimerosal (Table 1).Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, has been the focus ofintense scrutiny by the US Congress and the news media after itsremoval from most childhood vaccines in 2001. Attention by the newsmedia has caused some parents to fear that thimerosal contained invaccines might harm their children.View this table:[in this window][in a new window] TABLE 1. Preservative Content in Vaccines Licensed in the UnitedStates, 2003Removal of thimerosal from vaccines was precipitated by an amendmentto the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act, which wassigned into law on November 21, 1997.3 The amendment gave the FDA 2years to "compile a list of drugs and foods that contain intentionallyintroduced mercury compounds and ... [to] provide a quantitative andqualitative analysis of the mercury compounds in the list... . " Theamendment arose from a long-standing interest in lessening humanexposure to mercury, a known neurotoxin and nephrotoxin.At the time the FDA Modernization Act was passed, it was recommendedthat infants receive 3 different vaccines that contained thimerosal:diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP), hepatitis B, andHaemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). Infants who received all of thesevaccines could have been exposed to a cumulative dose of mercury ashigh as 187.5 µg by 6 months of age.4 This value exceeded guidelinesrecommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) but did notexceed those recommended by the Agency for Toxic Substances DiseaseRegistry (ATSDR) or the FDA (Table 2).4 Therefore, thimerosal wasremoved from most childhood vaccines by 2001 as a precautionary measure.5View this table:[in this window][in a new window] TABLE 2. Exposure Limits for Mercury in Infants & #8804;6 Months of Age byPercentile Body Weight Established by the EPA, the ATSDR, and the FDAAlthough no published studies to date have compared the incidence ofneurodevelopmental delay in children who received thimerosal-free orthimerosal-containing vaccines, several facts are reassuring that thelevel of mercury contained in vaccines was not likely to be harmful.Thimerosal contains 49.6% mercury by weight and is metabolized toethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Ethylmercury is contained in manydrugs as well as biologicals. Adults and children who are exposedinadvertently to large quantities of ethylmercury acutely (quantities1000- to 1 000 000-fold greater than those found in vaccines) cansustain permanent neurologic damage and death.6–11 However, no dataexist on the capacity of low-dose, chronic exposure to ethylmercury toharm the developing nervous system. Guidelines for chronic exposure toethylmercury were extrapolated from guidelines for methylmercury (themost common form of mercury found in the environment) established bythe EPA, ATSDR, and FDA.4Guidelines from the EPA were based in part on data from pregnant womenin rural Iraq who were exposed to large quantities of methylmercury.12In October 1971, Iraq imported >90 000 metric tons ofmethylmercury-treated seed grain. The grain, distributed free ofcharge to farmers throughout the country, was used to make bread.Consumption of this bread caused an extensive outbreak ofmethylmercury poisoning, resulting in >6000 hospitalizations and 450deaths. By examining the quantity of methylmercury contained in hairfrom mothers who ingested methylmercury and comparing calculatedexposures to methylmercury with the frequency of neurologic symptomsin their offspring (eg, psychomotor retardation, seizures, impairedvision or hearing), a dose-response curve for fetal exposure tomethylmercury and neurologic damage was established. The EPAdetermined guidelines by taking the lowest quantity of methylmercurythat might have resulted in harm to the fetus, bracketing that dosewith 95% confidence intervals and dividing the lower confidenceinterval by an "uncertainty" factor of 10.4By using data from pregnant women in Iraq who were exposed tomethylmercury in the environment to establish guidelines for chronicexposure of infants in the United States to ethylmercury in vaccines,2 important assumptions were made: 1) that the toxicity andpharmacokinetics of methylmercury are the same as those ofethylmercury and 2) that the central nervous systems of the fetus andnewborn are equally susceptible to the harmful effects of mercury.However, the pharmacokinetics of ethylmercury and methylmercury arenot the same. Methylmercury has a biological half-life in blood ofapproximately 50 days compared with that of approximately 7 days forethylmercury.4,13 Because ethylmercury is excreted from the body farmore quickly than methylmercury, cumulative dose guidelines would bevery different. In support of this important difference, Pichichero etal13 found that the level of mercury detected in the blood of 40full-term infants who were 6 months of age or younger and receivedthimerosal-containing DTaP, hepatitis B, and Hib vaccines did notexceed recommended guidelines.13 Furthermore, the developing centralnervous system of the fetus is more susceptible to environmental andtoxic insults than that of the newborn.14–17Removal of thimerosal from most vaccines caused several unanticipatedconsequences. First, before the availability of thimerosal-free DTaP,hepatitis B, and Hib vaccines, hospitals were advised to defer thebirth dose of hepatitis B vaccine to 2 to 6 months of age in infantsof hepatitis B-seronegative mothers.18 Some hospitals misinterpretedthis guideline and suspended administration of the birth dose ofhepatitis B vaccine for all newborns.19–21 As a consequence, 1institution reported that 3 infants of hepatitis B-seropositivemothers did not receive the recommended birth dose of hepatitis Bvaccine.22 Another institution reported the death from acute hepatitisB-induced liver failure of a 3-month-old infant who was born to ahepatitis B-seropositive mother; the infant did not receive thehepatitis B vaccine.19 Furthermore, although thimerosal-free vaccinesare now available, many hospitals continue to defer the birth dose ofhepatitis B vaccine inappropriately.19–21 Second, the removal ofthimerosal from vaccines caused some parents and physicians to believethat vaccines that contain thimerosal were harmful, independent ofdose or age of administration. For example, although contrary torecommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,23some parents and physicians were hesitant to give anythimerosal-containing vaccines to children (eg, influenza vaccine tochildren at high risk of severe influenza infection). Third, althoughthimerosal was removed from vaccines in part to "maintain the public'strust in immunization," some physicians found that parents were lessconfident in professional groups that recommended vaccines before thanafter removal of thimerosal.24 ADJUVANTSTOPABSTRACTPRESERVATIVESADJUVANTSADDITIVESMANUFACTURING RESIDUALSCONCLUSIONREFERENCESAluminum salts are the only adjuvants currently licensed for use inthe United States (Table 3). Aluminum salts include aluminumhydroxide, aluminum phosphate, and potassium aluminum sulfate (alum).Aluminum-containing vaccines are prepared by adsorption of antigensonto aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate gels or by precipitationof antigens in a solution of alum.25View this table:[in this window][in a new window] TABLE 3. Aluminum Salt (Adjuvant) Content in Vaccines Licensed inthe United States, 2003Aluminum salts were found initially to enhance immune responses afterimmunization with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids in studies performedin the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.26–30 Early studies suggested thataluminum salts reduced the rate of elimination of antigens at the siteof inoculation (ie, depot effect).31 However, subsequent studiesquestioned the importance of the depot effect and found that aluminumsalts enhanced antigen uptake by antigen-presenting cells (eg,dendritic cells),32 activated antigen-presenting cells,32 or inducedproduction of cytokines33 and complement.34 The importance of each ofthese mechanisms in enhancing antigen-specific immune responsesremains unclear.The safety of aluminum has been established by experience during thepast 70 years, with hundreds of millions of people inoculated withaluminum-containing vaccines. Adverse reactions including erythema,subcutaneous nodules, contact hypersensitivity, and granulomatousinflammation have been observed rarely.35Aluminum-containing vaccines are not the only source of aluminumexposure for infants. Because aluminum is 1 of the most abundantelements in the earth's crust and is present in air, food, and water,all infants are exposed to aluminum in the environment. For example,breast milk contains approximately 40 µg of aluminum per liter, andinfant formulas contain an average of approximately 225 µg of aluminumper liter.36–40 Vaccines contain quantities of aluminum similar tothose contained in infant formulas (Table 3). However, because largequantities of aluminum can cause serious neurologic effects inhumans,41 guidelines were established by the ATSDR.For determining the quantity of aluminum below which safety is likely,data were generated in mice that were inoculated orally with variousquantities of aluminum lactate.42 No adverse reactions were observedwhen mice were fed quantities of aluminum as high as 62 mg/kg/day. Byapplying uncertainty factors of 3 (for extrapolation to humans) and 10(for human variability), the ATSDR concluded that the minimum risklevel for exposure to aluminum was 2 mg/kg/day.43 The half-life ofelimination of aluminum from the body is approximately 24 hours.41Therefore, the burden of aluminum to which infants are exposed infood36–40 and vaccines (Table 3) is clearly less than the guidelineestablished by the ATSDR and far less than that found to be safe inexperimental animals.41,42 ADDITIVESTOPABSTRACTPRESERVATIVESADJUVANTSADDITIVESMANUFACTURING RESIDUALSCONCLUSIONREFERENCESAdditives are used to stabilize vaccines from adverse conditions suchas freeze-drying or heat. In addition, additives are added to vaccinesto prevent immunogens from adhering to the side of the vial. The typesof stabilizers used in vaccines include sugars (eg, sucrose, lactose),amino acids (eg, glycine, monosodium salt of glutamic acid), andproteins (eg, gelatin or human serum albumin).Three issues surround the use of protein additives in vaccines: 1) theobservation that immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions are a rareconsequence of receiving gelatin-containing vaccines, 2) thetheoretical concern that human serum albumin might contain infectiousagents, and 3) the theoretical concern that bovine-derived materialsused in vaccines might contain the agent associated with bovinespongiform encephalopathy ("mad-cow" disease).Hypersensitivity to GelatinIn 1993, Kelso et al44 reported the case of a 17-year-old girl inCalifornia who developed profuse rhinorrhea, hives, laryngotrachealedema, lightheadedness, and a blood pressure of 70/50 within 5 minutesof receiving a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Her symptomsresolved after treatment with epinephrine and diphenhydramine. Whenlater describing the event, the girl stated that it was "kind of likewhat happens when I eat Jell-O."44 Subsequent testing found that theonly component of the vaccine to which the patient was allergic wasgelatin.Before 1993, immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to the MMRvaccine were attributed to an allergy to egg proteins.45 Thisassumption was based on the fact that both the measles and mumpscomponents of MMR vaccine are grown in chick embryo fibroblast cells.However, most patients with hypersensitivity to MMR vaccine were notallergic to eggs.44 The observation by Kelso et al prompted a closerlook at the capacity of gelatin-containing vaccines to inducehypersensitivity reactions.Studies in Japan confirmed the findings of Kelso et al that immediatehypersensitivity to MMR vaccine was associated with the presence ofgelatin-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE),46 not an allergy to eggproteins. At that time, the rate of immediate hypersensitivity to MMRin Japan was approximately 20-fold higher than that in the UnitedStates.47,48 The increased incidence of immediate-typehypersensitivity to gelatin in Japan was explained in 2 ways. First,DTaP vaccines made in Japan contained gelatin, whereas DTaP vaccinesmade in the United States did not.48 Second, the type of gelatin usedin Japan was not hydrolyzed.48 Hydrolysis converts high molecularweight gelatin (>100 000 Da) to low molecular weight gelatin (between2000 and 5000 Da). Low molecular weight gelatin is less likely tostimulate gelatin-specific IgE than high molecular weight gelatin.49When Japanese vaccine makers eliminated gelatin from DTaP and switchedto the use of hydrolyzed gelatin in the MMR vaccine, the incidence ofgelatin-specific immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions decreaseddramatically to levels similar to those found in the United States.50Although the incidence of anaphylaxis to gelatin is currently very low(approximately 1 case per 2 million doses), gelatin is the most commonidentifiable cause of immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions togelatin-containing vaccines.51,52 A list of vaccines that containgelatin is provided in Table 4 (all gelatin is of porcine origin).View this table:[in this window][in a new window] TABLE 4. Gelatin Content of Vaccines Licensed in the United States,2003Some patients with immediate hypersensitivity reactions to gelatinhave a history of allergies to gelatin-containing foods.51 This isexplained, in part, by the extensive cross-reactivity found betweenbovine gelatin contained in many foods and porcine gelatin containedin vaccines.53 Therefore, it would be of value to ask about foodallergies before vaccination with gelatin-containing vaccines.54 Ifchildren have either a history of food allergy to gelatin or a historyof immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to gelatin-containingvaccines, then gelatin-containing vaccines should not be administeredand an immunologic evaluation should be performed.54 Evaluation mayinclude either detection of gelatin-specific IgE by solid-phaseimmunoassay or skin testing with increasing concentrations ofgelatin.54 Vaccination of people who have immunologic evidence forgelatin hypersensitivity should be performed with the readyavailability of equipment and medications required for the treatmentof anaphylactic reactions or deferred completely.Theoretical Risk of Infectious Agents in Human Serum AlbuminHuman serum albumin (0.3 mg/dose) is contained in measles vaccine(Attenuvax; Merck and Co, West Point, PA); mumps vaccine (Mumpsvax;Merck and Co); rubella vaccine (Meruvax; Merck and Co); and measles,mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMRII; Merck and Co). Because human serumalbumin is derived from human blood, there is a theoretical risk thatit might contain infectious agents. However, the FDA requires thathuman serum albumin be derived from blood of screened donors and bemanufactured in a manner that would eliminate the risk of transmissionof all known viruses. The result is that no viral diseases have everbeen associated with the use of human serum albumin.Theoretical Risk of "Mad-Cow" Disease From Bovine-Derived ReagentsCreutzfeld- disease (CJD) in humans is caused by a uniqueinfectious agent (proteinaceous infectious particles, or prions) thatalso causes encephalopathies in other mammals such as cows (bovinespongiform encephalopathy [bSE]) and sheep (scrapie).55 Between 1995and 1997, a new "variant" form of CJD (vCJD) in humans was reportedfrom the United Kingdom after an outbreak of BSE in cows.56–60 Thetiming of these events raised the possibility that people who ateproducts from cows that were infected with BSE developed vCJD. Severalepidemiologic, clinical, and pathologic features of vCJD supported acausal link between BSE and vCJD.55,61–64Vaccines contain several reagents that are derived from cows (eg,gelatin, glycerol, enzymes, serum, amino acids). Because of concernsabout vCJD, the FDA recently prohibited the use of bovine-derivedmaterials obtained from countries that are known to have cattle thatare infected with BSE.65 However, before this ban, some materials usedin vaccines might have been obtained from cows that were infected withBSE in England. (It should be noted that US vaccine manufacturers werenot allowed to use bovine products imported from outside the UnitedStates to protect against the possible importation of foot-and-mouthdisease). This raised the question of whether children who wereinoculated with vaccines were at risk for vCJD. Newspapers reportedthis possibility in the late 1990s,66 and some parents were concernedabout bovine-derived products contained in vaccines. However, severalepidemiologic observations and features of the manufacturing processshould reassure parents that vaccines could not cause vCJD. First,prions are detected in the brain, spinal cord, and retina of cows withBSE and not in blood or other organs.55 Therefore, serum (present inmedia that support the growth of microorganisms or cells used to makevaccines) is not likely to contain prions. Consistent with theseobservations, no cases of CJD have been transmitted by blood or bloodproducts, and a history of blood transfusion does not increase therisk for CJD.67–69 Second, prions are not detected in connectivetissue of cows with BSE.55 Therefore, gelatin (made by boiling thehooves and skin of pigs or cows) is unlikely to contain prions. Third,epidemiologic evidence does not support vaccines as a cause of vCJD inEngland.70 Human exposure to cows that were infected with BSE inEngland was likely to have occurred after 1983, and vaccines thatcontained bovine-derived materials were likely to have beenadministered to children after 1985. If vaccines that are routinelyadministered in the first 2 years of life caused vCJD, then no casesof vCJD would have been expected to occur in people who were bornbefore 1985. However, all cases of vCJD occurred in people born whowere before 1985 and half before 1970.70 MANUFACTURING RESIDUALSTOPABSTRACTPRESERVATIVESADJUVANTSADDITIVESMANUFACTURING RESIDUALSCONCLUSIONREFERENCESResidual quantities of reagents that are used to make vaccines areclearly defined and well regulated by the FDA. Inactivating agents(eg, formaldehyde), antibiotics, and cellular residuals (eg, egg andyeast proteins) may be contained in the final product.Inactivating AgentsInactivating agents separate a pathogen's immunogenicity from itsvirulence by eliminating the harmful effects of bacterial toxins orablating the capacity of infectious viruses to replicate. Examples ofinactivating agents include formaldehyde, which is used to inactivateinfluenza virus, poliovirus, and diphtheria and tetanus toxins;ß-propiolactone, which is used to inactivate rabies virus; andglutaraldehyde, which is used to inactivate toxins contained inacellular pertussis vaccines. Formaldehyde deserves special consideration.Concerns about the safety of formaldehyde have centered on theobservation that high concentrations of formaldehyde can damage DNAand cause cancerous changes in cells in vitro.71,72 Althoughformaldehyde is diluted during the manufacturing process, residualquantities of formaldehyde may be found in several current vaccines(Table 5). Fortunately, formaldehyde does not seem to be a cause ofcancer in humans,73 and animals that are exposed to large quantitiesof formaldehyde (a single dose of 25 mg/kg or chronic exposure atdoses of 80–100 mg/kg/day) do not develop malignancies.74,75View this table:[in this window][in a new window] TABLE 5. Formaldehyde Content of Vaccines Licensed for Use in theUnited States, 2003The quantity of formaldehyde contained in individual vaccines does notexceed 0.1 mg (Table 5). This quantity of formaldehyde is consideredto be safe for 2 reasons. First, formaldehyde is an essentialintermediate in human metabolism and is required for the synthesis ofthymidine, purines, and amino acids.76 Therefore, all humans havedetectable quantities of formaldehyde in their circulation(approximately 2.5 µg of formaldehyde/mL of blood).77 Assuming anaverage weight of a 2-month-old of 5 kg and an average blood volume of85 mL/kg, the total quantity of formaldehyde found naturally in aninfant's circulation would be approximately 1.1 mg—a value at least10-fold greater than that contained in any individual vaccine. Second,quantities of formaldehyde at least 600-fold greater than thatcontained in vaccines have been given safely to animals.74,75AntibioticsAntibiotics are present in some vaccines to prevent bacterialcontamination during the manufacturing process. Because antibioticscan cause immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions in children,78,79some parents are concerned that antibiotics that are contained invaccines might be harmful. However, antibiotics that are most likelyto cause immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions (eg, penicillins,cephalosporins, sulfonamides)78,79 are not contained in vaccines.Antibiotics that are used during vaccine manufacture include neomycin,streptomycin, polymyxin B, chlortetracyline, and amphotericin B. Onlyneomycin is contained in vaccines in detectable quantities (Table 6).However, immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to the smallquantities of neomycin contained in vaccines has not been clearlydocumented.80,81 Although neomycin-containing products have been foundto cause delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions,82,83 these reactionsare not a contraindication to receiving vaccines.View this table:[in this window][in a new window] TABLE 6. Neomycin Content in Vaccines Licensed for Use in theUnited States, 2003Cellular ResidualsEgg ProteinsEgg allergies occur in approximately 0.5% of the population and inapproximately 5% of atopic children.84 Because influenza and yellowfever vaccines both are propagated in the allantoic sacs of chickembryos (eggs), egg proteins (primarily ovalbumin) are present in thefinal product. Residual quantities of egg proteins found in theinfluenza vaccine (approximately 0.02–1.0 µg/dose) are sufficient toinduce severe and rarely fatal hypersensitivity reactions in childrenwith egg allergies.85,86 Unfortunately, children with egg allergiesalso have other diseases (eg, asthma) that are associated with a highrisk of severe and occasionally fatal influenza infection.87,88 Forthis reason, children who have egg allergies and are at high risk ofsevere influenza infection should be given influenza vaccine via astrict protocol.86–90In contrast to influenza vaccine, measles and mumps vaccines arepropagated in chick embryo fibroblast cells in culture. The quantityof residual egg proteins found in measles- and mumps-containingvaccines is approximately 40 pg—a quantity at least 500-fold less thanthose found for influenza vaccines.91 The quantity of egg proteinsfound in measles- and mumps-containing vaccines is not sufficient toinduce immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions, and children withsevere egg allergies can receive these vaccines safely.92Yeast ProteinsHepatitis B vaccines are made by transfecting cells of Saccharomycescerevisiae (baker's yeast) with the gene that encodes hepatitis Bsurface antigen, and residual quantities of yeast proteins arecontained in the final product. Engerix-B (GlaxoKline, ResearchTriangle Park, NC) contains no more than 5 mg/mL and Recombivax HB(Merck and Co) contains no more than 1 mg/mL yeast proteins.Immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions have been observed rarelyafter receipt of hepatitis B vaccine (approximately 1 case per 600 000doses).93 However, yeast-specific IgE has not been detected inpatients with immediate-type hypersensitivity94–96 or in nonallergicpatients97 after receipt of hepatitis B vaccine. Therefore, the riskof anaphylaxis after receipt of hepatitis B vaccine as a result ofallergy to baker's yeast is theoretical. CONCLUSIONTOPABSTRACTPRESERVATIVESADJUVANTSADDITIVESMANUFACTURING RESIDUALSCONCLUSIONREFERENCESParents should be reassured that quantities of mercury, aluminum, andformaldehyde contained in vaccines are likely to be harmless on thebasis of exposure studies in humans or experimental studies inanimals. Although severe anaphylactic reactions may occur rarely afterreceipt of vaccines that contain sufficient quantities of egg proteins(eg, influenza, yellow fever) or gelatin (eg, MMRII), children who areat risk for severe infection with influenza can be desensitized toinfluenza vaccine, and gelatin-specific allergies are very rare.Immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to neomycin or yeastproteins have not been clearly documented and remain theoretical. ACKNOWLEDGMENTSSome vaccines discussed in this article are manufactured by Merck andCo. Dr Offit is the co-holder of a patent on a bovine-humanreassortant rotavirus vaccine that is being developed by Merck. DrOffit's laboratory support comes from the National Institutes ofHealth, and he does not receive personal support or honoraria fromMerck and does not have a financial interest in the company. FOOTNOTESReceived for publication Feb 20, 2003; Accepted May 1, 2003.Reprint requests to (P.A.O.) 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Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol.1988; 85 :130–132[iSI][Medline]PEDIATRICS (ISSN 1098-4275). ©2003 by the American Academy of PediatricsP3Rs:Read all P3RsParents' worries about thimerosal in vaccines are well founded! Mark R. Geier, MD, Ph.D., et al. Pediatrics Online, 12 Mar 2004 [Full text] Re: Parents' worries about thimerosal in vaccines are well founded! paul a offit, et al. Pediatrics Online, 17 Mar 2004 [Full text] Offit and Jew incorrect on 2003 Vaccination Schedules S. Hooker Pediatrics Online, 31 Mar 2004 [Full text] response to brian hooker A Offit, et al. Pediatrics Online, 1 Apr 2004 [Full text] > >>>> >> >>>> > Hi Group,> >>>> >> >>>> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the> >>>> amount> >>>> > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Alsoshe said> >>>> when> >>>> > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put> >>>> > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver)> >>>> just> >>>> > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know aboutthis as> >>>> > well. Holly> >>>> >> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 Henry..I hope you're right! > > >>>> > > > >>>> > Hi Group, > > >>>> > > > >>>> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the > > >>>> amount > > >>>> > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also > she said > > >>>> when > > >>>> > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put > > >>>> > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) > > >>>> just > > >>>> > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about > this as > > >>>> > well. Holly > > >>>> > > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 Do we want to go there? If thimerosal turns out to be an active ingredient in vaccines, then it'll be covered by the immunity law that protects vaccine makers --Lilly et al. are off the hook. Lenny > >>>> > > >>>> > Hi Group, > >>>> > > >>>> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the > >>>> amount > >>>> > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said > >>>> when > >>>> > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put > >>>> > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) > >>>> just > >>>> > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as > >>>> > well. Holly > >>>> > > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 And if I am not mistaken-if it's an active ingredient then the lawsuits in the vaccine court should have been allowed to move ahead years ago. Ha!schaferatsprynet <schafer@...> wrote: Do we want to go there? If thimerosal turns out to be an activeingredient in vaccines, then it'll be covered by the immunity law thatprotects vaccine makers --Lilly et al. are off the hook.Lenny> >>>> >> >>>> > Hi Group,> >>>> >> >>>> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the> >>>> amount> >>>> > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Alsoshe said> >>>> when> >>>> > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put> >>>> > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver)> >>>> just> >>>> > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know aboutthis as> >>>> > well. Holly> >>>> >> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 Dr. Boyd Haley made a few comments to us in interview that thimerosal isn't an adjuvant. Just an immune suppressant. But I've heard it both ways. Either way, they should definitely use other adjuvants. > >> + Re: Aluminium up? > >>>> > >>>> Aluminum is used as an adjuvant in vaccines. Thimerosal is a > >>>> preservative. They wouldn't increase an adjuvant to replace > >>>> thimerosal. > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Critical Decisions Count > >>>> http://users.adelphia.net/~cdc/VaccineIngredients.htm#Aluminum > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > > >>>> > Hi Group, > >>>> > > >>>> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the > >>>> amount > >>>> > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said > >>>> when > >>>> > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put > >>>> > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) > >>>> just > >>>> > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as > >>>> > well. Holly > >>>> > > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 My point is not that thimerosal is properly usable as an adjuvant - I do not know. But some vaccine regulators think it might have an adjuvant effect and removing it might affect efficacy. Not an either/or proposition - my point is that it does have an affect on the immune system - not a good one - but does provoke the production of cytokines and B cells etc. This may make vaccines have a greater antigenic effect and make it appear that vaccines are more effective, but at the cost of some disruption of the immune system. The point is that some vaccine authorities are concerned that removing thimerosal might affect the efficacy of the vaccine. That is usually not made public as thimerosal is supposed to be in there only as a preservative. Note the current line that most vaccines do not have thimerosal " as a preservative. " That statement may have more significance than the implication that it was was used as a sterilizer in manufacturing. When you see some of the documents at Autism One you will see what I mean. On May 8, 2006, at 7:35 AM, Nanstiel wrote: > Dr. Boyd Haley made a few comments to us in interview that thimerosal > isn't an adjuvant. > Just an immune suppressant. But I've heard it both ways. > > Either way, they should definitely use other adjuvants. > > > > >> + Re: Aluminium up? > > >>>> > > >>>> Aluminum is used as an adjuvant in vaccines. Thimerosal is a > > >>>> preservative. They wouldn't increase an adjuvant to replace > > >>>> thimerosal. > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> Critical Decisions Count > > >>>> http://users.adelphia.net/~cdc/VaccineIngredients.htm#Aluminum > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > > >>>> > Hi Group, > > >>>> > > > >>>> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the > > >>>> amount > > >>>> > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also > she said > > >>>> when > > >>>> > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to > put > > >>>> > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial > silver) > > >>>> just > > >>>> > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about > this as > > >>>> > well. Holly > > >>>> > > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 No, this would not have changed the decisions driving cases from state and federal courts into vaccine court. This was covered by the Leroy decision in the vaccine court and multiple state and federal decisions. Thimerosal is already convered as a constituent in vaccines. This is what all the litigation was about when cases alleging thimerosal injury were brought in state and federal courts either individually or in class actions. Plaintiffs argued it was a contaminant and not covered. The Defendants argued that it was a constituent. With the exception of 1 or 2 courts it was deemed to be a constituents and covered by the vaccine act, and plaintiffs had to file in vaccine court first. The exception was thimerosal manufacturers like Eli Lilly or Sigma-they can be sued as thimerosal manufacturers, not vaccine manufacturers under a federal Appeals Court decision - whether or not thimerosal is an " active " ingredient. Being an " active ingredient " , by that I presume you mean active as an adjuvant rather than active as a preservative, would not affect this. The question is whether thimerosal is considered to be a " constituent " of vaccines or a " contaminant. " The courts have already decided it is a " constituent " that is covered by the vaccine act. Discussing thimerosal's effect as an adjuvant would have no bearing on this. So, yes I want to go there as it will not change the law, and the issue should be pressed. In addition, if it is an adjuvant but not one that is recognized as such in licensing applications etc. - its function as an adjuvant was hidden - so there may be violations of law or regulation. I do not see the problem in stating that it may have been used as an adjuvant. Will not let Lilly off the hook - just the opposite possibility - if some parties knew it was being used as an adjuvant.. On May 8, 2006, at 6:40 AM, Maurine Meleck wrote: > And if I am not mistaken-if it's an active ingredient then the > lawsuits in the vaccine court should have been allowed to move ahead > years ago. Ha! > > schaferatsprynet <schafer@...> wrote: >> Do we want to go there? If thimerosal turns out to be an active >> ingredient in vaccines, then it'll be covered by the immunity law that >> protects vaccine makers --Lilly et al. are off the hook. >> >> Lenny >> >> >> >> > >>>> > >> > >>>> > Hi Group, >> > >>>> > >> > >>>> > My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the >> > >>>> amount >> > >>>> > of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also >> she said >> > >>>> when >> > >>>> > babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to >> put >> > >>>> > silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial >> silver) >> > >>>> just >> > >>>> > in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about >> this as >> > >>>> > well. Holly >> > >>>> > >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 Unfortunately, he still seems to be in high regard by too much of the mainstream media and policy makers, probably because he says what they want to hear. And through them, he reaches far too many parents who buy into what he's saying because he's an " expert, " and after all he says he really cares about our children. Wade > > > > Does anyone actually listen to Offit anymore? > > I don't even think the peds are bamboozled anymore. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2006 Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 I did hear talk of doing this to get a "better" immune response.. nice eh? Hi Group,My friend who is a nurse said with the removal of mercury the amount of Al was increased. Anyone know if this is true? Also she said when babies are born in the hospital it is automatic procedure to put silver drops in their eyes(my guess similiar to collodial silver) just in case mom has syphillis or ghonerria. Anyone know about this as well. Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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