N.J. parents fret about flu shots - thimerosal a concern

[Guest guest]

Importantly, pregnant women, embryos, fetus, breast milk, infants, and

toddlers contain numerous other toxins. Thus thimerosal injections

exacerbate intra-body intoxination, which itself helps deplete nutrients

needed for detoxification of thimerosal's ethylmercury. Furthermore, the

article perpetuates the CDC's fictional spin about thimerosal. -

- - - -

*N.J. parents fret about flu shots*

Mercury in vaccine a concern

Sunday, December 16, 2007

BY CAROL ANN CAMPBELL

Star-Ledger Staff

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1197791418124280.xml & coll=\

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Only one vaccine routinely given to American children still contains

more than trace amounts of thimerosal, a preservative made with mercury.

That vaccine is the flu shot.

Next year New Jersey will become the first state ever to mandate flu

shots, following new rules that require the vaccine for babies and

children to attend day care or preschool.

The mandate is putting new focus on thimerosal and the effort by

pediatricians, parents and vaccine makers to increase the supply of

thimerosal-free flu vaccine as debate continues over the link between

autism, vaccines and mercury.

State and federal health officials, as well as most pediatricians, call

the traditional vaccine safe for children and valuable to preventing

illness, hospitalizations and, perhaps, deaths.

Yet they acknowledge that many parents want thimerosal-free vaccine and

some pediatricians say they will order only thimerosal-free vaccines for

the 2008-09 flu season.

" In anticipation of the new rules for preschoolers, we are thinking of

just ordering thimerosal-free flu vaccine, " said L. Segarra,

vice president of the American Academy of Pediatrics -- New Jersey, and

a pediatrician at North Brunswick Pediatrics. He believes the

traditional vaccine is safe, but said some parents want the

preservative-free alternative.

Thimerosal is a preservative that has been used since the 1930s to

prevent contamination in some multi-dose vials of vaccine.

(Preservatives are not needed for single-dose vials.) Thimerosal

contains about 49 percent ethylmercury. According the U.S. Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, there is no " convincing evidence " of

harm by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines.

Nonetheless, in 1999 the American Academy of Pediatrics and vaccine

manufacturers agreed to reduce or eliminate mercury in vaccines as a

precaution.

The CDC says that all routinely licensed pediatric vaccines manufactured

for the U.S. market now contain no thimerosal or only trace amounts --

except for the influenza vaccine. It says thimerosal-free flu vaccine is

available, but in " limited quantity. "

Anti-vaccine activists have complained that not all pediatricians carry

the preservative-free shots, or carry enough.

Last year, a Brownstein of town found her pediatrician did

not carry the newer shots. She had to find another physician and pay

out-of-network prices to get her son inoculated. This year, she more

easily found the new shots for her 9-year-old son, Saul, at her

pediatrician's office.

" I felt I had to rush in to get it, " she said. " There were like 100

people waiting for shots. "

Shay Pagare of Iselin wanted her 3-year-old son to get his flu shot --

but only if she could find a vaccine free of thimerosal.

" I specifically asked for thimerosal-free vaccine and called beforehand

to make sure the pediatrician had it, " Pagare said.

Her son got the inoculation.

" Not everyone carries it. You have to be persistent, " Pagare said.

Vaccine maker sanofi pasteur, with U.S. operations in Bridgewater, has

been increasing production of the preservative-free vaccine for the past

few years. This flu season the company shipped 10 million to 12 million

preservative-free shots and 50 million of the traditional shots. Both

are called Fluzone, though one is marked " preservative free. " A new

manufacturing plant in Swiftwater, Pa., is scheduled to open by early

2009 to increase production of preservative-free flu vaccine.

" Our goal is to have our capacity to be entirely preservative free, "

said Patty Thomsky, a company spokesperson.

The preservative-free shots come in single-dose vials and cost about $1

to $2 more than doses from multi-dose vials that use preservatives. The

average cost for a flu shot is about $10 to $14, though prices may vary.

The state Public Health Council passed the flu vaccine recommendations

despite protests from those skeptical of vaccines and government

intrusion on parental authority. Some vehemently oppose all vaccines;

others are fearful specifically of thimerosal.

The state health commissioner on Friday finalized the new immunization

rules, which call for babies aged 6 months to children just under 5

years old to get the flu vaccine in order to attend day care or

preschool. State health officials said influenza can spread quickly

through day care centers and preschool, sickening children. Children,

too, can carry the virus back to their families and into the community.

" I don't think it (preservative-free flu vaccine) is medically

necessary, but if parents feel this is what they want it's their

choice, " said Henry Kim, a pediatrician in Basking Ridge. " It's a good

idea for all children to get the vaccine, especially those who have

chronic illness such as diabetes or asthma. "

Carol Ann may be reached at ccampbell@....

© 2007 The Star Ledger

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