Judge denies group's bid to block flu vaccine

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Judge denies group's bid to block flu vaccine

By NEDRA PICKLER (AP) – http://bit.ly/wi6Pb

WASHINGTON — A judge on Wednesday denied an advocacy group's bid to prevent the

government from giving pregnant women flu vaccines with a preservative that

contains mercury.

Leaders of the Coalition for Mercury-Free Drugs say their effort took on a new

urgency when a government advisory committee recently recommended that pregnant

women be among the first people to get swine flu vaccinations when the vaccine

becomes available this fall.

A small amount of the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal is in most

influenza shots, including swine flu vaccines, but some are produced

thimerosal-free. The coalition argued that pregnant women should only get the

thimerosal-free version because of a risk that the mercury in the shot could

poison a fetus and cause medical problems, including autism.

But U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ruled against the group's request for a

preliminary injunction because he said the group couldn't prove that pregnant

women they represent would get vaccines containing thimerosal.

Walton said he would consider further written arguments in the next month about

whether the lawsuit can continue.

Thimerosal used to be used in a number of vaccines, but manufacturers began

removing the preservative from all routine child vaccines in 2001 as a

precaution. But numerous large studies have shown no link between thimerosal and

autism, or other health problems.

On the Net:

* Coalition for Mercury-Free Drugs: http://mercury-freedrugs.org/

* Background from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

http://tinyurl.com/konff8