The Minster Practice, Lichfield

Thiomersal and vaccines

A documentary on Radio 4 put for forward a case against using the ethylmercury preservative thiomersal in vaccines. There is no good evidence of any serious adverse effects but as a precaution, and as part of a worldwide drive to reduce exposure to mercury, it is being withdrawn worldwide. This process takes time as the manufacturers have to research the new formulation to convince the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) that the final vaccine is effective and safe. In the US this process is now complete giving Radio 4 a story. However, the more persistent methylmercury in food was used in comparison to the rapidly excreted ethylmercury in vaccines.
The Health Authority (BLT PCT) pharmaceutical adviser has sent us a copy of the advice from the UK Committee  on Safety of Medicines (CSM) dated February 2003. This reminded us that the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety reviews thiomersal regularly and concluded in November 2002 that there was no evidence of toxicity in infants, children or adults.
However, the Scottish Health Department allows parents to specify the use of child vaccines without thiomersal preservative. Dr Causer has therefore asked the Health Authority where he can obtain such vaccines in case they are required for children registered with his practice whose parents prefer them.
Vaccines we have in stock at the moment with thiomersal as the preservative are DTP & Hib, DT and Diftavax pre-filled syringes.

We have specified that the flu vaccine we purchase should not contain thiomersal as a preservative or have thiomersal used during vaccine manufacture. The vaccine we use is more expensive but also gives better protection against flu in older age groups where protection is more difficult.

NHS factsheet: Thiomersal (mercury) in vaccines

Available via NHS immunisation website: http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk

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