General considerations about mercury, thimerosal in pediatrics vaccines
Keywords:
THIMEROSAL, MERCURY, SYNTHETIC VACCINES
Abstract
Thimerosal, a mercury derivative, has been used in the medical field because of its antiseptic properties. Since at least 60 years it has been used as a preservative in vaccines to prevent bacterial contamination, particularly in multidose containers. However, by the end of the 90's it has been questionned in the United States and Europe due to its theoretic risks and neurological effects in infants. Since 2001, international organizations, NGOs and government organizations, and WHO's committees have been reviewing available information on this issue. According to their reports, there is no evidence of harm caused by mercury in children nor in adults who have received thimerosal-containing vaccines. Thus, immunization with thimerosal-containing vaccines do not need to be changed.
References
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18) Stajich GV, López GP, Harry SW, Sexson WR. Iatrogenic exposure to mercury after hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants. J Pediatr 2000; 136(5): 679-81.
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26) The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA). Position Statement. Recent developments concerning thiomersal in vaccines. Doc Ref: EMEA/CPMP/1578/00. http://www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/human/press/pus/157800en.pdf [Consulta: 17 setiembre 2003].
27) Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Statement by William Egan PH.D acting office director of vaccine research and review FDA Department of Health and Human Services, July 18, 2000. http://www.fda.gov/ola/2000/vaccines.html [Consulta: 24 julio 2000].
28) Control Disease Center (CDC). Timerosal & Vaccines: A new Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report. Immunization Safety Review: Thimerosal-containing vaccines and Neurodevelopmental disorders (2001). http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/iom-thim10-1-01.htm [Consulta: 25 octubre 2001).
29) Control Disease Center (CDC). Impact of the 1999 AAP/USPHS Joint Statement on Thimerosal in Vaccines on Infant Hepatitis B Vaccination Practices. MMWR 2001; 50(6): 94-7.
30) World Health Organization. Vaccines and Biologicals: Recommendations from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 2002; 77(37): 305-6.
31) World Health Organization. Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, 20-21 June 2002. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 2002; 77(47): 389-404.
32) Clements CJ, Ball LK, Ball R, Pratt D. Thiomersal in vaccines. Lancet. 2000; 355(9211): 1279-80.
33) Pless R, Risher JF. Mercury, infant neurodevelopment, and vaccination. J Pediatr 2000; 136(5): 571-3.
34) World Health Organization. Policy Statement: The use of opened multi-dose vials of vaccine in subsequent immunization sessions. WHO/V&B/00.09.Geneva: WHO, 2000.
2) Mark Smith C. Mercury in Massachussets: An evaluation of sources, emissions, impacts and control. Massachussets Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP). Office of Research and standard. Aug 8, 1996. http://www.testfoundation.org/thimerosal.htm [Consulta: 11 octubre 2001, 14 febrero 2003].
3) Klaassen C. Metales pesados y antagonistas de los metales pesados. In: Goodman A, Rall T, Niess A, Taylor P. eds. Las bases farmacológicas de la terapéutica. 8 ed. México: Médica Panamericana, 1991: 1543-6.
4) Pichichero ME, Cernichiari E, Lopreiato J, Treanor J. Mercury concentrations and metabolism in infants receiving vaccines containing thiomersal: a descriptive study. Lancet 2002; 360(9347): 1737-41.
5) Bigham M, Copes R, Srour L. Exposure to thimerosal in vaccines used in Canadian infant immunization programs, with respect to risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. Can Commun Dis Rep 2002; 28(9): 69-80.
6) Budavari S, O'Neil MJ, Smith A, Heckelman PE, Kinneary J. The Merck Index. 12 ed. New Jersey: Merck 1996: 1590.
7) Martindale. The extra pharmacopoeia. 30 ed. London: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1993: 804.
8) Valeri A. Thiomersal nei vaccini: il meccanismo del danno. http://www.vaccinetwork.org/archivio/thimerosal/2001/integrazesposto.html. [Consulta: 17 febrero 2003].
9) Ball LK, Ball R, Pratt D. Review article: An assessment of thimerosal use in childhood vaccines. Pediatrics 2001; 107(5): 1147-54.
10) Institute of Medicine (USA). Timerosal-containing vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders. Institute of Medicine. USA. http://www.iom.edu/IOM/IOMHome.nsf/ [Consulta: 7 agosto 2001].
11) The National Academy of Sciences. EPA's Methylmercury guideline is scientifically justifiable for protecting most Americans, but some may be at risk. http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/ [Consulta: 2 oct. 2001].
12) Food and Drug Administration: Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER): Thimerosal in vaccines. http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.html [Consulta: 16 febrero 2003].
13) World Health Organization. Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine safety, 20-21 June 2002. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 2002; 77(47): 389-90.
14) Bernier RH, Frank JA, Nolan TF Jr. Abscesses complicating DPT vaccination. Am J Dis Child 1981; 135(9): 826-8.
15) Simon PA, Chen RT, Elliot JA, Schwartz B. Outbreak of pyogenic abscesses after diphteria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccinnation. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1993; 12(5): 368-71.
16) National Network for Immunization Information: Mercury in vaccines: What we know. http://www.immunizationinfo.org/features/index.cfm? ID=34 [Consulta: 2 octubre 2001].
17) Goncalo M, Figueredo A, Goncalo S. Hypersensibility to thimerosal: the sensitizing moiety. Contact dermatitis 1996; 34(3): 201-3.
18) Stajich GV, López GP, Harry SW, Sexson WR. Iatrogenic exposure to mercury after hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants. J Pediatr 2000; 136(5): 679-81.
19) NEWSRx: Childhood Immunization: Mercury in vaccines is at safe levels. Vaccine Weekly. January 1st, 2003. http://www.NewsRx.com [Consulta: 1 febrero 2003].
20) Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Center for Drugs Evaluation and Research (CDER): Mercury compounds in drugs and food. http://www.fda.gov/cder/fdama/mercuryreport.htm [Consulta: 14 febrero 2003].
21) The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (Emea): Public Statement on thiomersal containing medicinal products. London, 8 July, 1999 Doc Ref: EMEA/20962/99. http://www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/human/press/pus/2096299EN.pdf [Consulta: 17 setiembre 2003].
22) Control Disease Center (CDC). Notice to readers: thimerosal in vaccines: a Joint Statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Public Health Service. MMWR 1999; 48(26): 563-5.
23) American Academy of Family Physicians. Thimerosal in vaccines. Joint statement of the AAFP, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Advisory Committee on Ommunization practices (ACIP) and the United States Public Health Service (PHS). http://www.aafp.org/x1566.xml [Consulta: 15 febrero 2003].
24) Control Disease Center (CDC). Recommendations Regarding the use of vaccines that contain thimerosal as a preservative. MMWR 1999; 48(43): 996-8.
25) World Health Organization. Thiomersal as a vaccine preservative. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 2000; 75(14): 12-6.
26) The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA). Position Statement. Recent developments concerning thiomersal in vaccines. Doc Ref: EMEA/CPMP/1578/00. http://www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/human/press/pus/157800en.pdf [Consulta: 17 setiembre 2003].
27) Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Statement by William Egan PH.D acting office director of vaccine research and review FDA Department of Health and Human Services, July 18, 2000. http://www.fda.gov/ola/2000/vaccines.html [Consulta: 24 julio 2000].
28) Control Disease Center (CDC). Timerosal & Vaccines: A new Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report. Immunization Safety Review: Thimerosal-containing vaccines and Neurodevelopmental disorders (2001). http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/iom-thim10-1-01.htm [Consulta: 25 octubre 2001).
29) Control Disease Center (CDC). Impact of the 1999 AAP/USPHS Joint Statement on Thimerosal in Vaccines on Infant Hepatitis B Vaccination Practices. MMWR 2001; 50(6): 94-7.
30) World Health Organization. Vaccines and Biologicals: Recommendations from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 2002; 77(37): 305-6.
31) World Health Organization. Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, 20-21 June 2002. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 2002; 77(47): 389-404.
32) Clements CJ, Ball LK, Ball R, Pratt D. Thiomersal in vaccines. Lancet. 2000; 355(9211): 1279-80.
33) Pless R, Risher JF. Mercury, infant neurodevelopment, and vaccination. J Pediatr 2000; 136(5): 571-3.
34) World Health Organization. Policy Statement: The use of opened multi-dose vials of vaccine in subsequent immunization sessions. WHO/V&B/00.09.Geneva: WHO, 2000.
Published
2004-03-31
How to Cite
1.
Zambrano B. General considerations about mercury, thimerosal in pediatrics vaccines. Rev. Méd. Urug. [Internet]. 2004Mar.31 [cited 2024Nov.17];20(1):4-11. Available from: http://www2.rmu.org.uy/ojsrmu311/index.php/rmu/article/view/926
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