Washington State Lifts Limit on Mercury Preservative in Swine-Flu Shots
September 28th, 2009Via: Seattle Times:
In preparation for swine-flu vaccinations next month, Washington’s Health Department on Thursday temporarily suspended a rule that limits the amount of a mercury preservative in vaccines given to pregnant women and children under the age of 3.
The preservative, thimerosal, has never been linked to any health problems, said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. But a vocal minority believes the compound could be linked to autism. The state Legislature adopted the limit in 2006.
Thimerosal has been eliminated from most vaccines in the United States, but it will be added to the bulk of the swine-flu vaccine being produced to stem a pandemic that health officials estimate could sicken more than a third of the state’s residents.
Pregnant women and young children are considered at high risk for swine flu, and lifting the mercury limits will give them quicker access to the vaccine, Selecky said.
“It’s vital that everyone in a high-risk group has the choice to be vaccinated when swine-flu vaccine becomes available,” she said.
This one effects me personally. I am in Washington and have a 5 year old and 5 month old. My five year old had the “pediatric” shots in years before. I was on the fence whether to allow it, but I received overwhelming pressure from his doctor and my family. And now this?
What do you guys think I should do this year? I’d like to take a pass, but my boy has bronchial asthma and goes to public school(flu city).
A parent shouldn’t have to make these kind of decisions.
Some stuff to consider:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090519172045.htm
Children Who Get Flu Vaccine Have Three Times Risk Of Hospitalization For Flu, Study Suggests
The inactivated flu vaccine does not appear to be effective in preventing influenza-related hospitalizations in children, especially the ones with asthma. In fact, children who get the flu vaccine are more at risk for hospitalization than their peers who do not get the vaccine, according to new research that will be presented on May 19, at the 105th International Conference of the American Thoracic Society in San Diego.
—
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/09/23/flu-shots-h1n1-seasonal.html
Seasonal Flu Shot May INCREASE H1N1 Risk
Preliminary research suggests the seasonal flu shot may put people at greater risk for getting swine flu, CBC News has learned.
“This is some evidence that has been floated. It hasn’t been validated yet, it’s very preliminary,” cautioned Dr. Don Low, microbiologist-in-chief at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.
“This is obviously important data to help guide policy decisions. How can we best protect people against influenza?”
It’s important to validate the information, which has not been peer reviewed, to make sure it’s not just a fluke, and that the observation is confirmed elsewhere such as in the Southern Hemisphere, which just completed its seasonal flu season, or in the U.S. and UK.
Four Canadian studies involved about 2,000 people, health officials told CBC News. Researchers found people who had received the seasonal flu vaccine in the past were more likely to get sick with the H1N1 virus.