There is a ton of debate over whether children should or should not be vaccinated. This article does not cover that debate. The goal here is simply to explain why mercury can still be found in some vaccines and how you can reduce your child’s exposure. The story begins with preservatives.
Let’s start by saying that adding preservatives to vaccines is a good thing. Their purpose is to prevent bacteria from contaminating the vaccine during the manufacturing process, as well as later on as the vaccine is administered to the patient.
The standard preservative used in vaccines from the 1930s was mercury, because mercury is highly effective in killing bacteria and viruses. We now know that in high doses, mercury can cause damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and immune system. It can also harm the developing nervous system of growing children.
In 1999 the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the FDA remove mercury from childhood vaccines in the US. And by 2001, a preservative called thimerosal, which contains mercury as the active ingredient, was largely removed from most adult and pediatric vaccines.
But because mercury is so effective, the FDA still permits limited use of thimerosal today in some childhood vaccines, as well as in multi-use flu vaccines for both children and adults.
In this article
Mercury exposure in childhood vaccines
Trace amounts of mercury (1 mcg or less per injection) are considered safe by the FDA, CDC, and NIH. And this amount may be present in some routine childhood vaccinations. However, children who are injected with multiple vaccines in a single visit or over a short period of time may accumulate several doses of mercury at once.
Trace amounts of mercury are processed and eliminated by the body, so parents can reduce the accumulation of mercury in their child’s body by spreading vaccinations over a longer period of time. Speak with your doctor about creating a longer schedule for vaccines, so your child’s body has time to process and eliminate the first round of mercury before the next round is administered.
Also read: Easy Ways To Limit Your Exposure To Common Phthalates
Mercury exposure through flu shots
Flu shots are often packaged in multi-use vials, which means that a single vial contains enough vaccine to treat multiple patients. A fresh needle is used for each patient, but because the vial is pierced multiple times, there is an increased chance for contamination. As a result, more thimerosal is needed for multi-use vials, exposing each flu shot patient to a higher dose (up to 25 mcg) of mercury.
Packaging flu shots in a multi-use vial can significantly lower the cost of the vaccine, making it more affordable for patients. The higher measure of mercury is still considered safe, but concerned parents and patients can reduce their exposure by requesting and paying the premium for single-dose flu shots.
Alternatively, patients from 2 to 49 years of age may be a candidate for thimerosal-free flu shots administered as a nasal spray. As with most drugs, the nasal spray flu vaccine may not be suitable for everyone and may not cover all strains of the virus. The CDC offers a list of who may be eligible.
The CDC also offers this list of available flu shots and their associated mercury levels. You may be able to choose a shot that is lower in mercury if your doctor or pharmacy carries it.
And of course, skipping the annual flu shot isn’t for everyone, but it is one way to avoid mercury altogether.
Also read: Easy Ways To Limit Your Exposure To BPA
Good to know
Vaccines labeled as “thimerosal-free” or “mercury-free” may still retain trace amounts of mercury leftover from the manufacturing process, even if the preservative was not directly added as an ingredient. These trace amounts are considered safe by the FDA, CDC, and NIH.
[accordions][accordion title=”Research” load=”hide”]
- http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5343a5.htm
- http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/additives.htm
- http://www.epa.gov/hg/consumerinfo.htm
- http://www.fda.gov/biologicsbloodvaccines/SafetyAvailability/vaccinesafety/UCM096228
- http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/QuestionsaboutVaccines/UCM070430
- http://www.immunizationinfo.org/issues/thimerosal-mercury/mercury-vaccines
- http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2013/mercury_20130119/en/
- http://www2.aap.org/immunization/families/ingredients.html
[/accordion][/accordions]