Does the swine flu vaccine contain mercury?
Concerned about mercury? Talk to your doctor to make sure your swine flu vaccination is thimerosal-free.
Tue, Sep 08 2009 at 3:00 AM EST
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Photo: zethiel/stock.xchang In the words of President Obama "don't be alarmed, be prepared" for swine flu. But what if the preparation is more alarming than the flu?
It turns out, the new swine flu vaccine (the one that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and even President Obama have been pushing so strongly) contains an ingredient that may have some parents worrying. Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that has been phased out of childhood immunizations since 2001 due to concerns that the preservative MAY be linked to autism. But thimerosal (which is about half-mercury) will be found in most vials of the swine flu vaccine. However, it may be possible to find doses that are thimerosal-free if you ask for single-dose shots. According to the CDC,
"Single-dose syringes will be thimerosal-free, which will address concerns about this additive, especially regarding pediatric and pregnant vaccine recipients (inhaler sprayer vaccine products will also be thimerosal-free)."
The sheer amount of news stories, studies, interviews and papers released on the potential link between childhood vaccines and autism is nothing short of mind-numbing -- as is the amount of finger-pointing, contradictions and paranoia that exists on both sides of the debate. For every study that you find that either proves or disproves the connection between vaccines and autism, you will find a laundry list of concerns regarding the way the studies were set up and who funded them.
Complicating the issue further is the possibility that the link between autism and vaccines (if there is one) may not be clear cut. It's entirely possible that vaccines may trigger autism in children who are “genetically susceptible” to the disease. It's also possible that it is not any one vaccine (or vaccine component) that can be linked to autism -- but rather the fact that so many vaccines are given in so short a time -- that may cause trigger the onset of autism.
In other words, regardless of your stance on the vaccine/autism issue, there is no shortage of information to support and/or refute your claim. I'm not a doctor, nor do I pretend to be one online. But I do think that parents need to learn as much as they can about these issues in order to make the best decisions for their kids. With that said, here are some links that offer more details about vaccines and autism.
Pro-Vaccine: There is no link between vaccines and autism
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CDC: “The weight of the evidence indicates that vaccines are not associated with autism.”
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American Academy of Pediatrics: ”There is no scientifically proven link between measles vaccination and autism.”
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Dr. Paul Ofitt, director, Vaccine Education Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: “Studies of 1) the genetics of autism, 2) the timing of the first symptoms of autism (home-movie studies), 3) the relationship between autism and the receipt of the MMR vaccine, 4) the histopathology of the central nervous system of children with autism, and 5) thalidomide, natural rubella infection, fragile X syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis all support the fact that autism occurs during development of the central nervous system early in utero.” (From Vaccines and Autism)
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FDA: “There is no link between autism and the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or the vaccine preservative thimerosal, according to a report released by the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Immunization Safety Review Committee.”
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National Institutes of Health: To date there is no definite, scientific proof that any vaccine or combination of vaccines can cause autism.”
Anti-Vaccine: There is a strong link between vaccines and autism
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K.N.O.W. Vaccines (Kids Need Options With Vaccines): “The strong correlation between autism and vaccine history becomes even more credible when the disease characteristics for both autism and mercury poisoning are compared.”
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Evidence of Harm: 2005 book identifies a possible link between thimerosal and rising rates of autism.
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Generation Rescue: Jenny McCarthy’s organization that researches the causes and treatments for autism.
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Adventures in Autism: The blog of Ginger Taylor, and “autism mom” who writes about “news and commentary on the autism epidemic and my beautiful boy who is living with autism.”
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Comments
Harley
05/20/2010 11:15 AM
this was something very informative I come across recently http://www.zell-arazim.com/ don’t miss to have a look.
Harley
05/20/2010 11:13 AM
The scientific evidence is now overwhelming in favor of the usefulness of vaccines.this was something very informative I come across recently which relate to Swine Flu Vaccine,don’t miss to have a look.
Just save yourself
05/17/2010 05:53 AM
If a swine flu pandemic does sweep the world, although there will be collateral losses, it will, in the main, rid mankind of the weak and dumb and leave the intelligent and strong to carry on the species. To vaccinate or not, it is their choice.
dumbndumber
01/13/2010 17:15 PM
I can't believe how stupid some people are.
Puzzled
12/12/2009 23:19 PM
So, if there is such thing as a vaccine for the swine flu, or the bird flu... there should be a vaccine for the common flue as well?!?!?
Logics dictate in this scenario that if there is a 100% effective antidote/vaccine/cure for any variety of a disease/illness the same goes for the whole "family" of that any variety...
I do support naturalist and threat everything by the way nature has meant it to. And speaking of the longer lifespan, more and more people nowadays die at 40-60.... More
Guest
11/15/2009 00:23 AM
Mercury is used to dumb down the population. It is also used to weaken your immune system. The more you start taking these vaccines, the weaker your immune system will be. Americans are starting to figure things out for themselves.
It was interesting but legislation was passed that prohibited you from being able to sue the vaccine makers. They did this in advance because they know how aweful this **** is. So, insert this at your own risk.
melvin potwaski
12/18/2009 21:53 PM
I'll bet more mercury leached from your filling during the time you wrote that than you'd get in a vaccine!
FloridaLady
10/26/2009 10:19 AM
The CDC and vaccine company were expected to come up with a vaccine for Swine Flu as they have done with the other flu's. The government probably believes it's better to vaccinate everyone and control it from spreading than to worry about side effects. They worry about the swine flu spreading to themselves and their own families. For all you know, many lawmakers may choose not to give it to their own children and hope everyone else does it. I think everyone should do their own research and.... More
HAHAHA
10/04/2009 11:17 AM
Jenny McCarthy means well but her "science" is not science, it is false logic and contains no real science. Her claims have never been proven true and in fact have been proven to be false. The Church "meant" well when they argued against Galileo that everything revolves around the Earth, but as we all know, Galileo was right. There are a lot of wel meaning people but unfortunately they have no real leg to stand on with their claims.
Use your brains
10/04/2009 11:13 AM
It's interesting how some people "believe" that any form of technology or science is bad for them. I would love to see the "antidote" for the hundreds of forms of cancer that someone suggested existed, You are killing people by not sharing the cure! Good Grief people, Not everything is some sort of conspiracy and not every doctor is a Mengele. Autism is something that we surely need to study, but when children's vaccines haven't had thermisol since the early 2000's and the autism rate is.... More
A Scientist
11/02/2009 03:15 AM
I'll give a little science lesson here, because many of you obviously need one. Many in the "theirmosal doesn't cause autism" camp say so because some studies haven't PROVEN that it does, so they ASSUME the flawed IF/THEN scenario! Let us be clear......just because it hasn't been proven that any chemical contributes to this or that, DOESN'T MEAN that you have thereby automatically and unoquivocally proven that it still is not possible to play a role. There are so many variables that can be.... More
Steve W
10/19/2009 01:09 AM
You cannot believe anything the FDA says. They are as corrupt as the day is long. Bribes, political contributions, and promises of big jobs with big pharma after they leave the government.
Mercury from vaccines and amalgam fillings gets into the body. Mercury is a neurotoxin. Nothing more needs to be proven. Get the mercury out of our vaccines and our mouths!
John W
10/24/2009 12:19 PM
You don't have to believe the FDA. Do your own research, but use science. Medline, etc.
according to your logic since I played with mercury when I was a kid (in school no less) and since I am ok, then mercury is ok. This is no more true than your statement.
Science is about observable, reproducible and quantifiable observations. Toxicity is dosage related.
Tony Miller
11/03/2009 12:31 PM
If "Science is about observable, reproducible and quantifiable observations." how do you explain medical fields like psychiatry? They have 0 science to back up anything they say. They simply make up names for a set of behaviors and label them. Then they simply make up theories that market well like "chemical imbalance'. There is 0 science to psychiatry and yet the FDA hid negative SSRI reports to help them sell clinically ineffective drugs.
.... More
Anonymous
10/01/2009 15:23 PM
can this vaccine kill you?
what does it contain?
LuLu
09/23/2009 21:39 PM
I honestly don't want to get the swine flu shot. Someone told me that Obama has poison in the swine flu vaccine, and that he is giving it to the weaker people first and that he wants to kill people or something...I'm not SURE if it is true or not, but I honestly don't want to get the shot because it's actually getting better about swine flu. But I will get it if on the news or interenet it says nobody has died from it. But IF THEY HAVE, I am SO not getting it.
WTF
10/22/2009 21:30 PM
Please do us all a favor and NEVER reproduce
Paula
09/25/2009 17:26 PM
What makes you think it is even possible for the president to poison people? Please use the brain you were given!
I do not believe everyone needs the vaccine but those with chronic illnesses would be better of not getting the flu.
Anonymous
09/30/2009 00:24 AM
Obama is no better than Bush, their actually related. They are all on the same agenda to control society. Why do you think Obama reinstated the Patriot Act that he said he was going to get rid of and why do you think that he is now talking about sending 10,000 troops to the Middle East when he said the first thing he was gonna do was bring them home. Vaccines are frying our youths brains and they don't need all those shots. Swine flu was actually manipulated in a lab, what kind of flu kills.... More
Blake Walker
09/10/2009 03:35 AM
I enjoyed the article but I think there is one thing to clarify or specify a bit more. I am not speaking for her but Jenny McCarthy and Generation Rescue is not totally anti-vaccine. I believe that she is more concerned about what we know about these vaccines and what history and research shows. Also how the requirements on the amounts keep growing for vaccines that really may not be necessary for every single child. She also is about finding out if there are different approaches or options.... More
Crunchy Granola Mamma
09/09/2009 15:19 PM
The following open letter raises many valid issues with regards to the swine flu scare:
July 17, 2009
Dear Secretary Sebelius:
I, your fellow American, write this letter to you in the hope that you will truthfully answer some very pointed questions concerning the escalating "novel" H1N1 influenza and the rush to vaccinate the American people, beginning with innocent school children.
Secretary Sebelius, did you know that a team of "viral pathologists" led by Dr..... More
Massachusetts MD
Today 21:50 PM
I have read that the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine uses thimerosal, whereas the Baxter vaccine does not. This needs verification. Although I am convinced the thimerosal is fine (I've had it many times), I would think the manufactures would have anticipated the outcry and simply avoided it's use.
The ethylmecury from thimerosal is handled differently in the body than methymercury which is much more toxic.
Bottom line, get the vaccine. My two kids and I will be getting it as soon as it becomes.... More
Crunchy Chicken
09/02/2009 20:03 PM
I don't trust Dr. Mercola any further than I can throw him. And just because two of the many manufacturers working on a swine flu vaccine may be using squalene as an adjuvant doesn't mean that's what you'll be getting, or furthermore, whether or not they will be approved for distribution in the U.S.
As the original article states, there are only three vaccines manufactured with squalene, none of them approved in the United States.
Finally, thimerosal has never been scientifically.... More
Lynne
09/02/2009 18:53 PM
Saying that the kind of mercury that is in vaccines is toxic is disingenuous. Its a different kind altogether, leaves the body rather quickly, not the same kind of metal you get from fish, etc.
And it is absolutely NOT true that Thimerosal was phased out because it caused brain damage. Not sure if you are lying or you really don't know your facts, but please do your research first BEFORE you post such dire things.
Steve W
10/19/2009 01:19 AM
The mercury in vaccines does not leave the body quickly. Where did you hear that rubbish? It gets into the brain and has a half life of 85 years.
Anonymous
09/14/2009 09:49 AM
Toxicity in a small baby is different than in adult. The blood brain barrier has not yet been fully established like in adults. That amount of mercury injected in a small baby is not processed in the same way as it would be in adult. So it potentially could be toxic. If there is chance at all of toxicity, why have it as an ingredient?
Anonymous
Today 20:41 PM
thimerosal is 50% mercury.....you suggest there is a different mercury used??? mercury is toxic
Oh come on
11/15/2009 23:37 PM
Yeah, and Sea Salt is 50 percent Chlorine. The EPA limit for Chlorine is 1 ppm, so all the oceans are 20,000 times over the legal limit and everyone is dead. Oh wait, maybe (just maybe) the chemical compound that an element is in has some small difference on bioavailability, toxicity, elemination profiles, etc.
Nah.
Anonymous
10/02/2009 13:44 PM
thimerosal is metabolized to ethylmercury. the super toxic mercury you are thinking of is methyl mercury. As for how it is processed in a baby?
In one study, scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center tested the blood levels of mercury in 16 full-term infants shortly after the children had received recommended vaccines that contained thimerosal. They found that "none of the blood mercury levels observed in the studied infants exceeded the most recently revised lowest level.... More
Steve W
10/19/2009 01:15 AM
That is a weak argument as it utilizes a false assumption that the most recently revised lowest level of maternal blood mercury considered to represent a potentially significant exposure to the developing fetus is in fact a safe level. Any level above zero is unsafe.
Crunchy Granola Mamma
09/09/2009 18:01 PM
Right on! Poison is poison. I personally prefer to take my chances with nature and treat it naturally (for practically every natural string nature also offers an antidote. It's just part of the balance our world is based on)
Anonymous
10/02/2009 13:48 PM
Take your chances wtih nature and treat things naturally? Why do you think the average life expectancy has increased drastically? Why is it that the amount of infant deaths has decreased? Bacteria and viruses are "natural" but they are also very harmful and it's thanks to modern medicine that we live as long as we do. Nature doesnt always offer antidotes (cancer).
Vaccines have actually been around a long time. Back in the day in England maids would ground up the scabs of people.... More
Darwin
Today 21:28 PM
The scientific evidence is now overwhelming in favor of the usefulness of vaccines and the non-issue of autism. Yes, autism is a major concern and we need to find the cause or causes and we need to help those afflicted. This whole vaccine silliness has been obscuring these real issues.
BTW. when mercury is taken out of vaccines the autism rate doesn't change.
ecpdancer
09/02/2009 17:56 PM
I'm pregnant, and of course they are recommending that all pregnant women get them first. I am 99% sure I am not going to get the vaccination. I have never gotten a flu shot (also never gotten the flu) and I'm not going to start while I'm pregnant with a new shot for a new strain of disease.
Guest
11/19/2009 10:40 AM
every1 is talkin oh get the vacc i n u r safe i dont think this all...docs dont even hv a cure for simple headache n here they r preventin swine flu......its a man made virus they created it n they will gv u vacc as well n u stupid people dnt use ur brain do wotever media wants u to doo...its the same as every1 says oh muslims r terrorrist but america n obama himself r the biggest terrorist killin million of people in the name of war first n now this stupid vacc
