The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) held its meeting in Atlanta October 16 and 17th. At the end of the session, Marie McCormick of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) gave a presentation to the Committee on the IOM report on thimerosal in vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Of special note, in light of ACIP's refusal since 1999 to give preference to thimerosal-free vaccines, was the IOM's unequivocal recommendation for

(a) the exclusive use of thimerosal-free DTaP, Hib, and Hep B vaccines for infants and children, even if thimerosal-containing versions are still on the shelves

(b) for professional societies and government agencies to ensure the removal of thimerosal-containing vaccines.

A study by the CDC was conducted during the week of September 10-17, 2001 among a sample of healthcare providers covering 225 sites in 16 states. The survey asked providers to physically check their inventory of DTaP, Hib, and Hepatitis B vaccines and to record the number of doses in the refrigerators, the brand, and the lot numbers.

With the assistance of the vaccine manufacturers, the lot numbers were matched to production records to determine whether the vaccine contained thimerosal or not. Nearly 66,000 doses were evaluated.

Among these doses, 5.5% contained thimerosal.

Welcome news was given by the representative from GlaxoSmithKline, who announced a voluntary exchange program for thimerosal-containing vaccines.

Any US healthcare provider may exchange, for free, their thimerosal vaccine stocks with thimerosal-free versions upon request.

This program covers the GSK Engerix Hepatitis B vaccine, in both pediatric and adult versions. Safe Minds urges pediatricians and family physicians to take advantage of this program. Parents should ask their doctors to find out about this program and make this exchange without delay.

The GSK DTaP vaccine, Infanrix, has never contained thimerosal. Additionally, to preserve high public confidence in immunization programs, a GSK spokesman has said that GSK will roll out thimerosal-free vaccines throughout the world, as reformulations pass through the regulatory process in each country.

The Merck representative at the ACIP meeting said that a similar exchange program was under consideration but no decision had been reached. Merck's Recombivax Hepatitis B used to contain thimerosal but since last year has been made preservative-free in single dose vials.

Representatives from Wyeth Lederle and Aventis said their products no longer contain thimerosal. Exchange programs for remaining thimerosal stocks are not under consideration but have not been ruled out.

Roger Bernier of the NIP/CDC announced that a Working Group on Thimerosal had been formed to determine the official response to the IOM thimerosal recommendations. Six options were under consideration:

1. A recommendation for the immediate cessation of use of thimerosal vaccines for infant DTaP, Hib, and Hep B.

2. A recommendation to state an immediate preference for thimerosal-free infant DTaP, Hib, and Hep B vaccines.

3. Establishing a date in the future by which only thimerosal vaccines will be given.

4. A recommendation for the primary immunizations (given at 6 months of age or younger) to be thimerosal free with no preference given for boosters given to older children until thimerosal stocks are used up.

5. Stating a preference for the Hib and Hep B vaccines to be only thimerosal-free, while waiting for the DTaP shortage to resolve before stating a preference for mercury-free DTaPs.

6. Making no change to ACIP policy, which was set in 1999 and says that thimerosal should be removed from vaccines as soon as feasibly possible but no preference would be given to thimerosal-free formulations.

The recommendation of the Working Group is to state a preference for thimerosal-free DTaP, Hib, and Hep B vaccines as of March 31, 2002, which is when the 2002 Routine Infant Immunization Schedule is scheduled to be announced.

FEAT Daily Newsletter October 18, 2001

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Hard to even imagine that any physician with half a brain would even consider giving a newborn baby a substance that is highly toxic to their central nervous system. I have seen hundreds and hundreds of autistic children and have reached the conclusion that many, but certainly not all, had the root cause of their autism from the hepatitis B vaccine they were given on their first day of breathing air, which was loaded with a mercury preservative called thimerosol. The central nervous system of a newborn infant is particularly susceptible to toxic influences. This is one of the reasons why the hepatitis B vaccine is such a problem. If it were given later in life, like many other countries do, it would not be as much of a problem. Thimerosol is still used as a preservative in vaccines. You would think that the companies would wake up and pull it from the vaccines. They have not. If, for whatever reason, you are not yet convinced of the value and safety in avoiding vaccines, you should NOT let your child receive vaccines from the multi dose vials. These vaccines still have the thimerosol in them. Inform the physician or nurse that you want the single dose vaccine container and request that you want to actually witness them removing it from the vial and would like the empty vial to take home with you as proof that they did not receive the mercury contaminated vaccine. This way you will at least avoid one of the problems with the vaccines. CDC October 1, 2001 Report The IOM Committee's specific recommendation that only thimerosal free DTaP, Hib, and hepatitis B vaccines be used, even though there might be a very small number of remaining doses of thimerosal- containing vaccines in the supply chain, will be considered by the ACIP at its meeting on October 17-18 in Atlanta, GA. In the meantime, there are no changes in the ACIP's current recommendations to use all available DTaP, Hib, and hep B vaccines without regard to thimerosal content. All DTaP, Hib, and hep B vaccines were judged to be safe and effective by experts in 1999 when the goal to remove thimerosal was first set. These vaccines are judged no less safe by experts today, even as they are being phased out. LOOKING AHEAD Stimulated by the IOM report as well as the important progress made in removing thimerosal from vaccines in the United States, the ACIP, AAP, AAFP, and PHS have been assessing how a transition from using DTaP, H influenzae type b, and hepatitis B vaccines containing thimerosal to using vaccines without thimerosal, or only trace amounts, might be completed. In light of recent assessments of the national shortage of DTaP vaccine, the ACIP agreed in December 2001 to postpone further consideration until the February 2002 meeting of the ACIP, according to Roger Bernier, PhD, of the CDC. "We hope and expect to have the issue behind us soon when the last doses of thimerosal-containing pediatric vaccines are either used or removed from inventory within the next few months," said John Modlin, MD, chairman of the ACIP. Related Articles: Autism 'Linked to Mercury Vaccine' CDC Issues Recommendations On Use Of Thimerosal - Mercury- Free Hepatitis B Vaccine Autism and Mercury Vaccine Fillers and Ingredients Institute of Medicine Warns Mercury in Vaccines Lawsuit Filed for Mercury in Vaccines Causing Autism