This fall, hundreds of thousands of infants and toddlers may be exposed to a mercury-filled preservative from flu shots that had been nearly eliminated from other children’s vaccines due to health reasons. Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that until there was proof of harmful side effects from this vaccination, they felt it was unnecessary to recommend parents and doctors to seek a mercury-free version of the vaccine.

The CDC’s decision was made despite pleas from concerned parents and resistance from the government that issued recent federal warnings about the exposure to mercury and had it removed from other childhood vaccines.

Research showed that if warnings of the dangers of the vaccine were issued to parents, there would be a big demand for mercury-free vaccines, which would possibly limit the supplies.

Many parent groups expressed that the CDC’s decision to not advise parents and doctors against the vaccine stands as a violation of the principle, which requires doctors to take the actions necessary to minimize the risk of harm. While many parents and physicians opposed the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, which includes 57,000 physicians, supported the CDC’s decision.

A Florida state representative stated he planned to introduce a bill that would ban thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, in childhood vaccines and another physician referred to the CDC’s decision as medical malpractice.

Los Angeles Times April 2, 2004