The Food and Drug Administration of the US approved a new preservative-free hepatitis B vaccine developed by Merck & Co. on August 27. Supplies of this vaccine should be available starting September 13th, but will be in short supply until the transition from thimerosal-containing and thimerosal-free preparations is complete. Thimerosal-free vaccines should also be used in infants younger than 6 months of age in addition to neonates, if sufficient supplies are available. In high-risk infants, including newborns, hepatitis B vaccination should be delivered even if the thimerosal-free product is not available.

MMWR September 10,1999;48:780-782

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Well, they finally took one of the poisons, mercury, out of the vaccine to make it safer. However, I can find absolutely no benefit for hepatitis B vaccinations and would strongly encourage all to avoid even the mercury free vaccines.