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Outraged: Ian Thomas with his
autistic son Michael
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Full
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THE
Department of Health has told doctors they must use stocks of a
mercury-based vaccine for infants even though it is being phased out for
safety reasons.
The department is
issuing the brand which contains mercury despite fears that it could be a
cause of autism and other disorders. The decision flies in the face of
European guidelines that warn it would be prudent to avoid such vaccines
for children.
Mercury-free vaccines
are available to the health department but last month all GPs and clinics,
which inoculate more than 600,000 babies a year, were told all orders for
the combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) and Hib vaccine (which
protects against a form of meningitis) would be met with a product
containing thiomersal, which is almost 50% mercury. This was "in order
to make good use of the current and future stocks available".
The previous policy was
to supply a DTP Hib vaccine, Infanrix Hib, which does not contain mercury.
Two years ago medicine
regulators in America and Europe recommended the mercury-containing
preservative thiomersal should be phased out of vaccines "within the shortest
possible time frame".
This followed an
announcement by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that
accumulated mercury in vaccines given to babies under six months in America
exceeded safety limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
In a related US study,
researchers from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention found a
"statistically significant" association between thiomersal in
vaccines and children with problems such as attention deficit disorder and
speech and language learning delays.
Last year the European
Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products said: "For vaccination
in infants and toddlers, as a precautionary measure it would be prudent to
promote the general use of vaccines without thiomersal and other mercurial
preservatives. Moreover, the use of the available thiomersal-free vaccines
should be recommended for vaccination of newborns."
The health department's
decision will outrage parents already concerned that vaccines may damage
their children. "It beggars belief," said Isabella Thomas, from
Brighton, whose son Michael is autistic.
"To replace a
vaccine which contains no mercury, which must be safer, with one which
contains a toxic substance to use up stocks is disgraceful and
irresponsible."
When asked why it was
not promoting Infanrix, the health department said: "The joint
committee on vaccination and immunisation has decided Infanrix is not as
effective as the other."
· A
Worcestershire doctor faces a possible suspension for up to 18 months for
prescribing separate measles, mumps and rubella injections to children
whose parents are worried by the reported health risks posed by the
combined vaccination.
Dr Peter Mansfield is
being investigated by the General Medical Council following a complaint
from his county health authority.
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