Thimerosal restrictions rejected by Government

Eddie Farah

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 415

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In 2004, The Coalition for Mercury-Free Drugs petitioned the FDA iseeking restrictions on Thimerosal citing it was linked to autism. Yesterday the FDA rejected the petitions.

Only a small number of licensed and approved products still contain thimerosal, and the available evidence supports FDA's conclusion that all currently licensed vaccines and other pharmaceutical drug products containing thimerosal are safe

The petitioners are not accepting that answer and are now seeking a court order forcing the FDA to withdraw Thimerosal from all vaccines and medicines.

Thimerosal has been used since 1930 to kill microbes in vaccines. By weight it contains almost 50 percent mercury. Studies tracking thousands of children have consistently found no association between brain disorder and the mercury-based preservative.

Since 2001 all vaccines given children six or younger have been thimerosal-free or contained only trace amounts. Traces of Thimerosal can be found in approximately 45 eye ointments, nasal sprays and nasal solutions. Also it can be found in antivenoms for black widow and snakebites.