Consultwebs.com does not provide
legal or medical advice. Our goal is to provide legal
resources for consumers and attorneys.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP), and vaccine manufacturers issued a joint statement
in July 1999, that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated
in vaccines as a precautionary measure.
Thimerosal is an ethyl-mercury based preservative
used in some vaccines and a number of other biological products
since the 1930's. Its purpose was to help prevent potentially
life threatening contamination with harmful microbes.
When vaccines containing thimerosal
have been administered in the recommended doses to patients
with no other exposure to mercury compounds, no harmful
effects other than hypersensitivity have been reported.
Massive overdoses of thimerosal containing products have resulted
in toxicity. The
scientific community has developed an increasing awareness
of the potential for neurotoxicity of even low levels of organomercurials.
If you or your child was
innoculated with a vaccine containing thimerosal and experienced
any adverse reactions you may have a valid legal claim.
Concern is raised due to the increased number of thimerosal
containing vaccines that have been added to the infant immunization
schedule. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is
working with pharmaceutical companies and vaccine manufacturers
to reduce or eliminate thimerosal from vaccines.
Today, all routinely recommended pediatric vaccines manufactured
for the U.S. market contain no thimerosal or only trace amounts,
however. vaccines are being made for adult innoculation using
thimerosal as well as pediatric vaccines for non-routine treatments.
Organic mercury compounds affect the central nervous system,
the kidneys and / or the immune system. It readily crosses
the placenta and blood-brain barrier. Severe developmental
and neurologic impairment may occur to children exposed in
utero. Organic mercury compounds are readily
absorbed by ingestion, and inhalation and through the skin.
Methyl mercury is distributed to all tissues but concentrates
in blood and brain.
Mercury is present in the environment in inorganic and organic
forms. It occurs in three forms:
- the metallic element,
- inorganic salts,
- organic compounds (eg, methyl mercury, ethyl mercury,
and phenyl mercury).
The toxicity of mercury is complex. It depends on the
form of the mercury, the route of entry, the dose, and the
age of the person at exposure.
Everyone is exposed to small amounts of mercury. The
primary environmental exposure to organic mercury is from
consumption of predator fish. FDA studies have indicated
that a 6-ounce can of tuna contains an average of 17 µg (range,
1.7-127 µg) of mercury. Freshwater fish ( walleye, pike,
muskie, and bass) may contain elevated concentrations of mercury
as well.
Local fish safety advisories and bans provide information
about the safety of eating fish. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) points of contact for local advisories are listed
below in "Thimersol General
Interest Web Links".
Amalgam
fillings in women may cause mercury exposure to the developing
fetus (approximately 70% of the U.S. population have
amalgam fillings).
As mercury toxicity is believed to be cumulative, guidelines
have been established by the EPA, the FDA, and the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in an effort
to minimize preventable exposures to mercury from food and
other environmental sources. Based on the assumption that
exposures will continue for long periods, maximum recommended
allowable daily exposures are as follows: EPA, 0.1 micrograms
of mercury per kilogram per day; ATSDR, 0.3 µg/kg/day; and
FDA, 0.4 µg/kg. This variability in guidelines from different
organizations reflects differences in the populations studied
and the use of different safety factors.
The purpose of the guidelines is the prevention of
exposure of women of childbearing age to amounts of thimerosal
/ mercury that might be toxic to the rapidly developing brain
of the fetus.
Immunizations for disease are recommended. The known
risks of serious consequences from the preventable infections
far outweigh the risks of vaccines, even if thimerosal-free
products are not available.
The AAP urges government agencies to work rapidly toward
reducing children's exposure to mercury from all sources.
Because any potential risk is of concern, the AAP and the
USPHS agree that the use of thimerosal-containing vaccines
should be reduced or eliminated. The AAP believes that physicians
should minimize children's exposure to thimerosal, but they
should not compromise the health of children by withholding
routinely recommended immunizations. This should be possible
given the flexibility in the current immunization schedule
(eg, see recommendations number 2 and 3 below).
The following recommendations are made to optimize vaccine
administration and minimize exposure to thimerosal. If there
are limited supplies of thimerosal-free products available,
priority should be given to use in premature infants.
The Academy of Pediatrics and the USPHS agree that the use
of thimerosal-containing vaccines should be reduced or eliminated.
Presently, the only thimerosal-free hepatitis B vaccine available
(COMVAX) also contains Hib vaccine (PRP-OMP). This is not
approved for use before 6 weeks of age because of decreased
response to the Hib component. This thimerosal-free vaccine
may be given to infants born to HBsAg-negative women beginning
at the 2-month visit. If thimerosal-free vaccine is not available,
hepatitis B virus vaccination should not be initiated until
6 months of age. Immunization for the prematurely born
infant should be deferred until the infant reaches a size
and developmental level that corresponds to the term infant.
(A hepatitis B vaccine, which does not contain thimerosal,
is expected to be made available soon.)
Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children should
follow fish advisories from state health, environmental, and
conservation officials and should counsel parents about reducing
exposures to other sources of mercury. The Academy is developing
additional information on this subject.
"The FDA has determined that infants who receive
thimerosal-containing vaccines at several visits may be exposed
to more mercury than recommended by federal guidelines for
total mercury exposure." (FDA Advisory)
You are entitled to know the
medical benefits and risks of vaccines containing thimerosal.
If you or your child has neurological symptoms after receiving
a vaccine containing thimerosal, see your doctor immediately.
Your lawyer can counsel you as to your right to recover
damages to help defray the costs of treatment and provide
compensation for your pain and suffering.
Drug litigation can be complex. It is best to seek
the counsel of a personal injury attorney with experience
in this field of law.
Prior to accepting an insurance
settlement, it is generally wise to speak with a personal
injury lawyer knowledgeable in laws concerning thimerosol
to evaluate your situation and to ensure that your interests
are protected. Most personal injury attorneys provide
free initial consultations and most will only be paid if you
win your case and receive a judgment. Most
frequently, personal injury attorneys will receive a percentage
of the settlement awarded to you. Legal advice
can save you time, trouble and money and can insure that you
are treated fairly.
Personal
Injury Attorney Web Links
Consultwebs.com
can assist in making recommendations if desired.
Arthur M. Blue Law Office,
P.A., Personal Injury lawyers, Carthage & Southern
Pines, North Carolina - (910) 947-1500
Belluck
Fox,
New York lawyers
practicing Medical Malpractice & Personal
Injury such as
Meridia,
Kava,
Mesothelioma,
Asbestos,
Silicosis,
Crestor -
New York, NY - 1-866-6ACTION
Brady, Nordgren, Morton & Malone, Estate
Planning, Wills & Trusts, Probate, Raleigh,
NC - (919) 782-3500
Breakstone,
White-Lief & Gluck, Personal Injury,
Medical Malpractice, Boston, MA - (617)
723-7676
Brinkley Walser, PLLC, Estate Planning,
Personal Injury, Real Estate, Workers
Compensation, Wrongful Death, Elder Law,
Banking Law, Traffic Law, Criminal Law,
Employment Law, Medical Malpractice, Family
Law, Lexington, NC - (336) 249-2101
Coover &
Barr, LLC, Business, Commercial &
Corporate Litigation, Family Law, Real
Estate, Columbia, MD - (410) 997-7600
James T.
Crouse, Aviation Disaster & Personal
Injury Lawyer, Raleigh, NC - (919) 861-0503
Robert B.
Corris, S.C., Complex Business
Litigation, Fraud, Contacts - Milwaukee,
Wisconsin - 414-272-8000
Neil A. Davis, Family Law,
Personal Injury Law,
Troy, Michigan - (248) 244-9677
Martin
Ganderson, Estate Planning, Trusts,
Elder Law, Norfolk, VA - (757) 622-0505
Garlin
Driscoll & Murray, Personal Injury, Business Litigation,
Louisville / Boulder, CO - (303) 926-4222
Glenn,
Mills & Fisher, P.A., Personal Injury,
Professional Malpractice, Employment
Discrimination, Civil Rights, Wills and
Estates, Durham, NC, 919-683-2135
Ted
A. Greve & Associates, Auto &
Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death, Mass Torts,
Social Security Disability, Workers'
Compensation, Immigration, North Carolina
& South Carolina - (800) 984-7383
Jeremy
Howe & Partners in Mediation, Attorney
at Law, Mediation, Newport, Rhode Island -
(401) 841-5700
Kohn
& Rath, Personal Injury lawyers, Hinesburg, Vermont
- (802) 482-2905
Kraft & Associates,
Social Security
Disability,
Dog Bites,
Truck Wrecks,
Auto Accidents,
Personal Injury lawyers, Dallas,
Texas - (800) 999-9999
The Offices of
George W. Lennon,
Workers Compensation, Social
Security Disability, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Raleigh,
NC - (919) 856-9000
Lichtenstein, Fishwick
& Johnson, P.L.C., Personal Injury lawyers, Roanoke,
Virginia - (540) 343-9711
Marks
& Harrison,
Personal Injury Lawyers,
Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death, Social Security
Disability, Workers' Compensation, Consumer Fraud, Richmond,
Petersburg, Charlottesville, VA - (800) 283-2202
MedLaw Legal Team, Medical Malpractice,
Personal Injury,
Nursing Home Abuse,
Cancer MisDiagnosis, Drugs - Serving the
U.S., Offices in Baltimore MD, Washington
DC, Philadelphia PA - (410) 653-9030
MGM Law
Offices - Personal Injury, Bankruptcy
Lawyers, Debt Solutions, Credit Card
Consolidation Attorneys, Traffic Accidents,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois,
Indiana - (800) 850-0398
The New
York Bar Association's
-
Law Practice
Management Forum - New York, New York
New
York Medical Malpractice Lawyers -
Oshman & Mirisola handles medical
malpractice / negligence,
accident
& injury claims;
New
York Personal Injury cases
including, prescription
drug litigation, brain
injury and birth
injury lawsuits including Erb’s
Palsy and Cerebral Palsy - 1(800) 400-8182
Orange County Personal Injury Lawyers -
Southern California - U.S., Nielsen &
Associates,
Personal Injury and Disability,
including
Auto Accidents,
Social Security
Disability,
Workers Compensation,
Neck Injuries,
Dog Bites,
Back Injuries,
Spinal Cord Injuries,
Premises Liability,
Orange County,
Lemon Law, Southern California
(866)-815-2616
Poyner
& Spruill, L.L.P., Multi-disciplinary, Raleigh, Charlotte
& Rocky Mount, North Carolina - (919) 783-6400
Rosen
& Rosen,
Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Workers
Compensation, Nursing Home Abuse, Hollywood, FL - (954)
981-1852
Raleigh Personal Injury
Lawyers – Hardison & Associates: North Carolina
Attorneys handling
Car Accidents,
Personal Injury,
and
Workers Compensation.
1(800)434-8399
Smith,
Debnam, Personal Injury lawyers, Raleigh, North Carolina
- (919) 250-2000
Teague
& Glover,
Personal Injury lawyers, Elizabeth City, North Carolina
- (252) 335-0878
Teddy
& Meekins, Personal Injury Attorneys, Shelby, NC - serving
Cleveland, Rutherford and Lincoln counties - Phone
704-487-1234
Twiggs,
Beskind, Strickland & Rabenau, P.A., Personal Injury
lawyers, Raleigh, North Carolina - (919) 828-4357
Charles
R. Ullman & Associates, Attorneys at Law, Family Law -
Divorce,
Child Support,
Spousal Support,
Child Custody,
Johnston County
& Raleigh, NC, 919-829-1006
Warfield
Meredith & Darrah, P.C., Personal Injury lawyers,
Severna Park, Maryland - 410-544-1020
Paul
L. Whitfield, Personal Injury lawyer, Charlotte, North
Carolina - (704) 372-8322
Timothy J. Wilson, Divorce & Family Law, Seattle,
Washington - (206) 381-3210, Federal Way, Washington - (253)
874-5826
Law
Offices of John C. Wunsch,
Erb's Palsy,
Cerebral Palsy, Birth
Personal Injury, Chicago, IL - (312) 977-9900
The Yarborough Law Firm,
Construction Law,
Administrative Law, Personal Injury cases,
Real Estate Matters, Corporate and Business
matters, Employment Law and Collections,
Fayetteville, NC, 910-433-4433
Other state listings are listed
above
State Listings - Lawyers
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Preferred Communications –
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Thimerosal General Interest Web Links
Agency
for toxic substance and disease registry / toxic FAQ on
mercury
EPA
Contamination Program
Food
and Drug Administration/Center for Biologics Evaluation and
Research - Vaccines
Immunization
Action Coalition
Interim
Report to Clinicians (RE9935) - American Academy
of Pediatrics
ISR
Thimerosal
NIP
/ VacSafe Concerns
Structure
of Thimerosal
THIMEROSAL
IN VACCINES - CCDR Vol.25 ACS-7 - Adobe Downloadable
Thimerosal
Content in Some US Licensed Vaccines
Thimerosal-Containing
Vaccines and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
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