Mercury vaccine bill gets boost

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

In 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requested that drug manufacturers stop using thimerosal, a mercury-containing compound, as an inexpensive preservative in vaccines. The step was a precautionary measure in response to concerns about the effects of the known neurotoxin. The CDC now says that studies have not shown a link between thimerosal and neurophysiological problems, but opponents say the data is far from conclusive.

‘‘Mercury is hugely neurotoxic. It’s the second-most neurotoxic substance on Earth,” said Lyn Redwood, vice president of The Coalition for SafeMinds, a nonprofit that advocates further studies on thimerosal.

Redwood, a nurse, said federal officials have downplayed concerns about the compound. ‘‘We’re portrayed as these anti-vaccine wackos,” she said. ‘‘We want safe vaccines, and I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

Thimerosal is still used in certain influenza, hepatitis B and tetanus vaccines to prevent bacterial growth and contains about 50 percent mercury by weight, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

It is theorized that thimerosal triggers autism-like symptoms in genetically susceptible individuals, though lawmakers say that regardless of a link with the neurodevelopmental disorder, mercury is unsafe to inject.

The bill in the General Assembly would prohibit the administration of a vaccine that contains more than 1.25 micrograms — a millionth of a gram — of mercury per 0.5 milliliter dose. Some flu and tetanus vaccines contain 25 micrograms of mercury. Lawmakers have released slightly modified versions of the bill for the last three years to no avail, said Del. Sue Kullen, one of the bill’s lead sponsors.

‘‘We took a variety of different tacks, but we want to tell drug manufacturers that we want Maryland vaccines to be mercury-free,” said Kullen (D-Calvert). She said she would bring it back next year if it is not adopted. Seven other states have passed similar laws, said another sponsor, Del. Nicholaus R. Kipke (R-Anne Arundel).

‘‘What we’re trying to do is limit exposure to our most vulnerable populations,” he said. Young and unborn children are most vulnerable to the effects of mercury because they are still developing and have low body weights, according to published reports. Major drug manufacturers make mercury-free vaccines, but because they must be packaged in single-use vials instead of multi-use vials, costs are slightly higher, according to data provided by the office of Sen. Thomas ‘‘Mac” Middleton (D-Charles), a sponsor of the bill. Producers have said they could make the required amount of thimerosal-free vaccines for the state by 2008, according to the data.

However, some say the mercury fears are unfounded.

‘‘The Institute of Medicine has done a multitude of studies, none of which has shown a causal link,” said Dr. Martin Wasserman, executive director of the Maryland State Medical Society. ‘‘... [Mercury reductions have] been defeated in most states, and it should be defeated in Maryland.”

The bill could create fears about vaccines and prevent people from receiving them, said Del. Peter A. Hammen, chairman of the House Health and Government Operations Committee, an opponent of the legislation.

‘‘I’ve worked very closely with health officers around the state, and they’re opposed to the bill,” said Hammen (D-Baltimore). ‘‘... It seems to me and many in the committee that it would create more problems than it would solve. ... We want to do the right thing for our children, and I don’t think this is the right thing.”

Hammen has asked officials to look into the recent U.S. Vaccine Injury Court settlement to see if it has any bearing on the state bill, he said.

The government settled with the family of 9-year-old Hannah Poling in November, but the news only surfaced last week when the author of a book on mercury in vaccines leaked the court documents online, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Details of the settlement, which acknowledges that a pre-existing mitochondrial condition was aggravated by the vaccine, have not been released. Some of the resistance to reducing mercury could come from fear of litigation, Kullen said.

‘‘Drug manufacturers have a pretty strong lobby down here,” she said.

mtierney@gazette.net