❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information regarding the use of thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines, its current usage, reasons for removal (if applicable), and its constituents. The answer details which vaccines contain thiomersal, reasons for its phase-out, and its chemical composition.
AnsweredQoN 1062Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) When did the WA Health Department permit the use of thimerosol as a preservative in vaccinations in Western Australia?
(2) Is thimerosol still used as a preservative in vaccines in Western Australia?
(3) If not, why was it removed?
(4) What are the constituents of the preservative thimerosol?
(2) Is thimerosol still used as a preservative in vaccines in Western Australia?
(3) If not, why was it removed?
(4) What are the constituents of the preservative thimerosol?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
4 September 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
23 days
(2) Thiomersal is contained in the following vaccines: Combined diphtheria-tetanus vaccine (CDTTM), Adult diphtheria-tetanus vaccine (ADTTM), Diphtheria vaccine, Hepatitis B (Engerix-BTM Paediatric and Adult), Hepatitis B (H-B-Vax IITM Adult), Influenza vaccines (FluarixTM, FluvaxTM), Japanese encephalitis vaccine (JE-VaxTM), and Q fever vaccine (Q-VaxTM). All vaccines on the current Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule for children under five years of age are free of thimerosal, except for the monovalent hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix B paediatric) which has a reduced amount. (3) Despite the lack of evidence that thiomersal in vaccines is harmful, it is being phased out for two main reasons. Firstly, to reduce exposure to mercury in very small premature babies with low body weight in whom there was a theoretical risk that their mercury intake from vaccines could have been high. Secondly, to reduce the total exposure to mercury in babies and young children. (4) Thiomersal is the sodium salt of (2-carboxyphenylthio) ethylmercury (C9H9HgNaO2S), an organic compound containing 49.6% mercury by weight.
(3) Despite the lack of evidence that thiomersal in vaccines is harmful, it is being phased out for two main reasons. Firstly, to reduce exposure to mercury in very small premature babies with low body weight in whom there was a theoretical risk that their mercury intake from vaccines could have been high. Secondly, to reduce the total exposure to mercury in babies and young children. (4) Thiomersal is the sodium salt of (2-carboxyphenylthio) ethylmercury (C9H9HgNaO2S), an organic compound containing 49.6% mercury by weight.
(4) Thiomersal is the sodium salt of (2-carboxyphenylthio) ethylmercury (C9H9HgNaO2S), an organic compound containing 49.6% mercury by weight.
(3) Despite the lack of evidence that thiomersal in vaccines is harmful, it is being phased out for two main reasons. Firstly, to reduce exposure to mercury in very small premature babies with low body weight in whom there was a theoretical risk that their mercury intake from vaccines could have been high. Secondly, to reduce the total exposure to mercury in babies and young children. (4) Thiomersal is the sodium salt of (2-carboxyphenylthio) ethylmercury (C9H9HgNaO2S), an organic compound containing 49.6% mercury by weight.
(4) Thiomersal is the sodium salt of (2-carboxyphenylthio) ethylmercury (C9H9HgNaO2S), an organic compound containing 49.6% mercury by weight.
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