Published: Thursday, September 24, 2009
State will allow some mercury-based preservative in some swine flu vaccine
OLYMPIA — The state Health Department will allow more mercury than usual in some of the swine flu vaccine to make sure shots are available to pregnant women and children under age 3.
The department says mercury-free swine flu vaccine may not always be in stock, so it wants to give people the choice of using vaccine with the mercury preservative called thimerosal. While thimerosal is believed to be safe, most vaccines for children under 6 are thimerosal-free.
The suspension of the mercury limit announced today lasts six months and applies only to the swine flu vaccine expected to become available in October.
The department says mercury-free swine flu vaccine may not always be in stock, so it wants to give people the choice of using vaccine with the mercury preservative called thimerosal. While thimerosal is believed to be safe, most vaccines for children under 6 are thimerosal-free.
The suspension of the mercury limit announced today lasts six months and applies only to the swine flu vaccine expected to become available in October.
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