Thiomersal (thermisol) in H1N1 vaccines, the silly debate.
It’s really quite a silly debate.
Back in 1928, there was a doctor who was giving out some vaccine for diptheria. He adminstered doses to 21 kids without a problem. A few days later he gave another 21 doses from the same vial of vaccine to another 21 kids. 11 of them died in a few days. When the studies and reviews were completed, it was found that the staphycocolus virus had most likely killed the 11 children. It had developed within the vial of diptheria vaccine, causing the fatal injury. This was later called the “Bundaberg disaster” as it took place in Bundaberg, Australia.
For the next sixty odd years or so, preservatives were added to the vaccines. Preservatives were compounds that kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms, particularly bacteria and fungi. They are used in vaccines to prevent microbial growth in the event that the vaccine is accidentally contaminated, as might occur with repeated puncture of multi-dose vials. One of these preservatives was a thing called Thermisol.
Thermisol is composed of 49% ethylmercury (please note: ethyl mercury)
In 1997, the EPA / FDA / WHO, etc were looking at the effects of mercury on individuals, such as those injured in industrial spills or those who consume too much seafood. Methyl mercury (please note: Methyl mercury) was considered harmful if an individual consumed too much of it or was exposed to it for too long. A set of guidelines was established as to what constituted a suspect amount of methyl mercury.
The FDA then took a look at ‘mercury’ in general that was in childhood vacinations. Since they didn’t have any good data on ethyl mercury, they decide to apply the standards that were just developed for methyl mercury to childhood vaccines.
The FDA found that:
Given the normal amount of vaccinations for children under six months,
…using the vaccines w/ preservatives at that time,
…applying the standards for methyl mercury (a different type of mercury than what was actually in Thermisol),
…in certain kids at a certain weight,
there might be an accumulation of mercury over the guidelines recently established for methyl mercury (eventhough, again, Thermisol has ethyl mercury).
As a result, the FDA worked with the drug companies to remove things like Thermisol from vaccines if at all possible, erring on the side of caution and playing it conservative, just in case.
And then the theories began….
Thiomersal became the cause of autism, the reason to avoid all shots whatsoever. Despite the efforts of many scientists and ZERO studies that have indicated a link, the idiots continue to scream holy murder from vaccinations. In fact, the continued harping about Thiomersal has led some autism leaders to feel that discovering the real cause and gaining a real understanding of autism is being needlessly delayed by all the hype about vaccinations. Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carey and Robert Kennedy Jr. have been leading a celebrity parade against vaccinations which, sadly, some people are listening to.
Anyway, I got the family the H1N1 shots this weekend. I didn’t even bother to ask if the vaccine was Thiomersal free or not, despite so many messageboards erupting in debates about the preservative. I later looked it up and it probably was but I can’t really be sure unless I trace the lot number . I’m kind of thinking it’s almost beneath my dignity to even follow up and find out.
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