H1N1 Flu Vaccines without Thimerosal
FluMist by MedImmune is a Nasal Spray Vaccine for Swine Flu
Oct 23, 2009
According to a recent survey conducted by The Washington Post, 62% of respondents will not get the swine flu vaccine. And, of the respondents that will not vaccinate their kids, 53% are either worried about side effects or worried that the vaccine hasn’t been tested thoroughly. But what is the root of their concern?
Is The H1N1 Vaccine Safe?
The concern of the swine flu vaccine being safe is on many people’s minds. After all, this is a fairly new vaccine. Or is it? Companies such as MedImmune in the United States have been producing seasonal flu vaccines for years, including the FluMist nasal spray vaccine. Now these same companies are working alongside government bodies to ensure the safety of the new swine flu vaccines.
The biggest concern that the public has is the use of thimerosal in the multi-dose vaccines that come in the form of a shot. Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that prevents the growth of bacteria that could contaminate the vaccine. This contamination could occur when needles are inserted into a vial more than once to extract doses. Even though thimerosal has been used for years in the seasonal flu vaccine, many people are worried about taking a vaccine with even trace amounts of mercury.
H1N1 Flu Vaccine with Thimerosal
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the multi-dose H1N1 influenza vaccine will also contain thimerosal. Yet, the Public Health Agency of Canada claims that the levels of ethylmercury in vaccines are minute and have not been shown to cause harm. In fact, they estimate that there is four times the mercury in a can of tuna fish than the quantity of thimerosal in the H1N1 flu vaccine.
H1N1 FluMist Nasal Spray Vaccine
In the United States (but not Canada), MedImmune has produced a nasal spray vaccine for swine flu that is thimerosal-free. The H1N1 FluMist nasal spray vaccine has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This is not the first vaccine developed by MedImmune. In fact, MedImmune has been manufacturing the FluMist influenza intranasal spray as an alternative to the flu shot since 2003.
Unfortunately, FluMist can only be given to people between the ages of two and 49 years old. Those with a chronic illnesses, weakened immune system and pregnant women are advised not to take it. Therefore the people that do not fit the criteria for FluMist will only have the option of the H1N1 flu shot available to them.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccine Safety, accessed October 23, 2009
Health Canada, Mercury and Human Health, accessed October 23, 2009
US Food and Drug Administration, Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent, accessed October 23, 2009
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