United Nations mercury treaty jeopardizes vaccine protection of the world's most vulnerable children

Durrheim, David N., and Poland, Gregory A. (2013) United Nations mercury treaty jeopardizes vaccine protection of the world's most vulnerable children. Vaccine, 31 (10). pp. 1357-1358.

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Abstract

[Extract] Thiomersal (also known as thimerosal in the United States) is a bacteriostatic preservative used in vaccines and other biologic products since the 1930s for several specific reasons: as a broad bacteriostatic agent; as a preservative; and to inactivate specific moieties. Its concentration in most vaccines results in delivery of about 25 μg of thiomerosal in each dose administered. Importantly, thiomerosal is only 50% ethylmercury by weight. Many regulators, including the United States Code of Federal Regulations, require the addition of a preservative to multi-dose vaccine vials. Multi-dose vials have several advantages. They are cheaper than single dose formulations, and because more doses can be stored in a smaller space, they allow for decreased storage costs across the cold chain from production to final administration. These costs can be quite substantial for large immunization programs.

Item ID: 25927
Item Type: Article (Editorial)
ISSN: 1873-2518
Keywords: vaccine, united nations
Date Deposited: 27 Mar 2013 05:55
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920499 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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