Mercury Free Vaccines

Finally, most vaccines given to infants are now mercury or thimerosal free* with the exception of flu shots or the tetanus-diphtheria shots given to children 7 years or older. The CDC estimates that most vaccines given out since 2003 had been thimerosal free.

Unfortunately, the FDA now admits that infants prior to 2003, who were following the recommended vaccination schedule, may have been exposed to mercury that exceed mercury safety limits set by the EPA. The FDA website says:

...depending on the vaccine formulations used and the weight of the infant, some infants could have been exposed to cumulative levels of mercury during the first six months of life that exceeded EPA recommended guidelines for safe intake of methylmercury.

One estimate shows that a 7.5 lbs infant given the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth is exposed to mercury levels that exceed EPA guidelines by 36%!

Removing mercury in vaccines is certainly a step in the right direction. But it doesn't mean that these vaccines, specially the manner they are administered where infants are exposed to several pathogens all at once, are now suddenly completely safe. Parents should still weigh the pros and cons of each vaccine that their child receives, the age at which they receive them, and the scheduling of the shots.

*mercury free means that the vaccine can still contain up to 0.0002% mercury.