Alternative sought for mercury vaccine

Some parents are concerned about the vaccine

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland hopes to find an alternative to a vaccine containing mercury which is given to 22,000 babies every year.

The DTP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, contains a preservative called thyomersal which contains mercury.

Mercury is associated with harmful effects on the body's central nervous system.

The department says the levels are so low they could not possibly be toxic, but says it is trying to find an equally effective mercury-free vaccine.

Mother-of-four Fiona Presho says mercury can cause neurological damage and therefore she does not think it is a safe ingredient in a vaccine.

No study has ever shown any side effect of thyomersal

Dr Lorraine Doherty

"If you're thinking of giving vaccinations to a very young baby who has an immune system that's relatively clean, and to be putting in some of the vaccines which contain not very pleasant substances, it just doesn't seem right. It doesn't make sense to me."

Mrs Presho and her husband, Neville, had their first two children immunised but after gaining more information, decided against having the two younger ones vaccinated.

However, Dr Lorraine Doherty from the Department of Health says the mercury in the vaccines is at such low levels that it could not possibly be harmful.

She says the department takes expert advice on a national basis and the manufacture of the vaccine is closely monitored.

It is recognised as being an extremely toxic element

Dr Finbar Magee

"We can assure the public we are following all those recommendations," she said.

"The vaccines we supply here in Northern Ireland have the levels of thyomersal which are well below the safety limits recommended by the World Health Organisation.

"No study has ever shown any side effect of thyomersal, whatsoever, in relation to any ongoing health problem. People are getting unnecessarily worried."

However, Dr Finbar Magee who now runs an alternative medicine practice, cannot see any justification for giving mercury to babies.

"It's recognised as being an extremely toxic element, there are certain precautions you have to take to dispose of it," he said.

"And yet we knowingly inject this into very, very young babies."

A European body has recommended that it would be prudent to promote the use of mercury-free vaccines "as a precautionary measure".

Diseases

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland says it will stop using vaccines with mercury when it finds a mercury-free vaccine which is just as effective.

In England, the the World Health Organisation has funded public health laboratories to carry out a study of the potentially adverse effects of mercury in vaccines.

Dr Doherty says it is being done because of public concern.

"People will always undertake these studies to look again at the safety issues and to try to re-assure us about the safety of immunisation we are giving to our children," she said.

The Department of Health also points to what it calls the "balance of risks".

It says the most important thing is to get children immunised to protect against serious diseases.