UMHS Vaccine Safety Resource Links
For parents who may have seen recent media reports about possible risks to their children from vaccines or vaccine preservatives, the University of Michigan Health System offers this page of accurate information and links.
The media, and various sites on the Internet, have carried rumors and speculations that thimerosal, a preservative used to keep vaccines fresh, might cause health and long-term behavioral effects in small children. These theories have been based on the fact that thimerosal contains small amounts of the element mercury. We hope the following information will be helpful in understanding this issue:
- No harmful effects have been reported from the vaccine preservative thimerosal at doses used in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. Source: Center for Disease Control and American Academy of Pediatrics.
- However, in July 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.
- Since 2001, all routinely recommended vaccines manufactured for administration to infants in the U.S. are either thimerosal-free or contain only extremely small amounts of thimerosal. Many routinely recommended childhood vaccines never contained thimerosal: measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), polio (IPV), varicella/chicken pox. Some of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTaP) vaccines never used thimerosal as a preservative.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Some forms of the influenza (flu) vaccine contain trace amounts of thimerosal as a preservative. The U-M Health
System uses both types of vaccines; the thimerosal-free flu vaccine is available to any pediatric patient whose parent requests it, including children who are eligible for the vaccine provided by the government under the Vaccines for Children program.
- We do not have a blanket policy 'for' or 'against' proactively offering information about the thimerosal controversy or the thimerosal content of specific vaccines to patients or parents, and indeed individual health care providers on our staff may do so.
- Our institutional philosophy on this issue echoes that of the CDC, FDA and American Academy of Pediatrics: that there is no evidence of a connection between thimerosal and autism, that vaccines that still contain trace amounts of thimerosal are safe, and that vaccination is a crucial public health measure to protect the lives of children. But we are aware of the controversy, and want to make sure that parents who want information can get it, and those who want to avoid thimerosal have the opportunity to do so.
We hope that parents of our young patients, and parents everywhere, will discuss any concerns they may have with their child's health care provider. UMHS physicians and other health professionals are here to help you make the best decisions about your child's health. For information on finding a UMHS health provider for your child, please consult our Physician Referral Service.
As with any health issue involving your children, we strongly suggest that you rely on sources of information that are based on unbiased research and scientific study. The links below will take you to some web sites that we feel are most accurate, reliable and trustworthy on the topic of vaccine safety. If you find information on these sites or elsewhere that you have questions about, please talk with your child's health care provider.
Above all, we urge parents to remember that vaccination against many diseases is the best way to ensure a child's long-term health. Many of us alive today don't remember the days when thousands of children died or suffered serious long-term health effects from infectious diseases like measles, polio and whooping cough.
To keep those days from coming back, we need to protect all children against those diseases with vaccines. And, we need to encourage our government to keep constant watch over the vaccine supply to make sure it is as safe and effective as possible. We hope the following information will help you understand the importance and safety of vaccines for your child.
General Vaccine Information Sites and Hotlines:
Immunization information from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the national organization of pediatricians (via Medem)
http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?
article_ID=ZZZ50DFWGWC&sub_cat=24
Parents' Guide to Childhood Immunization
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/Parents-Guide/default.htm
For those without Internet access or those who would like to speak with someone in person, CDC's National Immunization Information Hotline can be reached toll-free at 1-800-232-2522 (for Spanish speakers, the number is 1-800-232-0233)
Your Child's Immunizations from KidsHealth.org
(sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians (the national organization of U.S. family doctors), and the non-profit Nemours Foundation)
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/vaccine.html
Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Information from one of the other top children's health centers in the nation.
http://www.vaccine.chop.edu
National Network for Immunization Information, Parents Page
(includes a guide to each state's vaccination requirements.)
http://www.immunizationinfo.org/parents/index.cfm
Important Information for Families from the Childhood Immunization Support Program (a joint project of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/fam_main.html
Immunization Action Coalition's - Vaccine Information for the public and health professionals page.
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/
Information to help keep your child's immunizations on schedule:
UMHS Health Topics: Immunizations for Prevention
(a brief summary and schedule)
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_immuniza_hhg.htm
Make a Vaccination Schedule for your Child
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/scheduler_le/default.asp
General Vaccine Safety Information
Vaccine Safety Information for Parents (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/vacsafe-parents.htm
For those without Internet access or those who would like to speak with someone in person, CDC's National Immunization Information Hotline can be reached toll-free at 1-800-232-2522 (for Spanish speakers, the number is 1-800-232-0233)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Frequently Asked Questions About Vaccines
(The FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety of existing
and new vaccines)
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/095_vacc.html
For those who do not have access to the Internet, and those who wish to speak with someone in person, the FDA Vaccine hotline can be reached toll-free at 1-800-835-4709.
Facts and Myths about Immunizations from Kids Health.org
(sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the non-profit Nemours Foundation)
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/
fact_myth_immunizations.html
Specific information on thimerosal and vaccines
Mercury (thimerosal) and Vaccines
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/thimerosal/default.htm
Thimerosal information from the Childhood Immunization Support Program
(a joint project of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/thimrosal.html
Vaccine table showing thimerosal content from the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins University
http://www.vaccinesafety.edu
Influenza vaccination information
Important note: Some forms of the influenza vaccine contain trace amounts of thimerosal as a preservative. Influenza vaccines are recommended for children ages 6 to 23 months, and for older children with certain health conditions. Influenza vaccines are also encouraged for older and healthier children whose parents wish to prevent them from getting the flu. If you prefer to choose an influenza vaccine without thimerosal for your child, please inform your health provider before the vaccination appointment.
Is the flu vaccine a good idea for your family?
From Kids Health.org (sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the non-profit Nemours Foundation)
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/flu_vaccine.html
University of Michigan Health System Health Topic:
Influenza shot
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_flushot_hhg.htm
Contact: Kara Gavin |
