The Push For Mercury-Free Vaccines

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The push for mercury-free vaccines

BY DAWN WOTAPKA
February 11, 2005

When they first visit Dr. Jason Hitner's office, most newborn patients are beginning a journey likely to include as many as 19 vaccinations in their next 18 months. He assures their parents he will avoid thimerosal, a mercury-containing compound used for decades to preserve vaccines.

He says he avoids cheaper vaccines - even when insurance companies won't fully reimburse the North Babylon pediatrician. When it came to flu shots, some doctors gave children half an adult dose - which contained the preservative, he said. But Hitner paid $5.75 more per dose to ensure his did not.

"This goes beyond money," he said yesterday, adding that many doctors share his view. "It has long been known that mercury is not a good thing for children."

In the past few years, concerns escalated about how much thimerosal children were receiving and what, if any, problems could result. Vaccine makers have worked to reduce or eliminate thimerosal in recent years, according to the Food and Drug Administration's Web site.

That's helped reduce the amount children receive and quieted the debate. Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Times revealed that as early as 1991, senior executives at Merck & Co. were concerned about how much mercury children were then receiving via vaccinations.

Dr. Costa Constantatos, a Babylon pediatrician who also uses mercury-free vaccines, said the revelation hasn't sparked panic with his patients. He receives, at most, one or two inquiries a month about mercury. He explains that most vaccines now come in a single dose, which "eliminated the need for the mercury component."

Claire Conlon, 40, of West Babylon, became an advocate against even trace amounts after her nephew was diagnosed with autism. Though any link to mercury remains unproven, she chose Hitner, in part, to ensure her son, now 2, received little, if any, thimerosal.

Dawn Wotapka is a freelance writer.