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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12773696
Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003 Jun;228(6):660-4.
Neurodevelopmental disorders after thimerosal-containing vaccines: a brief communication.
Geier MR, Geier DA.
Source
The Genetic Centers of America, Silver Spring, Maryland 20905, USA. mgeier@erols.com
Abstract
We were initially highly skeptical that differences in the concentrations of thimerosal in vaccines would have any effect on the incidence rate of neurodevelopmental disorders after childhood immunization. This study presents the first epidemiologic evidence, based upon tens of millions of doses of vaccine administered in the United States, that associates increasing thimerosal from vaccines with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Specifically, an analysis of the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) database showed statistical increases in the incidence rate of autism (relative risk [RR] = 6.0), mental retardation (RR = 6.1), and speech disorders (RR = 2.2) after thimerosal-containing diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines in comparison with thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines.
The male/female ratio indicated that autism (17) and speech disorders (2.3) were reported more in males than females after thimerosal-containing DTaP vaccines, whereas mental retardation (1.2) was more evenly reported among male and female vaccine recipients.
Controls were employed to determine if biases were present in the data, but none were found. It was determined that overall adverse reactions were reported in similar-aged populations after thimerosal-containing DTaP (2.4 +/- 3.2 years old) and thimerosal-free DTaP (2.1 +/- 2.8 years old) vaccinations.
Acute control adverse reactions such as deaths (RR = 1.0), vasculitis (RR = 1.2), seizures (RR = 1.6), ED visits (RR = 1.4), total adverse reactions (RR = 1.4), and gastroenteritis (RR = 1.1) were reported similarly after thimerosal-containing and thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines. An association between neurodevelopmental disorders and thimerosal-containing DTaP vaccines was found, but additional studies should be conducted to confirm and extend this study.
Comment in
Questions about thimerosal remain. [Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003]
PMID: 12773696 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free full text
Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Substances
Publication Types
Comparative Study
MeSH Terms
Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems
Child, Preschool
Databases, Factual
Developmental Disabilities/chemically induced*
Developmental Disabilities/epidemiology
Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines/adverse effects*
Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines/chemistry
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced*
Nervous System Diseases/epidemiology
Population Surveillance
Preservatives, Pharmaceutical/adverse effects*
Preservatives, Pharmaceutical/chemistry
Risk Assessment
Thimerosal/adverse effects*
Thimerosal/chemistry
United States/epidemiology
United States Food and Drug Administration
Substances
Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines
Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
Thimerosal
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