Author: Geier DA, Kern JK, King PG, Sykes LK, Geier MR

Source: J. Biochem. Pharmacol. Res

Year: 2014

Comment:

Abstract / Excerpt:

“Mercury (Hg) exposure in human infants and fetuses has long been known to be significantly
associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs). Thimerosal (49.55% Hg by weight) is an ethyl-Hg
containing compound added to many childhood vaccines as a preservative. A hypothesis testing case-control
study was undertaken in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database (updated through
September 2013) by examining 5,591 adverse event reports entered following Thimerosal-preserved
Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular-Pertussis (DTaP) (TripediaTM, Sanofi) administered from 1997-1999 (exposed)
and following Thimerosal-reduced DTaP (TripediaTM, Sanofi) administered from 2004-2006 (unexposed).
Cases were defined as individuals with adverse event reports with the outcomes of autism, speech disorder,
mental retardation, or ND (at least of one these aforementioned specific outcomes being mentioned in the
adverse event report). Controls were defined as individuals with adverse event reports without any mention of
the specific case outcomes examined. Cases reported with the outcomes of autism (odds ratio = 7.67, p <
0.0001), speech disorders (odds ratio = 3.49, p < 0.02), mental retardation (odds ratio = 8.73, p < 0.0005), or
ND (odds ratio = 4.82, p < 0.0001) were significantly more likely than controls to have received Thimerosalpreserved
DTaP vaccine (exposed) in comparison to Thimerosal-reduced DTaP vaccine (unexposed). Though
routine childhood vaccination is considered an important public health tool to reduce the morbidity and
mortality associated with certain infectious diseases, this study supports a significant relationship between
increased organic-Hg exposure from Thimerosal-preserved childhood vaccines and the child’s subsequent risk
of a ND diagnosis. “

Citation:

Geier DA, Kern JK, King PG, Sykes LK, Geier MR. The risk of neurodevelopmental disorders following a thimerosal-preserved DTaP formulation in comparison to its thimerosal-reduced formulation in the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS). J. Biochem. Pharmacol. Res. 2014; 2: 64-73.