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Statement re thiomersal (mercury) |
Following the publication of an article in The Australian newspaper on Tuesday 11 June, 2002, exploring a link between thiomersal (mercury) in vaccines and autism and Asperger's syndrome in children, the division has released the following statement:
Even if the maximum possible number of doses of vaccines containing thiomersal were given to children in Australia, it is unlikely the World Health Organisation recommended limit of exposure per kilogram of body weight would have been exceeded.
Australian children received lower levels of thiomersal in vaccines than American children, where the immunisation schedule had a higher number of vaccines.
If thiomersal were causing autism and Asperger’s syndrome, a drop in cases would have been expected after the thiomersal was removed from the vaccines. The evidence does not show this has happened.
Thiomersal is no longer used in vaccines recommended by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Schedule. These vaccines are now mercury free.
12 June 2002
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