Mercury Free Flu Vaccines Are Available

[indigo girl]

There is a real concern that this year's flu season is going to be more severe than

we have become accustomed to, based on what has occurred in the southern

hemisphere, particularly in Australia.

This information is offered for those with issues about thimerosal in vaccines. There are other options for yourself as well as your children should you wish to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza. Not every clinic will offer these choices. You may have to call around to find what you are looking for, but if it makes a

difference to you, then it is worth doing so.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1073664/on_mercury_and_the_flu_vaccine/index.html?source=r_health

The multiple-dose vial (10 adult doses per vial) contains mercury in the standard preservative amount (as thimerosal). As a result, an adult dose carries 25 micrograms and a pediatric dose 12.5 micrograms of ethylmercury. Products include Fluzone, Fluvirin and Flulaval.

In contrast, the single-dose prefilled syringe is either mercury-free or contains only trace amounts (less than 1 microgram per adult dose). According to the CDC, two prefilled syringe products are in the loop this time around, as detailed below:

_ Fluzone prefilled syringe (mercury-free): Pediatric dose (0.25 mL): for infants and children 6-35 months old. Adult dose (0.5 mL): for adults and children 3 years and older. (Fluzone also comes in a mercury-free single-dose vial (0.5 mL.)

_ Fluarix prefilled syringe (trace mercury): Adult dose (0.5 mL): for those 18 years and older.

Note that only Fluzone offers a pediatric-dose syringe. And only Fluzone offers an adult-dose syringe approved for those younger than 18 (down to 3 years old).

For most people, a flu shot administered from the mercury-containing multiple-dose vial should be fine. In fact, that's likely to be the only option if you get your shot at one of the mass flu vaccination clinics gearing up around the country.

Parents who wish to avoid mercury in their kids younger than 3 (who get the pediatric dose) should specifically request the mercury-free Fluzone pediatric-dose prefilled syringe. It has a pink plunger rod. Otherwise, the shot-giver might draw the pediatric dose from the multiple-dose vial.

Additionally, some parents of children 3 years and older (who get the adult dose) might prefer their kids be given the flu shot from the mercury-free Fluzone adult-dose prefilled syringe.

Pregnant women also might prefer the mercury-free or trace-mercury option.

Last year, readers reported they beat the bushes and still could not find an adult-dose prefilled syringe product. ...most providers, including county health departments, stocked only a multiple-dose vial product and the Fluzone pediatric-dose prefilled syringe.

If the adult-dose prefilled syringe products are available this season, providers ought to be offering them as an option for those concerned about mercury. If push comes to shove, a mercury-free workaround might be for shot-givers to administer two Fluzone pediatric-dose syringes. That's equivalent to one adult dose.

...FluMist nasal spray is mercury-free. It's recommended as an alternative to the flu shot for healthy individuals 5 to 49 years old (except pregnant women).

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[indigo girl]

A Needle-free Option for Kids

http://www.medpagetoday.com/ProductAlert/DevicesandVaccines/dh/6736

The FDA has expanded the indications for FluMist, a nasal influenza vaccine, to include children ages two to five.

The aerosolized vaccine, which contains a weakened form of the live virus, had already been approved for use in patients ages five to 49.

The FDA did not extend approval of the drug for children under the age of two because clinical trials showed an increased risk of hospitalization and wheezing for children in that age group.

But extension of the indications to pre-schoolers offers "a needle-free option for squeamish toddlers, who may be reluctant to get a traditional influenza shot," said Jesse L. Goodman, M.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

[CHATSDALE]

THANK YOU for this information

i know a lot of people who c/o of reactions to flu vaccine, i wonder if this is due to the mercury??