The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has refuted claims that children in Nigeria were being administered a vaccine that contained 40 per cent mercury, which was prescribed by foreign organisations.
“As a vaccine preservative, thimerosal is used in concentrations of 0.003 per cent to 0.01 per cent . Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that has been used for decades in the United States in multi-dose vials of medicines and vaccines.
“There is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. However, in July 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academy of Paediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.
“Nigeria still receives some multi-dose vaccines which contain thimerosal but at an accepted concentration. “However, the World Health Organisation has not proscribed the use of thimerosal as an inactivating agent and preservative in vaccines as there is a lack of evidence that thimerosal presents a risk to human health.”All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.