North Carolina, Hawaii latest states to consider thimerosal ban for vaccines

By Elizabeth Rhein

Published on May 26, 2006

The subject of thimerosal in vaccines has been controversial for several years, and the debate shows no signs of slowing even as more states consider banishing the substance from vaccines. Thimerosal, which contains mercury, has long been used as a preservative in many types of vaccines, allowing hospitals and governments to stock up and ward off shortages that might lead to dangerous disease outbreaks.

Critics of thimerosal point to studies that link mercury to autism development in children, and say that the increased number of vaccines required these days accounts for the corresponding increase in autism cases over the last several years.

Opponents of the ban fear that taking thimerosal out of vaccines means that they cannot be stockpiled and that vaccine shortages could result in devastating outbreaks of measles and other dangerous diseases that have all but disappeared from modern American society.

In North Carolina, supporters of House Bill 1364 are currently seeking support among the legislation. Hawaii's state government has put a similar bill before the governor that would ban mercury in vaccines produced during 2007 and 2008.

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