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Thimerosal-containing hepatitis b vaccination and the risk for diagnosed specific delays in development in the united states: A case-control study in the vaccine safety datalink
David A Geier1, Janet K Kern2, Brian S Hooker3, Paul G King4, Lisa K Sykes4, Mark R Geier1
1 Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
2 Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, Maryland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
3 Biology Department, Simpson University, Redding, California, USA
4 CoMeD, Inc, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
Correspondence Address:
Janet K Kern
Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, Maryland - 20905
USA
 Source of Support: This study was fi nancially supported by the
Dwoskin Family Foundation and the Selz Foundation., Conflict of Interest: All of the investigators on the present study have been
involved in vaccine/biologic litigation.  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1947-2714.143284
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Background: Within the first 3 years of life, the brain develops rapidly. Its development is characterized by critical developmental periods for speech, vision, hearing, language, balance, etc.; and alteration in any of the processes occurring in those critical periods can lead to specific delays in development. Aims: The present study evaluated the potential toxic effects of organic-mercury exposure from Thimerosal (49.55% mercury by weight) in childhood vaccines and its hypothesized possible relationship with specific delays in development. Materials and Methods: A hypothesis testing case-control study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between exposure to Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccines administered at specific intervals in the first 6 months among cases diagnosed with specific delays in development and controls born between 1991-2000, utilizing data in the Vaccine Safety Datalink database. Results: Cases were significantly more likely than controls to have received increased organic-mercury from Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccine administered in the first, second, and sixth month of life. Conclusion: Though routine childhood vaccination may be an important public health tool to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases, the present study supports an association between increasing organic-mercury exposure from Thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and the subsequent risk of specific delays in development among males and females. |
