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To ask Her Majesty's Government when thimerosal was last tested for safety of use in patients (1) below 16, and (2) above 65, years old.

Asked by

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health and Social Care

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

5 April 2019

Reference

HL14856

House

House of Lords

Thiomersal

To ask Her Majesty's Government which vaccines prescribed by the NHS contain thimerosal.

Asked by

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health and Social Care

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

5 April 2019

Reference

HL14855

House

House of Lords

Health: Vaccines

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether thimerosal was removed from all childhood vaccines in 2004.

Asked by

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

20 June 2011

Reference

9825; 728 c246-7WA

House

House of Lords

Health: Vaccines

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the withdrawal of the swine flu vaccine containing thimerosal in the Republic of Ireland, Japan and Australia.

Asked by

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

20 June 2011

Reference

9827; 728 c247WA

House

House of Lords

Health: Vaccines

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether swine flu vaccines now being given to the elderly, children and pregnant women contain thimerosal.

Asked by

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

20 June 2011

Reference

9826; 728 c247WA

House

House of Lords

Correction to Lords Written Answer

In answering a Parliamentary Question from Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Official Report, 1 March 2011, col. WA 311), I stated that there is no evidence to suggest that exposure to the small levels of thiomersal contained in influenza vaccines carry any risks to adults or children. I would like...

Member

Earl Howe (Conservative)

Department

Department of Health

Type

Written statements

Date

4 April 2011

Reference

726 c127WS

House

House of Lords

Health: Vaccines

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any of their recommended flu vaccines contain thimerosal.

Asked by

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Notes

Answer corrected on 4 April 2011 at 726 c127WS.

Date

1 March 2011

Reference

7089; 725 c311WA

House

House of Lords

Health: Influenza Vaccines

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any of the influenza vaccines being offered on the National Health Service to individuals aged over 65 contain thimerosal.

Asked by

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

22 October 2008

Reference

5621; 704 c111WA

House

House of Lords

Vaccination: Thiomersal

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what year the NHS ceased to use thiomersal in vaccine doses under the public vaccination programme; and in what year the last vaccine stocks containing thiomersal were (a) exhausted and (b) withdrawn.

Asked by

Ian Stewart (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

8 May 2008

Reference

475 c1189-90W; 204011

House

House of Commons

Thiomersal

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research her Department has undertaken into thiomersal; and if she will make a statement;

Asked by

Baroness Featherstone (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

13 January 2006

For answer on

17 January 2006

Answered on

30 January 2006

As with all medicinal products, vaccine safety is continually monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with advice from independent experts. The United Kingdom's Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) and its expert working group on vaccine safety have thoroughly reviewed the safety of thiomersal-containing vaccines, including alleged links with neurodevelopmental disorders, and kept this under close review.In 2001, the CSM, now the Commission for Human Medicines, conducted a major review of the available evidence and has since then considered new data on a number of occasions as it has emerged. Following concerns in the United States of America (USA) about the possible toxicity of thiomersal-containing vaccines, the Department funded a study using the UK's general practice research database to investigate whether there is a relationship between the amount of thiomersal that an infant receives through vaccination at a young age and subsequent neurological disorders. Data from a study involving over a 100,000 UK children were considered by CSM in 2003. Further studies from Denmark involving almost half a million children and a study from the USA have also specifically investigated the suggested link between mercury-containing vaccines and autism. None of these studies have found any evidence of a causal association with subsequent neurodevelopment disorders, including autism.The advice of CSM stands that there is no evidence of harm from the very small quantities of thiomersal contained in some vaccines, with the exception of possible allergic reactions, typically skin rashes or local swelling at the site of injection. This view concurs with that of the World Health Organisation, the USA's Institute of Medicine and the European Medicines Agency. The balance of benefits and risks of thiomersal-containing vaccines remains overwhelmingly positive.None of the vaccines that are currently part of the recommended childhood immunisation programme contain mercury.

Date

30 January 2006

Reference

43204; 442 c189-90W;442 c188-9W

House

House of Commons

Thimerosal

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether thimerosal is used in vaccines in the NHS; and what assessment she has made of whether there are health risks associated with it.

Asked by

Tony Wright (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

28 June 2005

Reference

5979; 435 c1527-8W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when mercury was removed from the diptheria, polio and tetanus (DPT) vaccine used in the UK; what assessment his Department has made of the effect of mercury in the diptheria, polio and tetanus (DPT) vaccine (a) on the immune system and (b)...

Asked by

Nick Gibb (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

25 January 2005

Reference

430 c320-1W; 209390;209391

House

House of Commons

Lords debate on unstarred question on what Her Majesty's Government propose to do to increase the level of public trust in their vaccination and immunisation programme

Lords debate on unstarred question on what Her Majesty's Government propose to do to increase the level of public trust in their vaccination and immunisation programme.

Lead member

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts

Answering member

Lord Warner

Department

Department of Health

Type

Questions for short debate

Date

8 December 2004

Reference

667 c956-72

House

House of Lords

Warner, Lord

Whether the inactivated polio vaccine, part of the new five-in-one vaccine, is incompatible with the preservative Thiomersal [HL 4301].

Asked by

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

11 October 2004

Reference

HL 4301; 665 c29WA

House

House of Lords

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence has been presented to his Department concerning health risks in relation to thimerosal. - Inc ref to MHRA.

Asked by

Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

12 July 2004

For answer on

22 July 2004

Answered on

22 July 2004

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence has been presented to his Department concerning health risks in relation to thimerosal. [184097] Ms Rosie Winterton: The only vaccine currently used in the United Kingdom routine childhood immunisation programme that contains a mercury compound is the diphtheria, tetanus and whole cell pertussis (DTwP) vaccine which is given combined with haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine. The mercury is present as ethylmercury in the excipient thiomersal (also known as thimerosal). As with all medicinal products, vaccine safety is continually monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with advice from the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). The MHRA and CSM have thoroughly reviewed the safety of mercury-containing vaccines, including alleged links with neurodevelopmental disorders, on a number of occasions. In 2001, the CSM conducted a major review of the available evidence and has since then considered new data as it has emerged. In 2003, following a review of further studies, including two UK studies involving more than 100,000 children, CSM advice was placed on the MHRA website at http://medicines.mhra.gov.uk. Further studies from Denmark involving almost half a million children and a study from the United States have also specifically investigated the suggested link between mercury-containing vaccines and autism. None of these studies have found any evidence of a causal association with autism. On the basis of the available data, the CSM's advice remains that there is no evidence of harm from the very small quantities of thiomersal contained in some vaccines, with the exception of possible hypersensitivity reactions (typically skin rashes or local swelling at the site of injection). This view concurs with that of the World Health Organisation, the United States Institute of Medicine and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). There is a global goal to minimise environmental exposure to mercury compounds. In line with this and despite the strong evidence supporting the safety of thiomersal in vaccines, the EMEA continues to promote the development of vaccines without thiomersal or with the lowest possible levels of thiomersal. However, the EMEA acknowledges that during some manufacturing processes, the use of mercury compounds is necessary and in such cases, residual levels might be present in the final vaccine product.

Date

22 July 2004

Reference

184097; 424 c642-3W;424 c643-4W

House

House of Commons

Warner, Lord

Whether they will follow the examples of regulators in Europe and the United States in recommending the phasing out of the use of thiomersal in vaccines to reduce exposure to mercury as much as possible. [HL 3530].

Asked by

Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 July 2004

Reference

HL 3530; 663 c94WA

House

House of Lords

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS is able to provide mercury-free whooping cough vaccine for babies in the UK.

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 May 2004

Reference

421 c194W; 167768

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Government gave a commitment to phase out the use of thimerosal in whooping cough vaccine; for what reason whooping cough vaccine containing thimerosal is still being used in the United Kingdom; whether his Department has consulted (a) the US, (b)...

Asked by

Simon Burns (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

15 March 2004

For answer on

5 May 2004

Answered on

5 May 2004

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the Government gave a commitment to phase out the use of thimerosal in whooping cough vaccine; [162205] (2) for what reason whooping cough vaccine containing thimerosal is still being used in the United Kingdom; [162206] (3) whether his Department has consulted (a) the US, (b) Japan, (c) Sweden, (d) Australia and (e) Spain as to the reasons why they have ceased using whooping cough vaccines containing thimerosal; [162207] (4) when the Government plans to phase out thimerosal in whooping cough vaccine. [162208] Miss Melanie Johnson: [holding answer 18 March 2004]: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has written to manufacturers of vaccines used in the United Kingdom to alert them to the need to phase out the use of thiomersal in vaccines where possible. This follows advice from the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA), endorsed by the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), to phase out use of thiomersal, wherever possible, as a precautionary recommendation aimed at limiting avoidable exposure to mercury compounds. Manufacturers are actively developing research programmes to eliminate, substitute or reduce thiomersal in vaccines, and to develop new thiomersal- free vaccines. This may take time, because manufacturers need to ensure that thiomersal-free vaccines are safe and effective. The UK currently uses a wholecell containing whooping cough vaccine (which contains thiomersal) because this vaccine offers the best protection against the disease. Whooping cough is a serious disease in young babies that can lead to death. Also, there is strong evidence that thiomersal in vaccines does not cause neurological damage to children and the CSM continues to advise that the balance of benefits and risks of thiomersal-containing vaccines is overwhelmingly positive. The UK will move to thiomersal-free vaccines when an equally effective alternative becomes available. Other countries have moved to acellular whooping cough vaccines because they cause lower levels of adverse reactions, such as a sore arm, in older infants than wholecell vaccines. In the UK, this is not an issue, as babies receive the vaccine when they are young.

Date

5 May 2004

Reference

420 c1631W;420 c1626W; 162205;162206;162207;162208

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what vaccines used in the UK contain Thimerosal; when the use of Thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines was discontinued in the UK. (Answer in bound volume is printed after the next question and answer)

Asked by

Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

17 March 2004

For answer on

5 May 2004

Answered on

5 May 2004

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what vaccines used in the UK contain Thimerosal; [162711] (2) when the use of Thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines was discontinued in the UK. [162712] Miss Melanie Johnson: Thiomersal (also known as thimerosal) is present in the following childhood vaccines: the combined diptheria-tetanus-wholecell pertussis and Haemophilus Influenzae vaccine for primary immunisation and the combined diptheria/ tetanus vaccine used for boosting teenagers. Details of the vaccines used in the childhood immunisation programme can be found in the national health service Factsheet, Thiomersal and vaccines. Other vaccines that contain thiomersal are: Anthrax vaccine, some hepatitis A vaccines, some hepatitis B vaccines, some influenza vaccines and the diptheria- tetanus-wholecell pertussis vaccine. The use of thiomersal in vaccines has not been discontinued in the United Kingdom. The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) recommended in 1999 that vaccine manufacturers phase out use of thiomersal wherever possible. This was a purely precautionary recommendation aimed at limiting avoidable exposure to mercury compounds. EMEA acknowledged that there was no evidence of harm caused by thiomersal in vaccines. The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) endorsed this recommendation in 1999 and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation also supports the EMEA statement. There is strong evidence that thiomersal in vaccines does not cause neurological damage to children and the CSM continues to advise that the balance of benefits and risks of thiomersal- containing vaccines is overwhelmingly positive. In line with the EMEA recommendation, manufacturers are actively developing research programmes to eliminate, substitute or reduce thiomersal in vaccines. This may take time because manufacturers are required to ensure that the replacement or elimination of thiomersal does not affect the safety or efficacy of the final vaccine.

Date

5 May 2004

Reference

420 c1626W;420 c1626-7W; 162711;162712

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the link between Thimerosal in vaccines and autism.

Asked by

Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

22 March 2004

For answer on

4 May 2004

Answered on

4 May 2004

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the link between Thimerosal in vaccines and autism. [163554] Miss Melanie Johnson: As with all medicinal products, vaccine safety is continually monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and its independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). The only vaccines currently used in the routine childhood immunisation programme that contain thiomersal (also known as thimerosal) are the combined diphtheria/tetanus/wholecell pertussis/Haemophilus influenzae type B and the diphtheria/tetanus vaccines. Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine does not contain thiomersal. The MHRA and CSM have thoroughly reviewed the safety of thiomersal-containing vaccines, including alleged links with autism, on a number of occasions. In 2001, CSM conducted a major review of the available evidence and has considered new data as it has emerged. Following a review of further studies in 2003, including two United Kingdom studies involving more than 100,000 children, CSM advice was placed on the MHRA website at http://medicines.mhra.gov.uk. Further studies from Denmark involving almost half a million children have also specifically investigated the suggested link between thiomersal-containing vaccines and autism. None of these studies found any evidence of a causal association. On the basis of the available data, the advice of CSM remains that there is no evidence of harm from thiomersal contained in vaccines, with the exception of possible hypersensitivity reactions (typically skin rashes or local swelling at the site of injection). The CSM advises that the benefits of immunisation with such vaccines outweigh any potential risks of vaccination. This view concurs with that of the World Health Organisation.

Date

4 May 2004

Reference

420 c1474-5W; 163554

House

House of Commons

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