Study Examines Neurological Development of Children Receiving Vaccines that Contained Thimerosal
February 2, 2009
Study Examines Neurological Development of Children Receiving Vaccines that Contained Thimerosal

A new study published in Pediatrics examines two groups of children who received different amounts of thimerosal through childhood vaccines to investigate whether the children who had higher thimerosal-intake levels had delayed neurological development as suggested by autism advocates and vaccine critics. Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, was used routinely until recent years to extend the shelf life of vaccines, but as a precautionary measure, vaccine manufacturers have been using other preservatives. In this study, ten years after vaccination, children were given a series of standard neurological tests and results were compared by high and lower dose groups and by gender. The study found only small differences in mean test scores on the finger-tapping with the dominant hand test between the high and lower intake groups. The study adds to the growing body of evidence refuting a link between thimerosal that contained mercury and neurological delays.

The article is available at
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/current.shtml#ARTICLES

See also:
Legal Battles Over Vaccines and Autism, Center for Health and Health Care in Schools E-Journal, October 2007
The Autistic Child, Center for Health and Health Care in Schools In-Focus, October 2007, August 2005