Logo Medical Science Monitor

Call: +1.631.470.9640
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 02:00 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor

01 June 2006

An assessment of downward trends in neurodevelopmental disorders in the United States following removal of thimerosal from childhood vaccines.

David A. Geier, Mark R. Geier

Med Sci Monit 2006; 12(6): CR231-239 :: ID: 451248

Abstract

Background: The US is in the midst of an epidemic of neurodevelopmentaldisorders (NDs). Thimerosal is an ethylmercury-containing compound added to some childhood vaccines.Several previous epidemiological studies conducted in the US have associated Thimerosal-containing vaccine(TCV) administration with NDs. Material/Methods: An ecological study was undertaken to evaluate NDs reportedto the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) from 1991 through 2004 by date of receipt and bydate of vaccine administration. The NDs examined included autism, mental retardation, and speech disorders.Statistical trend analysis was employed to evaluate the effects of removal of Thimerosal on the proportionof NDs reported to VAERS. Results: There was a peak in the proportion of ND reports received by VAERSin 2001-2002 and in the proportion of ND reports by date of vaccine administration in 1998. There weresignificant reductions in the proportion of NDs reported to VAERS as Thimerosal was begun to be removedfrom childhood vaccines in the US from mid-1999 onwards. Conclusions: The present study provides thefirst epidemiological evidence showing that as Thimerosal was removed from childhood vaccines, the numberof NDs has decreased in the US. The analysis techniques utilized attempted to minimize chance or bias/confounding.Additional research should be conducted to further evaluate the relationship between TCVs and NDs. Thisis especially true because the handling of vaccine safety data from the National Immunization Programof the CDC has been called into question by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciencesin 2005.

Keywords: Child, Preschool, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - epidemiology, Preservatives, Pharmaceutical - toxicity, Thimerosal - toxicity, United States, Vaccines - adverse effects

Add Comment 0 Comments

Editorial

01 March 2024 : Editorial  

Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia

Dinah V. Parums

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944204

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204

0:00

In Press

18 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research  

Sexual Dysfunction in Women After Tibial Fracture: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944136  

0:00

21 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

Potential Value of HSP90α in Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943049  

22 Feb 2024 : Review article  

Differentiation of Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Techniques and Future ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943168  

23 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943732  

Most Viewed Current Articles

16 May 2023 : Clinical Research  

Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387

0:00

17 Jan 2024 : Review article  

Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant

DOI :10.12659/MSM.942799

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799

0:00

14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research  

Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase Levels

DOI :10.12659/MSM.937990

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990

0:00

01 Jan 2022 : Editorial  

Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750