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. GeierMed 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
Editorial
01 March 2024 : Editorial
Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and Transfusion-Dependent β-ThalassemiaDOI: 10.12659/MSM.944204
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204
In Press
18 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Sexual Dysfunction in Women After Tibial Fracture: A Retrospective Comparative StudyMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944136
21 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research
Potential Value of HSP90α in Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast CancerMed 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
17 Jan 2024 : Review article
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
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
14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research
Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase LevelsDOI :10.12659/MSM.937990
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990
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