Thimerisol-free vaccines

[Anonymous]

Are they available for those who cannot take flu-mist? If so, where have you gotten one?

[Anonymous]

Dc last week, but only because of possibly pregnant. I didn't ask for it, the nurse went and got because I could be pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I got one in DC on Sat.

[Anonymous]

WHERE did you get it in DC? THANKS!

[Anonymous]

bumping b/c I would also like to know where - and do you know if they are just for pregnant women or also giving them to those too young for mist? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

They have been available at the DC mass vaccination clinics. I got one (I am pregnant) at Hardy Middle School on Oct. 24. Just to be clear - it's not 100% thimerosol free -- it's the Novartis vaccine where there are only trace amounts of it.

The Novartis single-dose vaccine is not available for children under 4 - since the dosage is twice as much as they need. Also, I'm not sure if the DC clinics are willing to give it to anyone other than pregnant women -- not sure if there is a supply issue or not.

[Anonymous]

Here is the table of Thimerosal in vaccines.

http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/thi-table.htm

You may also want to take a look here:

http://www.cdc.gov/Flu/about/qa/thimerosal.htm

Is it safe for pregnant women to receive an influenza vaccine that contains thimerosal?

Yes. A study of influenza vaccination examining over 2,000 pregnant women demonstrated no adverse fetal effects associated with influenza vaccine. Case reports and limited studies indicate that pregnancy can increase the risk for serious medical complications of influenza. One study found that out of every 10,000 women in their third trimester of pregnancy during an average flu season, 25 will be hospitalized for flu related complications.

Additionally, influenza-associated excess deaths among pregnant women have been documented during influenza pandemics. Because pregnant women are at increased risk for influenza-related complications and because a substantial safety margin has been incorporated into the health guidance values for organic mercury exposure, the benefits of influenza vaccine with reduced or standard thimerosal content outweighs the theoretical risk, if any, of thimerosal. (emphasis added)

[Anonymous]

For SEASONAL Flu vaccine-I got the preservative-free vaccine at Safeway pharmacy, and DC got her 1st dose at Inova Fairfax Hospital (her pediatrician did not have any), and for her second dose, her pediatrician had the preservative-free vaccine in stock.

For the H1N1-DC and I got whatever we could get from Fairfax county, which did not have any preservative-free vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have been available at the DC mass vaccination clinics. I got one (I am pregnant) at Hardy Middle School on Oct. 24. Just to be clear - it's not 100% thimerosol free -- it's the Novartis vaccine where there are only trace amounts of it.

The Novartis single-dose vaccine is not available for children under 4 - since the dosage is twice as much as they need. Also, I'm not sure if the DC clinics are willing to give it to anyone other than pregnant women -- not sure if there is a supply issue or not.

Coolidge has the Thimerosal-free Sanofi Pasteur formulation, in single-dose vials, and was giving it to pregnant women and nursing moms (I got it) last weekend and the weekend before.

[Anonymous]

do you know if them for children (6 month old)?

[Anonymous]

I don't think anywhere has it for babies and under 3/4s, no.

I got one as a nursing mom, novartis.