ALPENA — Local health department officials say that mercury-based preservatives used in influenza immunizations do not affect long-term health, especially in children. U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) signed off on removal of preservatives, regardless.

On Tuesday, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. signed off on recommendations to remove mercury-based preservative, thimerosal, from all influenza vaccines distributed in the United States, according to a press release. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will follow these new guidelines.

According to the release, ACIP’s committee members voted that all children 18 and younger, pregnant women, and adults receive only single-dose influenza vaccines free of the mercury-based preservative. The release states that Secretary Kennedy’s signature formally adopts the recommendation into federal health policy.

Dr. Joshua Meyerson, District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) medical director, told The News in an email that the preservative is used in multi-dose vials of vaccines to prevent contamination, and only has trace amounts of mercury. Meyerson stated that studies from the 1990s have shown that it does not significantly impact health.

“Thimerosol, an ethyl mercury compound, when used in trace amounts as it was, did not impact the mercury levels that are found in all of us from naturally occurring sources that we are all exposed to living on this planet,” Meyerson said.

Meyerson further explained that the preservative is not required when vaccines are packaged as single doses. Meryerson noted that the new guideline will likely increase the cost of vaccines.

“Vaccine companies began packaging vaccines in prefilled syringes or single-dose vials for almost all routine administered vaccines,” Meyerson said. “As they are single-doses they do not require thimerosol or other products to preserve sterility. The only current product that the recent decision impacts is the influenza vaccine, and the manufacturers will switch to single-dose products that will not be any safer but will cost more.”

In contrast to Meyersons’ estimation of the new recommendation, Secretary Kennedy doubled down on the necessity for this removal in the HHS release.

“After more than two decades of delay, this action fulfills a long-overdue promise to protect our most vulnerable populations from unnecessary mercury exposure,” Secretary Kennedy said in the release.”Injecting any amount of mercury into children when safe, mercury-free alternatives exist defies common sense and public health responsibility. Today, we put safety first.”

According to the release, the effort to remove mercury-based preservatives from childhood vaccines began in 1999 when the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and vaccine manufacturers agreed that any potential risk from mercury warranted its removal.

The release states that vaccine manufacturers have confirmed they have the capacity to replace multi-dose vials containing the preservative, ensuring the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and adult vaccine supplies will remain uninterrupted.

“With the U.S. now removing mercury from all vaccines, we urge global health authorities to follow this prudent example for the protection of children worldwide,” Secretary Kennedy said in the release.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.