California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Tuesday signed a bill (AB 2943) that will restrict the use of vaccines containing more than trace amounts of ethyl mercury in pregnant women and infants because of a concern that the mercury could damage the developing brains of fetuses or young children, the Los Angeles Times reports (Levin/Vogel, Los Angeles Times, 9/29).

The law requires physicians beginning in July 2006 to stop administering vaccines containing more than trace amounts of thimerosal -- a preservative that is about 50% ethyl mercury -- to pregnant women and infants. The law allows state officials to waive the thimerosal restrictions during a public health emergency, including a severe flu vaccine shortage (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 8/30).

Although vaccine makers and some public health officials say there is no evidence that small amounts of mercury in vaccines harm developing fetuses or children, Schwarzenegger cited FDA´s and the American Academy of Pediatrics´ recommendations from 1999 that thimerosal be removed from childhood vaccines.

"I believe that an abundance of caution merits the acceleration of the process already underway to remove thimerosal from the last few vaccines that contain it," Schwarzenegger wrote in his signing message (Los Angeles Times, 9/29).

Although scientists do not know much about the possible effects of ethyl mercury exposure in fetuses or young children, fetuses exposed to high levels of methyl mercury can develop birth defects or experience a subtle loss of mental acuity (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 8/30).

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Children´s health advocates who have said that the mercury in vaccines could be the cause of a nationwide "surge" in the number of cases of autism and other neurological disorders in children applauded the new law, the Times reports (Los Angeles Times, 9/29).

Rick Rollens, a board member of the Autism Society of America, said that Schwarzenegger´s decision to sign the bill was "courageous and compassionate" and sent a "strong message that vaccines that contain mercury have no place in the veins of California´s pregnant women and young children," according to the AP/San Jose Mercury News (Lawrence, AP/San Jose Mercury News, 9/29).

During the past few years, a majority of vaccine manufacturers have voluntarily eliminated or greatly reduced the amount of thimerosal in their vaccines, with the exception of Aventis Pasteur´s flu vaccine. Aventis, which is the only manufacturer of flu vaccines for children under age two, was the only vaccine manufacturer to openly oppose the legislation, the Times reports. In a statement, the company said it was disappointed that Schwarzenegger had signed the bill and expressed concern that the law could discourage parents from having their children immunized for influenza (Los Angeles Times, 9/29).

California is the second state -- after Iowa -- to limit the use of vaccines containing thimerosal (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 8/30).

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