Vaccination problems

[username1]

I've encountered huge problem with my baby's vaccinations in Thailand.

The problem is, that I'm not comfortable injecting Thimerosal (Mercury) in to my 3 month old son. I'm not 100% sure if Thimerosal is actually causing any of the claimed health problems, but I wouldn't feel comfortable with the risk after the symptoms of his first vaccination containing Thimerosal. Our hospital (and few other in Bangkok we've contacted) told us they only have Quinvaxem (DTwP-HepB-Hib) which contains Thimerosal. If you write Quinvaxem to the Google's search box, Google suggest you search 'Quinvaxem deaths' which tells a lot. It's linked to deaths in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan and India. It's cheap choice for developing countries and is not being used in USA/Europe.

We've tried to contact some of the biggest hospitals and all of them told us that that's all they have and we can't have other choice, even with money. That can't be right? I would be even ready to order the vaccines outside Thailand and paying the expenses if that's needed.

Anyone else have been in same position? What are our options? Please help as this is quite urgent since the next vaccination should be in few days...

[sunnyjim5]

Quinvaxem is the most widely administered pentavalent vaccine globally -

Quinvaxem has been administered to over 400 million children.

The vaccine is proven to be safe.

An objective assessment by the WHO can be seen in the link

http://www.who.int/immunization_standards/vaccine_quality/quinvaxem_pqnote_may2013/en/

edit to add link

Edited February 4, 2016 by sunnyjim5

[username1]

I wouldn't want this thread to become debate if it's safe or not - the point is I'm not comfortable with that and I'm trying to find a solution other than moving back to Europe.

Edited February 4, 2016 by Sheryl
links to misinformation/quackery removed by moderator.

[Sheryl]

I have edited your post to remove misinformation and links to same and to notoriuously inaccurate.unreliable quack conspiracy sites. Please note Health Forum rules:

2. Quackery and Misinformation: Posters should pay particular attention to forum rule # 2) "You will not use thaivisa.com to post any material which is knowingly or can be reasonably construed as false".

This will be strictly applied with respect to presentation as fact any statements which are clearly contrary to medical science.

Now reverting to your issue, I don't really know why the problem as there are several vaccine brands available in Thailand including GlaxoSMithKline's Infanrix Hexa, manufactured in the West and with no thimeresol. Sanofi's Textratim is also here but if that is used have to separately administer Hep B vaccine (which can be done). other brands as well.

I suggest you contact Zuellig, which is the distributor of Infanrix Hexa and ask them which hospitals they have supplied it to.

8-9 Fl, Ploenchit Center
2 Sukhumvit Rd
Kwaeng Klongtoey
Khet Klongtoey Bangkok 10110

Contact Information: Tel: (+66) 2656 9800 Fax: (+66) 2656 9801 Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.zuelligpharma.com

[username1]

Sorry about that!

And thank you so much for your answer, but unfortunately Infantrix Hexa contains Thimerosal. And it's also banned at least in Italy since 2014 when court concluded that child suffered autism and brain damage because of neurotoxic mercury and aluminum. While court rulings are not of course science, it's factual information.

I'll contact them anyway just to see what they'll answer since at least Bumrungrad, BKK Hospital and 2 others which names I don't recall told my Thai wife that they have only Quinvaxem.

[Sheryl]

Infantrix Hexa no longer contains any thimeresol.

Full list of ingrediants here http://www.immune.org.nz/node/595

and here

Infantrix Hexa insert.pdf

And Infanrix Hexa has not been banned in italy. An Italian court awarded compensation to the family of a child it believed had suffered autism ads a result of a combination of the vaccine (which at that time did contain thimerosol) and an usual genetioc mutation which the child had. Thimerosol is now banned in Italy, but not Infanrix Hexa, which no longer contains it.

Thimerosol isn't added to Quinvaxem either, but the manufacturer states that "trace amounts might be present due to the manufacturing process".

[username1]

That's great information, much appreciated. And thanks for correcting me regarding the Italy ban.

Infanrix Hexa sounds like a viable option. You seem very knowledgeable regarding vaccines, would you happen to know if Daptacel is available in Thailand?

edit. Unfortunately ZuelligPharma doesn't have Infanrix at the moment and they don't know when they're getting more. Any other ideas?

Edited February 5, 2016 by username1

[sunnyjim5]

Daptacel is not listed as being available in Thailand.

Also Daptacel only provides protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

[username1]

BNH hospital says this when I asked if they had Infanrix or Daptacel:

"Please be informed that the requested vaccines are out of stock worldwide."

I'm not sure if I should just believe them or not...

[Sheryl]

Daptacel is not available in Thailand.

Frankly think you should just get the Quinvaxem, to which thimerosol is not added, and which has an excellent safety record. Something like 400 million doses given worldwide.

http://www.who.int/immunization_standards/vaccine_quality/quinvaxem_pqnote_may2013/en/

Your alternative would be to administer multiple different vaccines (in order to cover all the relevant diseases0 which while possible would actually increase the risk of side effects since there is a certain (very small) risk with each one. You are better off with the combined form.

Remember this is not a zero sum game, there is no 100% safe alternative. Not vaccinating your child is extremely risky, far more so than they very small risk associated with vaccinating,which is why, with the exception of children who are known to have specific contraindications like immunosupression etc, public health authorities recommend vaccination.