Vaccination
Health
Written answers and statements, 5 February 2008
Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which approved (a) vaccines and (b) immunisations contain thiomersal; which are recommended for administration to children under the age of 18 years; and which are recommended to be taken before travelling abroad.
Dawn Primarolo (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of Health; Bristol South, Labour)
The vaccines used in the United Kingdom routine childhood immunisation programme do not contain thiomersal.
Thiomersal is used as a preservative in very small amounts in one influenza vaccine used in the UK. Thiomersal is also used in the production process for some hepatitis B vaccines and therefore residues may be present in the final product.
The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNac) is funded by the Department to promote clinical standards in travel medicine. Information on travel vaccinations recommended when travelling abroad is available from their website at www.nathnac.org/