Published October 23, 2009 09:43 pm - In a move that is sure to generate controversy, Missouri’s top public health official granted an exemption Thursday that allows pregnant women and parents of children younger than 3 to choose whether to receive H1N1 flu vaccine containing a mercury-based preservative.State department grants exemption for flu vaccine
By Wally Kennedy
wkennedy@joplinglobe.com
In a move that is sure to generate controversy, Missouri’s top public health official granted an exemption Thursday that allows pregnant women and parents of children younger than 3 to choose whether to receive H1N1 flu vaccine containing a mercury-based preservative.
Critics of the mercury-based vaccine lobbied the state Legislature a few years ago to prevent its use because of alleged connections to childhood autism.
Dr. Keith Grebe, medical director at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital, praised the relaxation of the rule on Friday.
Clinic canceled
“We had a clinic scheduled for (Friday) at McCune-Brooks where up to 80 patients, including pregnant women, would have received the (H1N1) vaccine with the preservative in it because the supply of vaccine without the preservative is in very short supply,’’ he said.
“We had to cancel the clinic scheduled for today because we were technically breaking the law.’’
Grebe said the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services received pressure from all across the state to release the vaccine for pregnant women.
“The vaccine now will be available to pregnant if they choose to take it,’’ he said. “They may choose to wait for the preservative-free vaccine that will come out, but at least they can make that choice now.’’
Grebe said a national obstetric association on Oct. 20 said the preservative in the H1N1 vaccine is safe for pregnant mothers.
Grebe said there is no doubt this is a serious issue for pregnant women.
“Some of our patients have been very emotionally upset that this vaccine was not available to them,’’ he said. “I am not certain of the latest numbers, but as best as I can recall there have been at least 26 H1N1 deaths among pregnant women in this country.’’
Grebe said pregnant schoolteachers are especially concerned about the unavailability of vaccine to them because they are encountering sick children in their schools every day.
“I know half a dozen people who have gone to get the vaccine,” he said. “A large percentage of pregnant women we see will obtain it as soon as possible.’’