Health Advisory: Washington State Law on Limiting Mercury in Vaccines

It has come to our attention that some health care providers may be unaware of the 2006 WA State law restricting thimerosal content of vaccines administered to children under 3 years of age and pregnant women. The law was passed in April 2006, effective beginning July 2007 and makes it illegal to administer vaccines with thimerosal in excess of the specified limit. The law applies only to certain influenza vaccines and the only available Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Attached are two documents about the law from WA Department of Health (DOH) that were previously sent to healthcare providers by DOH.

Because such a restriction is not recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (or by the American Academy of Pediatrics) it is not reflected in the required federal Vaccine Information Statements (VIS). We have been advised that comments you may have regarding the bill should be directed to your elected representative in Olympia.

The law in also includes a restriction on use of thimerosal containing Menomune meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (multi dose vial formulation) in children 3-23 months of age who are traveling and at risk for serogroup A meningococcal infection (Menactra protein conjugate meningococcal vaccine can be used in children 2 years and older).