A new study of children’s behaviour problems has come to the conclusion that there is no discernible link with the three-in-one vaccine now being phased out in the UK.
Researchers from the University of Bristol’s Children of the 90s project – also known as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) had been asked to investigate the DTP jab which, until now, has been routinely given to UK babies from the age of two months to protect against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.
But after going through the immunisation records of almost 13 thousand children – they found no evidence linking it to developmental disorders.
Their report is one of two parallel studies* published today (September 7) in the journal Pediatrics which appear to support the use of the mercury-based thiomersal as a preservative in vaccines.
The children involved in the Bristol study were born at a time when the DTP vaccination schedule was brought forward to 2, 3 and 4 months of age (compared with previous recommendations of 3, 5 and 10 months). ALSPAC was asked to investigate whether the earlier exposure was associated with any adverse reactions.
In the UK, the vaccine contains thiomersal, (also known as thimerosal) a preservative containing ethyl mercury which has been used in medicines since the 1930s.
The preservative is being phased out in some countries in an effort to reduce overall exposure to mercury in any form. The Department of Health announced last month (August) that in future babies would receive a new five in one vaccine, which does not contain thiomersal.
There has been speculation that thiomersal could affect a child’s brain development although the Department of Health has always said there is no evidence of such a link.
“We could find no convincing evidence that early exposure to thiomersal had any deleterious effect on neurological or psychological outcome."The Bristol researchers went back through the immunisation records of 12,956 children to determine their mercury intake by the age of six months and then compared it with information on each child from birth to the age of 7½.