Chamber
Plenary, 06 Feb 2003
06 Feb 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Vaccines (Thimerosal)
I associate myself with Nicola Sturgeon's remarks and support entirely what she has said. The accumulation of mercury and heavy metals in our children—both from the environment and from vaccinations—is a problem that is being addressed in nearly every developed country, as Nicola Sturgeon said. However, the problem is not being addressed directly in this country. Using a mercury derivative as a preservative, effectively to extend the shelf life of a product, may well have its benefits for the manufacturer and for central Government, which buys and stocks the vaccination, but that can hardly be cited as justification for using a poisonous substance on children and pregnant mothers.
In the United States, the immunisation safety review committee of the Institute of Medicine concluded that there is inadequate acceptable evidence to establish a causal relationship between thimerosal exposure through child vaccines and the neurodevelopmental disorders of autism. However, in the same paper, the committee made recommendations, which have been acted on, to reduce and effectively remove thimerosal from all child vaccines.
As Nicola Sturgeon said, the debate should not be about whether using mercury as a preservative in vaccines causes specific disorders. The science is straightforward: mercury is a poison in the human body. Mercury in the human body at an early stage, particularly at the foetal stage, can be devastating to the development of the neural pathways, among many other things.
I speak on behalf of the cross-party group on autism and Asperger's and the many parents who have written to me. Those parents are now extremely scared, not of the MMR vaccine, but of the DTP vaccine, especially in light of the evidence that emerged in London in the case of the woman who was tried for, found guilty of and jailed for the death of her two children. We have now discovered that both those children, who had had the DTP vaccine, had high levels of a form of virus that is associated with cot death. One woman in this country has spent nearly two years in jail, gone through a trauma that has destroyed her family and has had to live with the accusation that she caused the death of her two children. Is the Executive prepared for similar cases to come to light, or shall we operate purely on the precautionary principle, as has been requested on many occasions? That approach is simple and has been followed in the United States and the rest of the developed world.
If we want to maintain herd immunity, we must not undermine faith in the vaccination programme by effectively giving people no choice. I urge the minister to tell us that we are moving to a time when choice will be available in all vaccines and that there will be an active campaign for the health service in Scotland to use only those vaccines that do not contain thimerosal for pregnant women and young children.
In the United States, the immunisation safety review committee of the Institute of Medicine concluded that there is inadequate acceptable evidence to establish a causal relationship between thimerosal exposure through child vaccines and the neurodevelopmental disorders of autism. However, in the same paper, the committee made recommendations, which have been acted on, to reduce and effectively remove thimerosal from all child vaccines.
As Nicola Sturgeon said, the debate should not be about whether using mercury as a preservative in vaccines causes specific disorders. The science is straightforward: mercury is a poison in the human body. Mercury in the human body at an early stage, particularly at the foetal stage, can be devastating to the development of the neural pathways, among many other things.
I speak on behalf of the cross-party group on autism and Asperger's and the many parents who have written to me. Those parents are now extremely scared, not of the MMR vaccine, but of the DTP vaccine, especially in light of the evidence that emerged in London in the case of the woman who was tried for, found guilty of and jailed for the death of her two children. We have now discovered that both those children, who had had the DTP vaccine, had high levels of a form of virus that is associated with cot death. One woman in this country has spent nearly two years in jail, gone through a trauma that has destroyed her family and has had to live with the accusation that she caused the death of her two children. Is the Executive prepared for similar cases to come to light, or shall we operate purely on the precautionary principle, as has been requested on many occasions? That approach is simple and has been followed in the United States and the rest of the developed world.
If we want to maintain herd immunity, we must not undermine faith in the vaccination programme by effectively giving people no choice. I urge the minister to tell us that we are moving to a time when choice will be available in all vaccines and that there will be an active campaign for the health service in Scotland to use only those vaccines that do not contain thimerosal for pregnant women and young children.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr Murray Tosh):
Con
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S1M-3765, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on the removal from vaccines of thimerosal—no do...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes with concern that thirteen vaccines currently available in the United Kingdom, including four that are administered to children, co...
Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
There are indeed two pronunciations of the word, Presiding Officer. I will stick to "thimerosal", with the stress on the second syllable.I am grateful for th...
Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I associate myself with Nicola Sturgeon's remarks and support entirely what she has said. The accumulation of mercury and heavy metals in our children—both f...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I thank Nicola Sturgeon for securing the debate and Fraser Nelson of The Scotsman for his thorough investigation of the issue, which has raised awareness and...
Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Nicola Sturgeon on securing this debate, which is important for many of us with young children, and also for those who, like Jamie McGrigor, h...
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Mr Frank McAveety):
Lab
On pronunciation, I shall take a different view just for the sheer devilment of it. I say thiomersal, and other members say thimerosal.In this evening's deba...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
Can the minister confirm whether a mercury-free vaccine is available in Scotland? I previously mentioned Infanrix, which is produced by GlaxoSmithKline.
Mr McAveety:
Lab
I reassure the member that Infanrix was already licensed for use at two, three and four months when the JCVI issued its advice in 2000. It was licensed in 19...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
This is an important question. Does the minister believe that GPs should pro-actively advise parents when they take their children for vaccination that a mer...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
We ask GPs and health professionals to identify the best course of action in discussion with patients and their families. It is not right and proper for me, ...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I want to be absolutely clear on this point. In terms of efficacy, is Infanrix an equal substitute to the vaccine that contains mercury? Is it available to a...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
Infanrix has fewer side effects than DTwP. However, data on severity indicates that DTwP protects against whooping cough—that benefit outweighs the risk. The...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
The minister has slightly misrepresented some of the coverage. No one is suggesting that Infanrix has been held back solely on the ground of cost. More paren...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
In a written answer dated 24 January, which I quoted earlier, Malcolm Chisholm stated:"It is anticipated that thiomersal-free vaccines will be considered for...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
I do not think that I contradicted the Minister for Health and Community Care—perhaps the Official Report will prove me right. I said that we need to have in...
Meeting closed at 17:41.