§ Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether each child will by its 16th week of life have received, as part of the standard diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTwP) immunisation programme, 150 micrograms of thimerosal which, in turn, contain 75 micrograms of mercury; and, if not, how much each child will receive. [HL1023]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)The recommended vaccine for routine immunisation of children against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis remains diphtheria, tetanus and wholecell pertussis (DTwP) vaccine. A course of primary immunisation with DTwP vaccine consists of three doses starting at two months, with an interval of one month between each dose. Each dose of the standard DTwP vaccine contains 50 micrograms of thimerosal (containing 25 micrograms of ethylmercury). Therefore, by 16 weeks the total thimerosal exposure would be no more than 150 micrograms (75 micrograms ethylmercury).