The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has debunked claims that children in Nigeria were given a vaccine containing 40 percent mercury.

Prof. Mojisola Cristianah Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC, also refuted the claim that the vaccine was prescribed by a foreign organization. She noted that mercury is a metal and is not used as an element or as a component of vaccines.

Adeyeye stated that the basic components of vaccines are antigens, adjuvants to improve immune response, antibiotics to prevent contamination during manufacturing, preservatives and stabilizers.

NAFDAC DG stated that there is no evidence of harm from low doses of thimerosal vaccines. However, minor reactions such as redness or swelling at the injection site can be reported. She also noted that the Public Health Service agencies and the American Academy of Pediatrics had agreed in July 1999 that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated from vaccines as a precautionary step.

Adeyeye disclosed that Nigeria still receives multi-dose vaccines containing Thimerosal, but at an acceptable concentration since it is not prohibited by the World Health Organisation.

She said;

“Thimerosal, a mercuric compound which is a preservative used in multi dose vaccines, contains a different form of mercury called ethyl mercury.

“As a vaccine preservative, thimerosal is used in concentrations of 0.003% to 0.01%, (for example, thimerosal content allowed in vaccine is between 30 parts to maximum of 100 parts out of million parts of the vaccine formula).

“Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that has been used for decades in the United States in multi-dose vials (vials containing more than one dose) of medicines and vaccines.”