UNEP mercury treaty and thiomersal: update and three commentaries

Cross-posted from the GAVI CSO forum with many thanks. As you may know, a United Nations Environment Programme treaty is currently being negotiated on mercury. A number of organizations have been working to ensure that the instrument does not restrict access to the vaccine preservative, thiomersal. The current draft text does not include any restrictions on thiomersal, but leaves open the possibility for all mercury-containing products to be reviewed in the future (including thiomersal). A team of advocates will be participating in the final UNEP mercury treaty negotiations January 12-18 in Geneva to ensure continued access to this irreplaceable vaccine preservative. Three commentaries were published in the journal Pediatrics this week in relation to the treaty and thiomersal: · “Global Vaccine Recommendations and Thimerosal” · “Ban on Thimerosal in Draft Treaty on Mercury: Why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Position in 2012 Is So Important” · “Global Justice and the Proposed Ban on Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines” Media coverage includes: · Health Experts say Thimerosal Ban would Imperil Global Health Efforts: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/health/experts-say-thimerosal-ban-would-imperil-global-health-efforts.html · Experts Argue Against Proposed Ban On Vaccine Preservative: www.npr.org · Keep thimerosal in vaccines: pediatricians: www.reuters.com Please click here for comprehensive media coverage (courtesy of our colleagues at Emory). Thank you for your continued support of this team effort! Best, Erin, MPH Policy Officer, PATH