State lifts limit on preservative in H1N1 vaccine

The state Health Department has lifted a temporary limit on the amount of a mercury preservative that can be used in the H1N1 swine-flu vaccine because there's an ample supply of the vaccine for anyone who wants to get it.

Washington state law limits the amount of preservative that can be added to vaccines for pregnant women and children under 3. The secretary of health can suspend the law when there's a shortage of vaccine or during a disease outbreak.

The preservative, thimerosal, has not been linked to any health problems, but some people believe the compound could be linked to autism. The state Legislature adopted the limit in 2006.

Thimerosal was added to the bulk of the swine-flu vaccine last year and this year because it was produced in vials that contain enough medication for 10 shots. The mercury compound kills bacteria, lowering the risk that the drug will be contaminated by needles used to withdraw separate doses.

"Suspending the limits made the vaccine more widely available to vulnerable people at a time when supplies were low and production was slow, but that's no longer the case," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky in a prepared statement.

The H1N1 flu is still circulating, but at low levels, health officials say.