Adjuvants and thiomersal in IHCH vaccines
IHCH will administer the Novartis H1N1 vaccine, brandname Focetria.
For information about the product (package leaflet and summary of product characteristics) in all European languages click here.
Focetria contains 0.05mg of thiomersal als conservative. In The Netherlands there is no vaccine available without thiomersal.
Focetria also contains an adjuvant, called squalene, in the form of MF-59 (squalene dispersed in oil by an emulsifying agent). This adjuvant is used to boost immune response to the viral material in the vaccine, so less of the viral material is needed. A lot of discussion is going on about possible side effects of this squalene formula, especially in "critical vaccination" and "alternative medicine" internet fora. At this moment our knowledge about the safety of squalene is based on a problemless administration of vaccines containing this adjuvant to more than 22 million people in Europe.
In a good wikipedia article (squalene) it is explained where this controversy originates. WHO (World Health Organization) states that squalene usage as adjuvant is safe and effective. IHCH follows government guidelines in offering the vaccination.
Vaccinations at IHCH will be administered on November 10th and 17th. People belonging to high risk-groups will already have received an invitation. If you know or think you are in a risk group and did not receive an invitation, please call our reception-desk. 070-3065111