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Suspension of Washington State Mercury Limits on Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine
Declaration of Vaccine Shortage
On June 16, 2009, the Secretary of Washington Department of Health declared a
shortage of a vaccine called JE-VAX®, which protects against Japanese
encephalitis. Washington State law allows the Secretary of Health to suspend the
state’s legal mercury limit for a vaccine if the Secretary determines there is a
shortage of vaccine available to protect the public health against
vaccine-preventable disease.
• Signed declaration from Secretary of Health Mary Selecky (PDF, 43KB)
Suspension of Mercury Limits
Although JE-VAX® exceeds Washington’s legal mercury limits, it is the only
vaccine allowed for use in the United States to protect children one to three
years of age against this disease. Suspending the state’s mercury limits gives
health care providers and parents the ability to vaccinate their young children
against Japanese encephalitis if they choose to.
State mercury limits for this vaccine will be suspended for a period of one year
starting July 1, 2009. At the end of this year, the Secretary of Health will
determine if it is necessary to continue the declaration and suspension.
Patient Notification
Washington State law requires that, once the legal mercury limit for a vaccine
has been suspended, the following people be informed they are being given a
vaccine exceeding those limits:
• Women known to be pregnant or lactating.
• The parent or legal guardian of a child under 18 years of age receiving the vaccine.
The department has created the following notification sheet to assist providers in fulfilling this requirement when administering JE-VAX®.
• Parent/Patient Notice (Suspension of Legal Limits of Mercury-Containing Vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis)(PDF, 39KB)
Related Links
• Washington State law
• Mercury and Vaccine Safety
• Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Information Statement
Last Update: 06/17/2009 09:55 AM