An Act To Require Certain Physicians To Provide Information about Thimerosal in Vaccines
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0148
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: BARTLETT, CURLEY, DIAMOND, MAYO, PINGREE
Amends: 32 MRSA §3292

Legislative Document 
No. 148 
S.P.54 
In Senate, January 13,2005 
An Act To Require Certain Physicians To Provide Information 
about Thimerosal in Vaccines 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator BARTLETT of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative CURLEY of Scarborough and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: DIAMOND of Cumberland, MAYO of Sagadahoc, Representative: PINGREE of 
North Haven. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. I. 32 MRSA §3292·A is enacted to read: 
§3292-A. 
Information regarding thimerosal and other 
preservatives in vaccines 
The 
following 
requirements 
apply 
with 
regard 
to 
the 
administration of vaccinations to patients. 
1. 
Poster. 
The Director of the Bureau of Health within 
the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall develop 
a 
poster that informs patients of the availability of the brochure 
prepared under subsection 2 and provides basic information about 
vaccines containing preservatives, including those that contain 
and do not contain thimerosal. 
2. 
Brochure. 
The Director of the Bureau of Health within 
the Department of Health and Human Services shall develop 
a 
brochure 
that 
explains 
the 
use 
of 
thimerosal 
and 
other 
preservatives 
in vaccines. 
The 
brochure 
must 
describe 
what 
alternatives are available 
and what potential 
advantages 
and 
disadvantages 
are 
posed by 
the 
use 
of 
thimerosal 
and 
those 
alternatives. 
The 
brochure 
must 
include 
the 
following 
information: 
A. 
That thimerosal is a preservative that contains 49. 6qb 
mercury used in vaccines: 
B. 
A brief history of thimerosal in vaccines, including t~~ 
request made in 1999 by the Academy of Pediatrics for the 
voluntary removal of thimerosal from vaccines; 
C. 
The 
availability 
of 
vaccines 
that 
do 
not 
contain 
thimerosal; 
D. 
History and factual information regarding thimerosal. 
This information must be updated periodically to include 
recent 
developments 
in 
scientific 
knowledge 
and 
any 
standards of health care practice and legal requirements 
relevant to thimerosal; and 
E. 
Other information that contributes to the ability of the 
patient or parent or guardian of the patient to make an 
informed decision when choosing the type of vaccine to be 
administered. 
3. 
PhysicianS' offices. 
Physicians licensed under this 
chapter who 
administer vaccines to patients shall display in 
their offices the poster prepared under subsection 1 and shall 
make 
available 
for patients 
or 
the parents or guardians of 
patients the brochure prepared under subsection 2. 
Page l-LRl080(l) 
4. 
Internet. 
The Department of Health and Human Services 
shall post on its publicly accessible site on the Internet copies 
of the poster prepared under subsection 1 and brochure prepared 
under subsection 2 that are suitable for downloading and printing 
by 
physicians, 
health 
care 
providers, 
patients, 
parents 
and 
guardians of patients and other interested parties. 
SUMMARY 
This 
bill 
requires 
the 
Department 
of 
Health 
and 
Human 
Services, Bureau of Health to prepare a poster and brochure on 
the use of thimerosal and other preservatives in vaccines. 
The 
bill requires physicians 
who 
administer vaccines to make 
the 
brochure available to patients and to display the poster. 
The 
bill requires the brochure and poster to be available on the 
Department of Health and Human Services' publicly accessible site 
on the Internet.