19 Families Sue 5 Pediatric Vaccine Manufacturers for Exposure to Ethyl Mercury

PORTLAND, Ore. - Nineteen families sued Sanofi-Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co. Inc., Wyeth and Baxter International on June 29, claiming their minor children suffer from severe neurodevelopmental injuries from exposure to excessive doses of ethyl mercury in the companies' pediatric vaccines. Nestlen, et al, v. Sanofi-Pasteur Inc., et al, No. 051009HU (D. Ore.).

Each plaintiff had filed a petition for compensation in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. However, each petition was dismissed as time-barred because they were filed more than 36 months after the vaccine-related injuries occurred.

The vaccines were administered to Daniel Nestlen and other minor plaintiffs, …