Stanton MD: Everyday Medicine

12/12/2025

There’s been a lot of discussion about mercury in vaccines, so here’s some helpful perspective based on public health data.

In the past, many vaccines contained thimerosal, a preservative that breaks down into ethylmercury. A single dose includes about 25 micrograms(µg) of mercury, roughly the same amount found in a 3-ounce can of tuna or an 8oz cut of commercial fish. Ethylmercury is cleared from the body quickly, while the methylmercury found in fish builds up over time.

For comparison, an average an 8-ounce serving of commercial fish contains about 23 µg of methylmercury. Even an exclusively breast-fed infant will naturally ingest more total mercury from breast milk in the first six months of life than was ever contained in childhood vaccines prior to 2001.

As of 2001, no childhood vaccines contain thimerosal.

Currently, only a very few adult vaccines contain thimerosal. All of these are multi-dose vials. These are very rare and are being phased out. If there is any question(even though there is no legit risk), a single dose vaccine will not contain thimerosal.

It’s important to understand that the forms of mercury, how the body processes them, and how exposure limits are set are all different. Clear information helps us keep vaccines in perspective and focus on keeping families healthy. Do not fall for click bait and conspiracy. Follow the science...not the hysteria.

12/06/2025

The CDC vaccine committee decided to remove the newborn Hepatitis B vaccination recommendation. This is bad "science" and let's summarize why...

Before vaccines were widely used in the 1970s and 80s, hepatitis B was a major threat, infecting up to 300,000 Americans every year. That changed dramatically in 1991 when the CDC recommended vaccination for all newborns. In just over a decade, infections in children and teens dropped by nearly 90%, and in some vaccinated groups, chronic infection disappeared entirely. Childhood cases are now down more than 99% since the early 1990s. Reminder that about 10% of new cases of Hep B were in children under 10 and infection in the first year(typically from mother) carries a 90% chronic infection risk.

By the 2000s, rates continued to fall but eventually leveled off at about 3,000 cases per year. The challenge shifted to adults where rising infections have been linked to the opioid crisis and low vaccination rates among at-risk adults.

The infant vaccine remains extremely safe. Most side effects are mild, such as a sore arm or low fever and serious reactions are exceedingly rare(1 in 600,000 doses). No medication or intervention is "risk free", but the vaccine is exponentially safer than the infection, especially in infants/children. In fact, about 80% of infants currently get the vaccination with about 1,200 new infant hepatitis B cases every year(almost exclusively in unvaccinated...vaccination cuts the risk of maternal transmission by 98%). Of those that become infected in the first year, 90% will develop chronic carrier status, 25% will develop chronic infection, and ~25% of those will die of the disease. The lifetime risk of contracting hepatitis B in the US without vaccination is about 4%...that number is near zero with full vaccination.

The bottom line? Universal vaccination has nearly eliminated childhood hepatitis B. Vaccines work, pseudoscience based on opinion and conspiracy theories is dangerous.

10/04/2025

Great hanging out with in Mexico City. Great meeting you and look forward to future adventures!

08/01/2025

On our way to watch the Braves play at Bristol Motor Speedway! Looks to be a unique and once in a lifetime experience.

05/28/2025

Back on Lee and Hayley tomorrow for another “Trust Me, I’m a Doctor” segment. We talk about cells, wrinkled coats, and sunburns. One of those was part of the script.

Lee and Hayley

05/23/2025

New bi-weekly segment with Lee and Hayley called, "Trust Me, I'm and Doctor", where we will quiz Lee and Hayley on medical topics. This week, we talked about the Mandela Effect. Watch...like...share...and tune in next week!

05/06/2025

Shout out to all the incredible nurses I have had the privilege to work with over the years on this National Nurses Day. We can’t healthcare without you and our system is better because you chose to do what you do! THANK YOU!!!

04/27/2025

03/31/2025

Me as an emergency physician on Monday after working all weekend while the rest of the world is living their normal work schedule lives.

03/31/2025

10/25/2024

If you think your insurance is there to help you, you would likely be incorrect. In a for profit industry, these companies are working harder and harder to deny your care while reporting record profits year after year.

American College of Emergency Physicians - ACEP

When companies like Aetna or UnitedHealthcare want to rein in costs, they turn to EviCore, whose business model depends on turning down payments for care recommended by doctors for their patients.