Protect pregnant women too

To the editor:

I read the article titled "State bill would limit thimerosal" and was wondering why the proposed bill doesn't extend the banning of thimerosal in any medications or vaccines administered to pregnant women. The toxic mercury in thimerosal will overwhelm the partially developed autoimmune system of the fetus. Most states with bills that will be taken up in 2005 include women with child in the ban.

PAUL SHAPIRO, Great Neck, N.Y.