# Flu vaccine and thimerosal (and related vaccines) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 13, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708 "2009-10-13T21:54:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/1 "2009-10-13T21:54:29Z")
My question here is, does the new flu shots coming out (both the seasonal as well as the H1N1 vaccine) contain thimerosal or any other mercury based preservatives? Do many (most?) vaccines have this in it today? My understanding was that it was being phased out due to the hysteria over the supposed connection between thimerosal and Alzheimer’s, but today I was told (by one of those hysterics against the use of thimerosal/mercury) that it’s in all the new flu vaccines. I’m just trying to determine if this is true or not. No debate here about thimerosal please…just the facts. For a bonus is it still widely used or is it indeed being phased out? -XT ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/2 "2009-10-13T21:57:31Z")
Yes and no. It depends… > [@](#): > > **Will the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine contain thimerosal?** > The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines that FDA is licensing (approving) will be manufactured in several formulations. Some will come in multi-dose vials and will contain thimerosal as a preservative. Multi-dose vials of seasonal influenza vaccine also contain thimerosal to prevent potential contamination after the vial is opened. > > Some 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines will be available in single-dose units, which will not require the use of thimerosal as a preservative. In addition, the live-attenuated version of the vaccine, which is administered intranasally (through the nose), is produced in single-units and will not contain thimerosal. [For more information on thimerosal](http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/thimerosal_qa.htm). > > SOURCE: [http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine\_safety\_qa.htm](http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_safety_qa.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/3 "2009-10-13T21:59:08Z")
Not knowing for sure, I would say yes and no. I understand multidose vials contain preservative and single dose vials do not. My flu vacc was a single dose. somebody who knows for sure will be along shortly. But, the thimerisol scare was regarding autism, not Alzheimer’s. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/4 "2009-10-13T22:01:30Z")
[QUOTE=Ca3799] But, the thimerisol scare was regarding autism, not Alzheimer’s. [/QUOTE] :smack: Yeah, I knew that. Not sure why I put in Alzheimer’s there. -XT ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/5 "2009-10-13T22:02:44Z")
[QUOTE=Whack-a-Mole] Yes and no. It depends… [/QUOTE] Damn. Now I’ll have to eat my words. Ah well…thanks for the info. -XT ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/6 "2009-10-13T22:04:33Z")
To answer your last question, yes thiomersol has largely been phased out of the routine childhood vaccines, though it is still in some other types of vaccines (non-childhood). ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/7 "2009-10-13T22:08:37Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Do many (most?) vaccines have this in it today? From my earlier link: > [@](#): > > **I have concerns about the use of thimerosal. Is thimerosal still being used?** > People have a right to expect the vaccines they receive are safe and effective. CDC and FDA also hold vaccines to the highest standards of safety. That is why CDC and FDA continually evaluate new scientific information about the safety of vaccines. Since 2001, no new vaccine licensed by FDA for use in children has contained thimerosal as a preservative, and all vaccines routinely recommended by CDC for children under six years of age have been thimerosal-free, or contain only trace amounts, except for multi-dose formulations of influenza vaccine. This was done as a precautionary step and not because there was evidence confirming that thimerosal-containing vaccines were causing health problems. The most recent and rigorous scientific research does not support the hypothesis that thimerosal-containing vaccines are harmful. > > Thimerosal is an important preservative that protects vaccines against potential microbial contamination, which may occur in opened multi-dose vials of vaccine. Such contamination could cause serious illness or death. Since seasonal influenza vaccine is produced in large quantities for annual immunization campaigns, some of the vaccine is produced in multi-dose vials, and contains thimerosal to safeguard against possible contamination of the vial once it is opened. > > SOURCE: [http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/thimerosal\_qa.htm](http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/thimerosal_qa.htm) ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/8 "2009-10-13T22:12:38Z")
That’s what I thought. I remember reading that it had been phased out for most childrens vaccines due to the hysterics, so I assumed (without checking…always a bad thing) that it wouldn’t be in current flu vaccines. Ah well…not as if I’ve never been wrong before, or that I’ve never had to eat my own words. Unfortunately, the person I was talking to about this will simply jump from ‘Ha! See, you were wrong about whether it was in there!’ to ‘And because you were wrong about that you are equally wrong about the horrible effects of thimerosal on our poor children!’. C’est la vie. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/9 "2009-10-13T22:54:46Z")
Maybe they would like a copy of “Autism’s False Prophets” by Paul Offit, MD for Christmas. Or not, LOL! ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/10 "2009-10-14T01:14:33Z")
And thimerisol is ethylmercury by 50% weight, which is the wrong kind. Methymercury is the stuff with the ability to cross the blood brain barrier and to accumulate. Offit did a nice briefer on this topic in Monday’s(12Oct2009) NYT. But there is a thimerisol free version for the younger critters. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/11 "2009-10-14T03:51:50Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Unfortunately, the person I was talking to about this will simply jump from ‘Ha! See, you were wrong about whether it was in there!’ to ‘And because you were wrong about that you are equally wrong about the horrible effects of thimerosal on our poor children!’. C’est la vie. Well, it looks like thimerasal is absolutely out of vaccines used for children. They are a little vague about it being out of influenza vaccines _when administered to children_. Clearly it is available sans thimerasal and the few pictures I have seen so far of children getting it were the nasal version which seems thimerasal free per the above info. Does that mean they strictly only give thimerasal free vaccines to children? I do not know. It does not say. I am willing to bet they try but I suppose some mom getting her kids vaccinated in the mall parking lot might get the bulk version which has thimerasal. Not sure if the people administering it would say no…send the kid somewhere that has single doses. And FWIW you can tell your friend there is zero evidence, as noted above (follow the link and they spell out numerous agencies both private and government), that there is any harm to be had from this. I seriously doubt the CDC would quietly let kids get vaccines that would harm them much less all the other places that have tested it. Just sounds scary. Medicine really needs to change its marketing from “thimerasal” to “mana from heaven”…be less problems with this I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/12 "2009-10-14T04:05:19Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > thimerosal > [@Ca3799](#): > > thimerisol > [@jk1245](#): > > thiomersol > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > thimerasal I know there’s multiple ways to spell it, but are there really _this_ many? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/13 "2009-10-14T04:53:58Z")
[QUOTE=Whack-a-Mole] And FWIW you can tell your friend there is zero evidence, as noted above (follow the link and they spell out numerous agencies both private and government), that there is any harm to be had from this. I seriously doubt the CDC would quietly let kids get vaccines that would harm them much less all the other places that have tested it. Just sounds scary. Medicine really needs to change its marketing from “thimerasal” to “mana from heaven”…be less problems with this I suspect. [/QUOTE] It won’t do any good…she is a true believer. Any evidence to the contrary is either the Evil Government™ and/or Big Pharma(ARR) cooking the evidence for (insert crazy theory with 3 steps ending with Make Huge Profits!!). She thinks it’s all a huge conspiracy…just like everything else. -XT ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/14 "2009-10-14T04:55:07Z")
[QUOTE=Indistinguishable] I know there’s multiple ways to spell it, but are there really this many? [/QUOTE] You can probably rule mine out, since I’m a horrible speller, especially when posting from my phone. 😛 -XT ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/15 "2009-10-14T13:56:32Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > :smack: Yeah, I knew that. Not sure why I put in Alzheimer’s there. > > -XT Too many vaccinations as a child… ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/16 "2009-10-16T00:19:58Z")
Oddly, I just got in a minor arguement on my facebook page with someone about this sort of thing… I asked her for a reliable cite, after she said 1 in 150 children get autism after getting vaccines. I stated “not [www.thimerisolismurder.com](http://www.thimerisolismurder.com)”. I got a link to Jenny McCarthy’s page. ---
**Author:** ![Hallucinex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba9def/32.png) [@Hallucinex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hallucinex)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/17 "2009-10-16T09:47:30Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > after she said 1 in 150 children get autism after getting vaccines Isn’t the rate of autism in general somewhere around that…or lower? (thought I remembered hearing 1% recently, is that right?) ---
**Author:** ![Voluble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/4af34b/32.png) [@Voluble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voluble)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2009, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/18 "2009-10-18T05:53:03Z")
They gave the nasal formulation to the kids in the local school system. I thought it was only to avoid the needle. Maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/19 "2009-10-18T18:42:58Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > It won’t do any good…she is a true believer. Any evidence to the contrary is either the Evil Government™ and/or Big Pharma(ARR) cooking the evidence for (insert crazy theory with 3 steps ending with Make Huge Profits!!). She thinks it’s all a huge conspiracy…just like everything else.-XT My condolences. My brother and SIL are in the same boat. I’m under suspicion or in collusion because I work in medical research and ask for supporting evidence, rather than falling for force of conviction. I have a bottle of 100% thimerosal sitting on my chemical storage shelf, and I’m thinking of waving it in their faces on Halloween night. I’m still waiting for my profit-sharing check from Big Pharma. Those guys owe me big time, what with all of the co-pays I’ve made over the years. Mercury (as thimerosal) was pulled from pediatric vaccines in 2001 as part of a larger removal of mercury from anything (remember Tincture of Merthiolate for cuts?) where it wasn’t explicitly proven to be of benefit. The reasoning was that there were other preservatives that were safer (but that thimerosal was mostly safe but we’re going to pull it anyway). Vlad/Igor, evil underling of the more eviler overlords of knowledge and profits and lies and stuff. fnord ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-vaccine-and-thimerosal-and-related-vaccines/513708/20 "2009-10-18T18:54:54Z")
Well-known autism experts (like Robert F. Kennedy) have determined that thimerosal (in vaccines) is responsible for autism. You can read about it in Rolling Stone magazine (that well-regarded, highly scientific) publication!