Thimerosal: Resources & Information Thimerosal (a molecule that contains ethyl mercury) is a widely used preservative in medical products. Since 2001, all vaccines routinely recommended for children 6 years of age and younger are thimerosal-free, except for some formulations of inactivated influenza vaccine.
Last updated January 2011 Thimerosal is a mercury-containing compound that prevents the growth of dangerous bacteria and | questions and answers | fungus. It is used as a preservative for flu vaccines What is thimerosal? Is it the same as mercury? in multi-dose vials, to keep the vaccine free from Thimerosal is a compound that contains mercury.
IIV provided in multidose vials contain thimerosal as a preservative. Most people who had sensitivity to thimerosal when it was used in contact lens solution do not have reactions to thimerosal when it is used in vaccines.
Evidence Shows Vaccines Unrelated to Autism Erroneous claims that vaccines cause autism have led some parents to delay or refuse vaccines for their children. Some of the claims are that autism is caused by measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, vaccines that contain thimerosal, or by too many vaccines. Many studies have been done to test these claims. None has shown that vaccines cause autism ...
- In June 2025, ACIP voted to no longer recommend use of inactivated influenza multi-dose vials (MDV) containing thimerosal as a preservative. Availability of MDV formula-tions varies by manufacturer. As of , CDC’s website states that there is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the ...
The ACIP in June 2025 voted to no longer recommend the use of influenza vaccine from thimerosal-containing multidose vials for any recipient. In addition, a few states have legislation restricting its use in pregnancy. There is no scientific evidence that thimerosal in vaccines is a cause of adverse events unless the patient has a systemic allergy to thimerosal. More than 95% of influenza ...