The pediatricians at CMC would like to clear up any confusion that may be circulating regarding the presence of thimerosal as a preservative in vaccinations. Thimerosal is no longer used as a preservative in any childhood vaccine with the exception of the influenza vaccine (preservative free influenza vaccine may be found at Passport Health)
As your child’s pediatrician, we feel confident of the science behind the safety of thimerosal as a vaccine preservative and would strongly encourage you to visit the Vaccines and Thimerosal web page by the Children’s of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center.
Here is an excerpt from Vaccines and Thimerosal web page on the Vaccine Education Center
“Thimerosal contains a different form of mercury called ethylmercury. Studies comparing ethylmercury and methylmercury suggest that they are processed differently in the human body. Ethylmercury is broken down and excreted much more rapidly than methylmercury. Therefore, ethyl mercury (the type of mercury in the influenza vaccine) is much less likely than methylmercury (the type of mercury in the environment) to accumulate in the body and cause harm.”
Visit Vaccines and Thimerosal to learn more valuable information on this topic and let your child’s pediatrician know if you have any questions.