Title: 4 things to know about the vaccine ingredient thimerosal Article: By Sydney Lupkin Though most flu vaccines don't include the preservative thimerosal, advisers to the CDC have recommended against using it. The federal government could soon recommend that people only receive flu shots made without an ingredient called thimerosal. The preservative has been absent from the majority of flu vaccines for nearly two decades, but was on the agenda of a committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine policy. The June meeting was the first since earlier in the month, when Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sacked all 17 previous members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and installed his own slate of seven. Thimerosal has been a target of groups that question vaccine safety. That's despite "a long record of safe and effective use" as a vaccine preservative, according to the Food and Drug Administration. In three separate votes, ACIP recommended that children, pregnant women, and all adults receive single-dose flu immunizations with vaccines that don't contain thimerosal. The next step would be a decision by Kennedy or the CDC on the recommendations. "It's sort of like they turned this meeting into solving a problem that doesn't really exist anymore," says Dr. Jesse Goodman, a former chief scientist at FDA who is now at Georgetown University. The lone committee member to vote against the recommendations was Dr. Cody Meissner, a professor of pediatrics at Dartmouth College. "Of all the issues that ACIP needs to focus on, this is not a big issue," he said. He added: "There is no scientific evidence that thimerosal has caused a problem." However, it's essential to understand what thimerosal actually is and why there are concerns about its use in vaccines. Thimerosal is an organic compound containing mercury, which was once used as a preservative in various medical products such as vaccines and some medications. It has been linked to potential health risks, particularly for infants and young children. The controversy surrounding thimerosal began when it was discovered that the levels of mercury in certain vaccines were higher than what is considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO). This led to a widespread campaign against its use in vaccines, despite numerous studies showing no link between thimerosal and autism or other developmental disorders. Despite these concerns, many experts argue that the benefits of using thimerosal-containing vaccines outweigh any potential risks. The FDA has stated that there is "no evidence" to support claims that thimerosal causes harm when used in vaccines at recommended levels. Moreover, since 2001, most flu vaccines have been produced without thimerosal due to these concerns. In conclusion, while the debate over thimerosal continues, it's crucial for individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare choices based on scientific evidence rather than fear-mongering or misinformation. The CDC and other health organizations recommend getting vaccinated against preventable diseases like influenza, regardless of whether a vaccine contains thimerosal or not.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/07/06/nx-s1-5454890/vaccine-ingredient-thimerosal-cdc-acip) #things
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