Worried about Thimerosal? Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative that has been used in some vaccines and other medical products since the 1930s to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. Today, most single-dose vials and pre-filled syringes of flu shot and the nasal spray flu vaccine do not contain a preservative because they are intended to be used once. Only Flu vaccines in multi-dose vials contain thimerosal to safeguard against contamination of the vial.
The Facts Today
- By 2001, all vaccines routinely recommended for children six years of age and younger in the U.S. were available in formulations that did not contain
thimerosal. - Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines do not and never did contain thimerosal.
- Varicella (chickenpox), inactivated polio (IPV), and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have also never contained thimerosal.
- Influenza (flu) vaccines are currently available in both thimerosal-containing (for multi-dose vaccine vials) and thimerosal-free versions.
- All vaccines routinely recommended for children 6 years of age and younger in the U.S. are available in formulations that do not contain thimerosal.
- As with pediatric vaccines, vaccines for adolescents and adults are available in formulations that do not contain thimerosal.
- FDA-approved seasonal influenza vaccines are available in single-dose presentations that do not contain thimerosal as a preservative for use in infants, children, adults, the elderly and pregnant women.
- If you are concerned, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist whether the vaccine is from a single-dose or multi-dose dial.
The Facts Today
- By 2001, all vaccines routinely recommended for children six years of age and younger in the U.S. were available in formulations that did not contain thimerosal.
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines do not and never did contain thimerosal.
- Varicella (chickenpox), inactivated polio (IPV), and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have also never contained thimerosal.
- Influenza (flu) vaccines are currently available in both thimerosal-containing (for multi-dose vaccine vials) and thimerosal-free versions.
- All vaccines routinely recommended for children 6 years of age and younger in the U.S. are available in formulations that do not contain thimerosal.
- As with pediatric vaccines, vaccines for adolescents and adults are available in formulations that do not contain thimerosal.
- FDA-approved seasonal influenza vaccines are available in single-dose presentations that do not contain thimerosal as a preservative for use in infants, children, adults, the elderly and pregnant women.
- If you are concerned, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist whether the vaccine is from a single-dose or multi-dose dial.
For a complete list of vaccines and their thimerosal content level, see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Thimerosal in Vaccines page.
