Thimerosal FYI

What is Thimerosal?

Thimerosal is a preservative used to prevent spoiling in over thirty common vaccines. It is added during a vaccine's production to prevent bacteria from developing. Thimerosal remains in the vaccine throughout its shelf life to prevent any new bacteria from contaminating it. Thimerosal has been very effective in many vaccines for over seventy years.

Thimerosal and Mercury Poisoning

Thimerosal contains ethylmercury. Because of thimerosal's mercury content, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have recommended a gradual withdrawal of thimerosal from vaccines. The FDA and CDC are concerned about possible toxic side effects in young children receiving childhood immunizations. Despite the possible risk of mercury poisoning, both agencies continue to recommend that parents vaccinate their children against diseases such as small pox, chicken pox, polio, and other common diseases. Parents should ask their health care provider for alternative vaccines that do not contain thimerosal as an ingredient.

Thimerosal, Childhood Immunizations, and Autism

Many vaccines recommended for childhood immunizations contain thimerosal. Scientific research is in progress to determine if mercury poisoning from ethylmercury is a cause of autism, but these studies have yet to produce solid scientific evidence to support this conclusion. Yet many parents of autistic children have noticed a significant correlation between the date of their child's vaccination and the first symptoms of autism, referring to it as the "five month window."

A heated debated over the necessity and risk of childhood immunizations has ensued and not just because of autism. Opponents of such immunizations claim the risk of infection caused by vaccination, mercury poisoning, or contaminated vaccines significantly outweigh the odds of contracting a disease such as small pox or polio. They further claim that the CDC, FDA, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are heavily influenced by pharmaceutical companies' deep pockets and work to protect their interests.

Proponents of childhood immunizations point out past epidemics such as polio and small pox-diseases that today we regard as non-threatening because of vaccinations against them. They further point out that some diseases may have been totally eradicated thanks to mandatory vaccination. In regards to autism, proponents of childhood immunizations point out scientific evidence supporting the theory that autism may be a strictly genetic condition and that it is not caused by mercury poisoning from vaccinations containing thimerosal.

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