Thiomersal and vaccines: Difference between revisions

Thiomersal, also spelled ''thimerosal'', is an [[organomercury]] compound used as a preservative in vaccines since the 1930s to prevent [[bacteria]]l and [[fungi|fungal]] contamination.<ref name=T-in-vaccines>{{cite web |date=2007-09-06 |url=http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm |accessdate=2007-10-01 |title= Thimerosal in vaccines |publisher= Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2009-08-22 |url=http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/updates/thimerosal.htm |accessdate=2007-10-01 |title=Mercury and vaccines (thimerosal) |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention}}</ref> In July 1999, following a review of mercury-containing food and drugs, the [[Centers for Disease Control]] (CDC) and the [[American Academy of Pediatrics]] (AAP) asked vaccine makers to remove thiomersal from vaccines as quickly as possible as a purely precautionary measure, and it was rapidly phased out of most U.S. and European vaccines.<ref name=Baker/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimfaq.htm |date=2007-06-07 |accessdate=2008-07-22 |title= Thimerosal in vaccines: frequently asked questions (FAQs) |publisher= Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration}}</ref> Many parents took the action to remove thiomersal as indicating that the preservative was harmful, and there have been thousands of lawsuits filed in the U.S. to seek damages from alleged toxicity from vaccines, including those purportedly caused by thiomersal.<ref name=Baker/><ref>Autism cases in vaccine court: