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Is There Mercury in Flu Vaccinations?

Depending on the type of flu vaccination you get, there may or may not be mercury in the vaccination. As of December 2009, both regular seasonal flu vaccines and the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine were available to the public.

  1. Seasonal Flu Vaccines

    • Seasonal flu vaccines do not contain mercury, but they do contain a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are also thimerosal-free versions of the seasonal flu vaccine, but you have to ask your doctor specifically for this version.

    H1N1, The Swine Flu

    • In mid 2009 there were both mercury-free and mercury-containing vaccines for the swine flu, but the shortage of swine flu vaccines noted as of December 2009 resulted in only mercury-containing vaccines being available on the market. The vaccines with mercury have a limited amount of mercury, however, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

    Thimersosal Debate

    • Thimersosal is a modified mercury structure (called ethylmercury) that has been used as a vaccine preservative since the 1930s. Concerns that mercury may cause autism is based on measuring levels of methylmercury in the body. This is the type of mercury (found in fish and industrial pollution) that can build up in the body and cause "mercury poisioning." Thimersosal is an ethylmercury, which does not accumulate in the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but there is no concrete research of its effects on the body, or if it is linked to autism.

    Why Use Mercury Preservatives?

    • With the availability of preservative-free vaccinations, it may be confusing why there are preservatives in vaccines. According to the Food and Drug Administration, preservatives are necessary to keep the vaccines from becoming contaminated with bacteria or other harmful substances that could kill you.

    What Else Is In Flu Vaccinations

    • Flu vaccines are typically grown in a chickens' eggs. The virus is injected into the egg and incubated so that it grows. Then the virus-filled egg is radiated to weaken or kill the virus cells, and this solution is used as a vaccine.

    Who Should Not Get Vaccinated

    • People who are allergic to eggs, sulfur, or who have had a history of bad reactions to vaccination should consult a doctor before getting a flu vaccine. There may be alternatives available, depending on what type of vaccine you need, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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