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 Vaccine Safety Basics
bullet Information for Parents
bullet Why It's Important to Monitor Vaccine Safety
bullet How Vaccines Are Tested and Monitored
bullet Common Questions
bullet Vaccine Safety Concerns
  bullet Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
bullet MMR Vaccine
bullet Mercury and Vaccines (Thimerosal)
bullet Questions About Multiple Vaccines
bullet Questions About Vaccine Recalls
bullet Fainting (Syncope) After Vaccination
bullet Kawasaki Syndrome and RotaTeq Vaccine
bullet GBS and Menactra Meningococcal Vaccine
bullet Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
bullet Hepatitis B Vaccine and Concerns about Multiple Sclerosis
bullet History of Vaccine Safety

 Public Health Activities
bullet Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
bullet Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) Project
bullet Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Network
bullet Brighton Collaboration
bullet Vaccine Technology
bullet Emergency Preparedness
bullet Publications
bullet Scientific Agenda

Frequently Asked Questions about Thimerosal References

  1. Ball L, Ball R, Pratt RD. An assessment of thimerosal in childhood vaccines.* Pediatrics 2001;107:1147–1154.


  2. Förström L, Hannulksela M, Kousa M, Lehmuskallio E. Merthiolate hypersensitivity and vaccination. Contact Dermatitis 1980;6:241–245.


  3. Jacobs RL, Lowe RS, Lanier BQ. Adverse reactions to tetanus toxoid. Journal of the American Medical Association 1982;247(1):40–42.


  4. The American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and United States Public Health Service. Joint statement concerning removal of thimerosal from vaccines. Approved June 22, 2000.


  5. Magos L. Review on the toxicity of ethylmercury, including its presence as a preservative in biological and pharmaceutical products. Journal of Applied Toxicology 2001;21(1):1–5.


  6. Mahaffey KR. Methylmercury: A new look at the risks. Public Health Reports 1999;114(5):396–399, 402–413.


  7. Pichichero ME, Cernichiari E, Lopreiato J, Treanor J. Mercury concentrations and metabolism in infants receiving vaccines containing thimerosal: a descriptive study. Lancet 2002;360(9347):1737–1741.


  8. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Toxicological Profile for Mercury (Update). Atlanta, GA, 1999.

*Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.

Page last reviewed: September 24, 2008
Page last updated: October 22, 2007
Content source: Immunization Safety Office

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