Mercury in Swine Flu Vaccine: What You Need To Know

Most doses of the swine flu vaccine contain Thimerosol, a mercury compound linked to autism

By Dena Afrasiabi

The swine flu vaccine is finally available, but before you and your family rush out to get your shots (or nasal spray), there are a few things about the vaccine you may want to know,especially if you are pregnant or have small children. For instance, most forms of the vaccine contain a mercury preservative called Thimerosol, which has been linked to Autism. While Thimerosol has been eliminated from most vaccines in the U.S., it has been added to most H1N1 vaccines because the medication is produced in vials containing ten doses. Thimerosol is added in order to kill bacteria, preventing it from spreading from the needles used to withdraw the vaccine from the vial.

Washington state's health department recently suspended a rule that limits amounts of mercury in vaccines distributed to pregnant women and children under three. The good news is that some doses of the vaccine are also produced in single-dose vials that do not contain Thimerosol. If you are pregnant or have small children, ask your doctor if it's possible to get a vaccine from a single-dose vial. The nasal spray form of the vaccine is also available, and while it does not contain Thimerosol it contains live virus and is therefore not recommended for pregnant women or children under two.