#Thimerosal

A federal advisory committee to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that all Americans—including children, pregnant women, and adults—receive single-dose influenza vaccines that do not contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative long scrutinized despite decades of safe use. This move, which could soon lead to an official CDC policy, reflects an ongoing international spotlight on vaccine ingredients and the public’s persistent concern over vaccine safety—a topic with direct relevance for Thailand’s immunization practices and public confidence.

A recent vote by a United States government advisory panel to curtail the use of thimerosal—a mercury-based preservative—in flu vaccines has reignited controversy over vaccine safety and the legacy of discredited autism claims. The vote, which followed a presentation by prominent vaccine critics now serving in government, illustrates how decades-old debates over vaccine ingredients continue to influence public health policy, even as the global consensus remains firm on vaccine safety.