Why does some flu vaccine contain thimerosal when the preservative has been removed from other pediatric vaccines?
Influenza (flu) vaccine is a new addition to the recommended childhood immunization schedule. In 2004, the CDC added the vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule, recommending that children 6-23 months of age be vaccinated against flu each year. Inactivated influenza vaccine for children 6-23 months of age is currently available both with thimerosal as a preservative and preservative-free. The removal of thimerosal as a preservative from influenza vaccine is a complicated process. The total amount of flu vaccine without thimerosal as a preservative will be increased as vaccine manufacturing capabilities are expanded. In the meantime, it is important to keep in mind the benefits of influenza vaccination outweight the theoretical risk, if any, for exposure to thimerosal.
Influenza (flu) vaccine is a new addition to the recommended childhood immunization schedule. In 2004, the CDC added the vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule, recommending that children 6-23 months of age be vaccinated against flu each year. Inactivated influenza vaccine for children 6-23 months of age is currently available both with thimerosal as a preservative and preservative-free. For the 2004-05 influenza season, it is likely that 6-8 million doses of inactivated influenza vaccine without thimerosal as a preservative will be available. This represents a substantial increase in the available amount of inactivated influenza vaccine without thimerosal as a preservative, compared with about 3.2 million doses that were available during the 2003-04 influenza season. The removal of thimerosal as a preservative from influenza vaccine is a complicated process. The total amount of flu vaccine without thimerosal as a preservative will be increased as vaccine manufacturing capabili
Related Questions
- Are older lots of pediatric vaccines which contain thimerosal as a preservative still on the shelves in doctors offices and being used in the U.S.?
- Are older lots of pediatric vaccines that contain thimerosal as a preservative still on the shelves in doctor’s offices?
- Why does some flu vaccine contain thimerosal when the preservative has been removed from other pediatric vaccines?
