Answer to Question #114783 in Microbiology for shania

Question

Although thimerosal was found to have no connection to autism, it was removed from most childhood vaccines
due to public pressure. While this put many concerned parents at ease, and from this, may have increased the
rate of childhood vaccination, it decreased the shelf-life of the vaccine, making the vaccines more expensive to
produce. Was the removal of thimerosal a good decision?

Answer 1

According to the Minamata Convention of October 10, 2013, the use of mercury should be reduced in all sectors where it is used. Since mercury belongs to the group of extremely dangerous chemicals and is a typical representative of cumulative poisons, the removal of thyromesal from vaccines is advisable, despite the difficulties in production and storage.