Health Affairs January 28, 2025
Spreeha Choudhury, Richard Hughes IV

When manufacturers and public health officials took steps more than two decades ago to remove thimerosal from most pediatric vaccines, their intention was to bolster public confidence. Instead, it became a double-edged sword, amplifying vaccine misinformation that persists to this day. With Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic, now likely to take the role of Secretary of Health and Human Services under a second Trump Administration, thimerosal myths seem to persist no less today.

Thimerosal’s Role In Vaccines

Thimerosal was a key ingredient in early vaccines, introduced as a preservative to prevent bacterial contamination in multi-dose vaccine vials. Its addition not only enhanced vaccine safety by reducing the risk of microbial growth but also allowed for the broader...

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