How and why are the CDC and FDA monitoring the vaccines for safety?
A. The CDC and FDA closely monitor the safety of seasonal influenza and other vaccines licensed for use in the United States in cooperation with state and local health departments, healthcare providers, and other partners. The purpose of vaccine safety monitoring is timely identification of clinically significant adverse events following immunization that may be of public health concern. Q. What are preservatives and why are they used in vaccines? A. In vaccines, preservatives are used to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi in the event that they get into the vaccine. This may occur when a syringe needle enters a vial as a vaccine is being prepared for administration. Contamination by germs in a vaccine could cause serious illness or death. In some vaccines, preservatives are added during the manufacturing process to prevent microbial growth. Q. What is thimerosal? A. Thimerosal is an important preservative that protects vaccines against potential microbial contamination that coul
