What is the mercury content of the flu-shot vaccine this year?
There’s better news this flu season for those concerned about mercury. Before 2001, childhood vaccines contained thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative used to inhibit germ growth in vaccines. Mercury is neurotoxic at certain levels, and much concern has been expressed over a possible link between these mercury-containing childhood vaccines and autism and other childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. Some kids may have an inborn vulnerability to mercury toxicity. For now, we confine our mercury discussion to the flu-shot vaccine. Last year, Chiron, one of two suppliers of the flu vaccine, was unexpectedly shut down due to manufacturing problems, leading to last season’s shortage. This season, Chiron is back, and there are now three companies supplying flu vaccine. In a column last year, I pointed out that the missing Chiron vaccine (Fluvirin) was the only one that provided an adult dose with just a trace amount of mercury (1 mcg). The adult dose of the remaining vaccine (Fluzone
