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| - Last Updated on May 22, 2023 by Aditi Gangal
Quick Take
A social media post claims that mercury in vaccines is killing humans slowly. The post states that every vaccine contains a chemical compound named thimerosal which contains mercury. This chemical is slowly killing people. We fact-checked and found the claim to be Mostly False.
The Claim
An Instagram post claims thimerosal, which contains mercury, is present in many vaccines as a preservative. Some argue that this is due to the challenges of maintaining fully sterile manufacturing facilities.
Fact Check
What is thimerosal?
Thimerosal is a compound that contains a type of mercury called ethylmercury. It is used as a preservative in vaccines to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. Thimerosal is in use since 1930s. But its use has decreased in recent years due to concerns about mercury exposure. The compound has been extensively studied and its safety profile is well-established. Many studies concludes that the small amounts of mercury in vaccines are not harmful. THIP MEDIA has previously debunked aluminium and mercury in the vaccine are toxic.
However, due to concerns about mercury exposure, many vaccines are now produced without thimerosal or with only trace amounts of the compound.
What are preservatives and why are they added to vaccines?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website informs that preservatives can kill or stop the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi. Preservatives prevent contamination of vaccines that may occur during storage or use.
Are mercury-based preservatives in vaccines harmful to humans?
Not enough evidence. We researched and found information that shows acceptable limits of thimerosal is not harmful to humans. However, at high concentrations, humans can suffer from mercury toxicity.
FDA website further informs that thimerosal is allowed in concentrations ranging from 0.003% to 0.01% as a vaccine preservative. A vaccine with 0.01% thimerosal as a preservative contains 50 micrograms of thimerosal per 0.5 mL dose. It is equivalent to approximately 25 micrograms of mercury per 0.5 mL dose.
Is Mercury in vaccines killing humans?
Not enough evidence. Available evidence does not provide enough data to confirm whether thimerosal-containing mercury is killing humans. Still, researchers cannot completely rule out the ill effects of thimerosal-containing mercury on humans. Even the use of mercury-containing preservatives in vaccines declining since 1999.
Various organizations such as FDA, the World Health Organisation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and others confirm that the use of thiomersal during vaccine production and as a preservative throughout its shelf life may have unintended effects on the vaccine’s active ingredients.
Additionally, substituting thiomersal with another preservative may change vaccine function or quality that were not anticipated based on its antimicrobial properties.
After analyzing the Instagram video in question, we conducted a Google Reverse Image Search using several keyframes from the video. The search led us to the original video, which provided information about the identities of the two individuals featured in the Instagram video and the topic they were discussing. We discovered that the individuals in the video were Mark Geier and David Geier, who have gained a national following and faced significant criticism for promoting the belief that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative that was once used in childhood vaccines, is a contributing factor to autism. Our findings were based on a documentary called “Trace Amounts: Ethyl Mercury / Vaccines (Documentary)” available on Rumble.
We asked Dr Sumit Aggarwal who is a Scientist D and Program officer, Division of Epidemiology & Communicable Diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, to share his views on the claim. To this, he replied, “Thimerosal does not remain in the human body and therefore does not accumulate to harmful levels. Once thimerosal enters the body, it breaks down into ethylmercury and thiosalicylate, which are quickly eliminated. While high levels of ethylmercury can be toxic, vaccines are formulated with appropriate dosages to ensure they do not have any hazardous effects on the human body.”
Dr Neha Rastogi Panda, Senior Infectious Diseases Specialist, Fortis Hospital Gurgaon, informs “A joint statement by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Public Health Service (PHS) recommended removing thimerosal from childhood vaccines. Recent studies found no evidence of harm from low levels of thimerosal. Concerns about mercury exposure led to considering its elimination from vaccines to reduce overall exposure. The literature reviewed mercury blood levels and epidemiological studies, but no significant association was found between thimerosal and neurodevelopmental disorders”.
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