How to avoid Mercury in the Swine Flu Vaccine

Some formulations of the H1N1 vaccine contain a preservative called thimerosal, which is up to 50% mercury. In order to avoid being given mercury in a swine flu shot, you need to educate yourself about the swine flu vaccine.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Know which vaccines contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. Only the injectable version of the swine flu vaccine contains thimerosal, so avoiding a swine flu shot will prevent any exposure to mercury while trying to avoid infection from the H1N1 virus.

2. Find out the type of formulation. Thimerosal is typically used as a preservative in multi-dose formulations of the swine flu vaccine. Single-dose formulations typically do not require the use of a preservative.

3. Read the package insert. If you are still in doubt, ask to read the package insert prior to accepting a swine flu shot. The patient information included with the swine flu vaccine will provide full disclosure on the contents of the vaccine and potential side effects.

Resources

• Risks of Swine Flu Shot Containing Thimerosal
• Swine Flu Vaccine Information