Safety of thimerosal containing vaccines. Statement of the Consultive Committee of Immunizations on behalf of the Chilean Infectious Diseases Society

Thimerosal is a mercury derivative included in vaccines since 1930 with the aim to prevent microbial contamination. During the last decades, the use of thimerosal has been questioned, specifically because of a potential association with neurotoxicity. After a thorough review of published studies on pediatric use of thimerosal-containing vaccines, and of position papers from international expert groups, the Consultive Committee of Immunizations of the Chilean Society of Infectious Diseases concludes that there is no solid evidence of adverse events associated with the use of thimerosal containing vaccines in infants and children. Therefore, a change in current vaccine practices refererred to thimerosal-containing vaccines is not justified in Chile.