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thi·mer·o·sal | \ thī-ˈmer-ə-ˌsal 
\
\Definition of thimerosal
: a crystalline organic mercurial antiseptic C9H9HgNaO2S used especially for its antifungal and bacteriostatic properties
Examples of thimerosal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web The myth of a link expanded in 2005 with claims that the vaccine preservative thimerosal causes autism.
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Michelle Cortez | Bloomberg, Washington Post, "Vilifying Vaccines," 13 Apr. 2015 Numerous studies have shown that vaccines containing thimerosal are safe.
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Michelle Cortez | Bloomberg, Washington Post, "Vilifying Vaccines," 13 Apr. 2015 There are also thimerosal-free formulations of the influenza vaccine, the CDC says.
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Anna Borges, SELF, "10 Common Questions You Might Have About Vaccinating Your Kids," 26 Aug. 2019 In 2001, vaccine makers removed thimerosal from all of the U.S. vaccines recommended for children under 6, except for the flu vaccine.
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Elizabeth Byrne, Shiying Cheng, Houston Chronicle, "Texas vaccine exemption rates have reached an all-time high. Did Texas make it too easy for parents," 12 June 2019 Her fellow lobbyist, Kennedy, has argued that vaccines, specifically those containing the element thimerosal, may cause autism, a view unsupported by scientific evidence and dismissed as a conspiracy theory by experts.
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Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "Jessica Biel joins vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy to oppose bill – but says she's not against vaccinations," 13 June 2019 Studies have shown no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines.
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Julie Washington, cleveland.com, "Cold or flu? Here's how to tell, plus your flu vaccine questions answered," 23 Jan. 2018 The flu vaccine does contain a preservative called thimerosal, which breaks down to ethylmercury once inside the body.
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Grace Donnelly, Fortune, "The History of the Flu Shot and Some Common Misconceptions," 19 Jan. 2018 While that may seem far-fetched, science has equally disproven the accusations of autism-causation and mercury poisoning through thimerosal.
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Madeleine Deliee, Woman's Day, "Could Anti-Vaxxers Turn Mumps Into the New Polio?," 13 Mar. 2017
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thimerosal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for thimerosal
thimerosal
nounthi·mer·o·sal | \ thī-ˈmer-ə-ˌsal \
\Medical Definition of thimerosal
: a crystalline organic mercurial antiseptic C9H9HgNaO2S used especially for its antifungal and bacteriostatic properties — see merthiolate
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The first known use of thimerosal was in 1949
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