Good Question: Why Is Mercury In Flu Shots?

[WCCO-TV, October 15, 2009] As the first round of H1N1 influenza vaccine arrives for children in the Twin Cities, there are questions about what's inside the vaccine. Why is there mercury in many types of flu shots? "It's part of a compound called Thimerosal," said Shane Madsen, clinical pharmacy manager at United Hospital in St. Paul. "It's designed to kill bacteria or fungi that's present in a solution of vaccine," he explained.