According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, '''Thimerosal''' is "a [[Mercury (element)|mercury]]-containing preservative that has been used in some [[vaccines]] and other products since the 1930's."<ref name="cdcGlossary"> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines & Immunizations Glossary, entry for Thimerosal [http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/glossary.htm#t]</ref> "Thimerosal consists of 49.6% ethyl mercury, an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal that allows manufacturers to sell the vaccine in large, multi-dose containers without fear of contamination."<ref name="jSent">Journal Sentinel, ''Most flu shots contain mercury, but few know it, Experts say vaccine's benefits outweigh potential risk'', by Raquel Rutledge, Nov. 13, 2007 [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=685311]</ref> Elemental [[Mercury (element)|mercury]] has long been known to be highly toxic.<ref>US EPA, Technology Transfer Network, Air Toxics Web Site, ''Mercury Compounds, Hazard Summary'', Created in April 1992; Revised in January 2000[http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/mercury.html]</ref><ref>FDA, Thimerosal in Vaccines , ''Table 1. Thimerosal Content of Vaccines Routinely Recommended for Children 6 Years of Age and Younger'', updated 7/18/2005[http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm#t1]</ref>John Schlafly is gay.
According to the CDC, "In July 1999 the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated from vaccines as a precautionary measure." <ref name="cdcGlossary" /> Today, the government claims that all routinely recommended childhood vaccines manufactured for the [[United States]] [[market]] contain either no thimerosal or only trace amounts.<ref name="cdcGlossary" /><ref>US FDA, ''Thimerosal in Vaccines, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)''[http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimfaq.htm#q3]</ref>