Study: You Can't Change an Anti-Vaxxer's Mind

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144. It's unfortunate that you don't understand it.

First of all, thimerasol was discontinued in childhood vaccines in 1999 (completely absent from them since 2002). Yes, it is still present in flu shots, but parents can request flu shots for their children that do not contain thimerasol.

Second, autism is not the same as mercury poisoning (mercury is a heavy metal and there are tests that can be conducted) there is treatment for heavy metal poisoning, but since the amount of mercury in the preservative thimerasol is minuscule - there is no need for treatment.

Third, the rates of autism continue to increase in this country despite the discontinued use of the thimerasol. Whereas, in other countries where it is still in use - the rates of autism have not increased at the same rate.

These are things that can easily be determined by googling 'thimerasol CDC'. There is no correlation between the increasing instances of autism in this country and the preservative thimerasol.

Now, having said that. You are correct - it isn't quite as simple as anti-vax. However, you drag out the same thoroughly refuted argument that so many antivaxers hang their hat on, and there are three reasons off the top of my head why the theory isn't valid.

Now, there have been recent studies indicating that there is an auto-immune component that vaccines MAY be a contributor to (just as any illness might contribute) in pregnant women, and there should always be a lot of scrutiny on the government and the pharmaceutical industry, but as long as people keep dragging out this thimerasol argument, the antivaxers will not be taken seriously.

Again, vaccines do not cause autism.