CDC Vaccine Panel Cites Nonexistent Study Amid Secretary Kennedy Overhaul

A planned presentation to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) vaccine advisory committee by Lyn Redwood, a former leader of the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, cited a non-existent 2008 study to claim long-term brain consequences from the vaccine preservative thimerosal. The cited author, UC Davis professor emeritus Robert Berman, stated the referenced study was inaccurately represented and that his actual related research, published in a different journal, found no evidence supporting such claims. Following the revelation, the CDC removed the erroneous citation from Redwood's presentation. This controversy arises amid Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent dismissal of all previous advisory panel members and appointment of new members, half of whom have expressed anti-vaccine views. The presentation suggested all pregnant women, infants, and children should receive only thimerosal-free flu vaccines, contrasting with a separate CDC report affirming no evidence links thimerosal to autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Bipartisan senators have called for postponement of the meeting due to these concerns and the panel's composition.