CDC Panel Recommends Removing Mercury From US Flu Vaccines

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), recently reconstituted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to recommend that influenza vaccines containing the mercury-based preservative thimerosal no longer be used, advising instead the use of thimerosal-free vaccines. This marks a significant shift influenced by Kennedy's longstanding opposition to thimerosal, despite the fact that numerous studies and federal agencies have found thimerosal safe and not linked to autism. The new panel includes vaccine skeptics and has been criticized by major medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has rejected the politicization of vaccine guidance and affirmed the safety of current vaccination schedules. At the June 26 meeting, presentations from anti-vaccine advocates included inaccurate claims about thimerosal’s toxicity and dosage, which were later removed. The committee also recommended seasonal flu vaccines for all individuals over 6 months of age, favoring single-dose formulations without thimerosal, and debated issues related to other vaccines like the monoclonal antibody clesrovimab for RSV. This change reflects a broader skepticism toward established vaccine science under the current administration, prompting concerns from the medical community about the impact on public health policies.