Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. signed a controversial recommendation July 23 from a vaccine panel that advised removing thimerosal from all influenza vaccines.
Thimerosal is a preservative that has largely been phased out of U.S. vaccines and has long been targeted by anti-vaccine advocates despite broad scientific consensus on its safety.
The call against thimerosal was first presented by Lyn Redwood, former leader of Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group founded by Kennedy, during a June 26 meeting for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
During the meeting, ACIP members voted against recommending certain vaccines to contain thimerosal, despite widespread disapproval from the medical community.
“After more than two decades of delay, this action fulfills a long-overdue promise to protect our most vulnerable populations from unnecessary mercury exposure,” Kennedy said in a statement.
What is thimerosal? RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel votes no on controversial ingredient
Dr. Cody Meissner, the only ACIP member to reject the recommendation, said thimerosal has been used since World War II and “no study has ever indicated any harm.” He said removing thimerosal from all vaccines could reduce access and increase costs, especially in other countries where vaccine alternatives may not be available.
Preservatives, such as thimerosal, are compounds that kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, according to the Food and Drug Administration. However, improvements in manufacturing technology have decreased the need to add such preservatives.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention briefing document compiled by staff and posted on its website noted that in the 2024-2025 season, 96% of all influenza vaccines in the U.S. were thimerosal-free.
While most vaccines don’t contain thimerosal, the FDA states that “a robust body of peer-reviewed, scientific studies conducted in the United States and countries around the world support the safety of thimerosal-containing vaccines.”
Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. to remove thimerosal from US flu vaccines
