Sat Jun 28 11:19:51 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Kennedy’s Vaccine Panel Recommends Against Thimerosal in Flu Shots Despite Scientific Consensus**
Washington D.C. – A vaccine panel, recently restructured by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has voted to stop recommending influenza vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. The decision, made during the committee’s first meeting, comes amidst a long-standing debate fueled by Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance.
Kennedy, who has spent two decades leading the anti-vaccine movement, has described thimerosal as a “toxic” and “potent neurotoxin,” citing studies he claims link it to carcinogenic effects. However, these claims are at odds with the scientific consensus.
Thimerosal contains ethylmercury, which the body processes and eliminates quickly, unlike methylmercury found in certain fish, which can accumulate and cause harm. Studies have found no link between thimerosal and autism.
Thimerosal was removed from most childhood vaccines in 2001 out of caution. Today, it’s primarily found in multi-dose vials of flu vaccines, which constitute only about 4% of the U.S. supply. Single-dose, thimerosal-free syringes are the standard for pediatric and prenatal care, further limiting exposure.
Experts like Dr. Mark Sawyer state that children can be fully immunized without any thimerosal-containing vaccines, and that research has found no evidence that thimerosal “causes any harm whatsoever.”
The move by Kennedy’s panel, which includes individuals known for expressing doubts about vaccine efficacy, has raised concerns about the potential impact on vaccine accessibility and cost. While experts say the decision may have a limited impact on the overall flu vaccine supply, it has been suggested that it could lead to increased prices and reduced availability in some areas.
First Piper 