On June 24, 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a significant report stating that current evidence does not substantiate any connection between thimerosal-containing vaccines and the development of autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. This report was made public ahead of a two-day advisory panel meeting scheduled for June 25 and 26.
The report was uploaded to the CDC's official website along with presentations and the final agenda for the upcoming meeting. This will be the first meeting of the advisory panel after a controversial decision by Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., who recently dismissed all 17 members of an independent vaccine committee. They have been replaced by eight new members, some of whom have previously expressed skepticism regarding vaccines.
In a related development, Senator Bill Cassidy, who chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, has called for a postponement of the meeting. He raised concerns about proceeding with a smaller panel and without a permanent CDC director in place.
The draft agenda for the meeting includes discussions on two newly added topics: the presence of thimerosal in flu shots and a safety review of the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. The CDC's report has reviewed various studies that analyze the impact of vaccines containing thimerosal on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, has been utilized in the United States in multi-dose vials of vaccines and medications to inhibit the growth of harmful germs, including bacteria and fungi. Notably, the report highlighted that during the 2024-25 flu season, an impressive 96% of all influenza vaccines administered in the U.S. were thimerosal-free. Additionally, the prevalence of thimerosal-containing flu vaccines among pregnant women has significantly declined, with only 0.3% of doses given in 2024 containing this preservative.
At the upcoming meeting, Lyn Redwood, a former leader of the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, is expected to present on the implications of flu vaccines that contain thimerosal. However, her presentations have not yet been made available on the CDC's website.
It is worth noting that Robert Kennedy Jr., who founded Children's Health Defense, has a history of questioning vaccine safety contrary to established scientific findings. In 2014, he authored a book alleging that thimerosal causes brain damage, a claim that has been widely discredited within the scientific community.
This latest report and the upcoming advisory meeting reflect ongoing discussions regarding vaccine safety and public health, emphasizing the importance of basing health decisions on credible scientific evidence.
