RFK Jr.’s revamped CDC panel votes on mercury-laced vaccine preservative amid autism concerns
By willowt // 2025-06-20
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  • The revamped CDC vaccine panel appointed by RFK Jr. votes on thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative.
  • Kennedy’s critics say the move safeguards public health; opponents call it scientifically unfounded.
  • Panel replaces 17 prior members with advocates for transparency and science-based policy.
  • Thimerosal has been linked to autism by Kennedy but “debunked” by mainstream studies, FDA and CDC.
  • Decision may impact U.S. vaccine policy and rebalance trust in immunization programs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), now dominated by appointees of Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will convene on June 25-26 to vote on influenza vaccines containing thimerosal, a controversial mercury-based preservative. This marks the first meeting of the newly reconstituted panel, which replaced its 17 former members with eight new appointees, many of whom share Kennedy’s skepticism toward mainstream vaccine safety assurances. The vote lands at the intersection of scientific consensus and public advocacy, reigniting a decades-old debate over the chemical’s potential neurological risks for children. Kennedy, who has written that thimerosal “likely caused autism” and should be banned, emphasized in a statement the need to “restore public trust in vaccines” by demanding “gold-standard science” before any policy decisions. Critics, however, warn that revisiting an issue previously settled by federal courts and peer-reviewed research could undermine confidence in immunizations. The outcome of this vote may shape not only thimerosal’s future in vaccines but also the broader direction of Kennedy’s tenure as a guardian of health freedom versus a skeptic of established medicine.

The Kennedy blueprint: Shaking up vaccine policy

After firing all 17 prior ACIP members, Kennedy introduced eight new appointees, including Dr. Robert Malone, a controversial mRNA pioneer whose contributions to vaccine technology have drawn admiration and scrutiny. The panel’s mandate, Kennedy insists, is to prioritize transparency and accountability, rejecting prior recommendations he perceives as compromised. “They’ve repopulated ACIP with fresh, independent minds committed to rigor,” wrote MAHA PAC, a conservative advocacy group backing Kennedy’s reforms. The June meeting agenda includes a presentation on thimerosal and votes on thimerosal-containing influenza vaccines. Kennedy’s book Thimerosal: Let the Science Speak (2014) argues that the preservative is “immensely toxic to brain tissue,” citing studies he claims underscore its neurotoxicity. Yet the FDA and CDC have repeatedly dismissed such claims, citing “over 20 years of scientific evidence” showing no safety concerns with thimerosal in vaccines, particularly in low concentrations.

The science, the skepticism and the stakes for public trust

Thimerosal, which contains ethylmercury, has been a lightning rod since the late 1990s, when fears of autism links sparked its removal from childhood vaccines. The FDA and CDC worked with manufacturers to phase it out of pediatric vaccines by 2001, though it remains in some multi-dose flu shots for adults. Kennedy’s appointment of anti-thimerosal advocates to the ACIP risks reopening wounds in the scientific community. Dr. Jeremy Faust, editor-in-chief of MedPage Today, warns that elevating “debunked myths” could erode public trust in vaccines overall. “This politicizes a process that should be about facts alone,” he said. Kennedy counters that these discussions are overdue: “American parents deserve answers—not deflection.” The vote’s implications stretch beyond thimerosal. The panel will also review policies on RSV and COVID-19 vaccines, with Kennedy signaling openness to revisiting past mandates. His earlier unilateral change to CDC’s guidance on maternal and pediatric mRNA vaccinations bypassed the ACIP, drawing sharp criticism. This meeting will test whether scientific dissent can coexist with bureaucratic tradition.

A decade of debates

The fray over thimerosal dates to 1999, when the FDA and CDC acted preemptively to eliminate it from pediatric vaccines amid unfounded anxiety about autism. Peer-reviewed research since then has consistently dismissed this hypothesis, as federal courts ruled in 2007 that no evidence existed for a thimerosal-autism connection. Yet Kennedy’s advocacy has kept the issue alive, framing it as a victory for those “dared to challenge complacent institutions.” Pro-vaccine advocates argue that refocus on debunked risks distracts from real threats, like vaccine hesitancy and emerging pathogens. Meanwhile, critics of Kennedy’s approach—such as the American Medical Association — worry his team’s focus on “alternative truths” could cripple outreach efforts.

 A crossroads for science and policy

As the ACIP deliberates, the nation watches a rare clash between populist health advocacy and institutional medicine. For Kennedy, the vote represents a chance to deliver on his promise to “put science back into the CDC.” For doubters, it’s a cautionary tale about the risks of sidelining consensus. Regardless of the outcome, the meeting underscores a fundamental question: Can policymakers reconcile the democratic right to question established norms with the public good of evidence-based healthcare? The answers — whether in the form of a thimerosal ban or reaffirmed safety — will ripple far beyond the walls of the CDC. Stay informed at Vaccines.news. Sources for this article include: 100percentfedup.com CNBC.com Politico.com
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