RFK Jr. removes ingredient from some vaccines

U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. has approved the recommendation of a self-appointed expert advisory panel.

Kennedy's signature makes this recommendation official federal policy. It reflects the decades-long anti-vaccine and misinformation campaigns against this compound. Yet this decision flies in the face of the broad scientific consensus on thimerosal's safety.

"After more than two decades of delay, this action fulfills a long-overdue promise to protect our most vulnerable populations from unnecessary mercury exposure. Injecting any amount of mercury into children when safe, mercury-free alternatives exist defies common sense and public health responsibility. Today, we put safety first," Kennedy said in a statement.

Preservatives like thimerosal are compounds that kill or inhibit the growth of micro-organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is composed of a form of mercury called ethylmercury, and is eliminated from the body much faster than naturally occurring mercury.

"A large body of peer-reviewed scientific studies conducted in the U.S. and other countries confirms the safety of thimerosal-containing vaccines," said the FDA. However, advances in manufacturing technology have reduced the need to add this type of preservative. In fact, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) document, only 4% of all flu vaccines in the US contained thimerosal in 2024.

The recommendation against thimerosal was made on June 26 at a meeting of members of the American Advisory Committee on Immunization (ACIP), appointed by Kennedy earlier this year. It was first presented at this meeting by Lyn Redwood, former head of Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization founded by Kennedy.

Dr. Cody Meissner was the only ACIP member to reject the recommendation. He pointed out that thimerosal has been used since the Second World War and that "no study has ever shown it to be dangerous". In his view, removing thimerosal from all vaccines could reduce access to vaccination and increase costs, particularly in countries where alternatives are not available.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also reaffirmed in June that there was no evidence to suggest that thimerosal is harmful. "It is clear from the available evidence that there is no evidence that the use of thimerosal represents a health risk," WHO Director of Vaccines Kate O'Brien told a press briefing.

She added that this is an ingredient for certain vaccines that use multi-dose vials, as it reduces the risk of the vial becoming contaminated after being punctured several times to extract doses intended to immunize several children.

RFK Jr, appointed by Donald Trump, is known for spreading misinformation about vaccines in recent years. Among other things, he has repeatedly claimed that there is a link between the mandatory MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine and autism, notably through the "Children's Health Defense" organization. The scientific community has repeatedly refuted this theory.

The American politician recently dismissed the 17 members of this advisory committee, accusing them of conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry. He subsequently appointed eight new members, including several critics, such as a biochemist acclaimed by anti-vax campaigners.