RFK Jr.’s new vaccine advisors will vote on flu shots containing mercury

A key, revamped authorities panel of vaccine advisors appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. volition soon ballot connected a changeable preservative that contains mercury, which is safely utilized successful immoderate flu jabs but has been incorrectly linked to autism successful the past. 

The Advisory Committee connected Immunization Practices, oregon ACIP, volition perceive a presumption astir the preservative, called thimerosal, astatine a planned gathering connected June 26. The sheet volition besides ballot connected "thimerosal-containing vaccine" recommendations, according to a draft agenda for the two-day gathering posted connected Wednesday. 

It is the panel's archetypal gathering with Kennedy's recently appointed members, galore of whom are well-known vaccine critics. He named the 8 advisors past week aft firing the erstwhile 17 members of the committee, which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention connected vaccine policy.

It is unclear what volition beryllium discussed successful the presumption oregon what precisely the sheet volition ballot on.

Thimerosal has been wide utilized for decades arsenic a preservative to forestall the maturation of harmful bacteria successful respective medicines and vaccines with aggregate doses. But its usage successful approved vaccines has dropped sharply arsenic manufacturers person shifted to single-dose packaging for their shots, which don't necessitate preservatives. 

Some multi-dose forms of flu vaccines for adults inactive incorporate thimerosal, including Sanofi's Fluzone and 2 shots from biotech institution CSL Seqirus. All vaccines routinely recommended for children 6 years of property and younger successful the U.S. are disposable successful formulations that bash not incorporate thimerosal, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA and different wellness bodies person emphasized that galore well-conducted technological studies person found nary link betwixt thimerosal and autism, contempt unfounded concerns decades ago astir a imaginable connection.

"The technological grounds collected implicit the past 20+ years does not amusement immoderate grounds of harm, including superior neurodevelopmental disorders, from usage of thimerosal successful vaccines," the FDA said connected its website.

The caller ACIP members volition play a important relation successful shaping immunization argumentation successful the U.S., arsenic the sheet reviews vaccine information and makes recommendations that find who is eligible for shots and whether insurers should screen them, among different efforts. The committee is besides slated to reappraisal information and ballot connected different vaccines, including shots for Covid and RSV during the two-day meeting.