Fact Check: CDC panel votes to drop thimerosal from seasonal flu vaccine recommendations.

Fact Check: CDC Panel Votes to Drop Thimerosal from Seasonal Flu Vaccine Recommendations

What We Know

On June 26, 2025, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) held a meeting where they made several recommendations regarding the seasonal influenza vaccine. Notably, the ACIP voted to recommend that children aged 18 years and younger, pregnant women, and all adults receive seasonal influenza vaccines only in single-dose formulations that are free of thimerosal as a preservative. This recommendation was passed with a vote of five to one for both children and pregnant women, and a similar vote for adults (CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Concludes Meeting with Joint ...).

While the ACIP did not officially "drop" thimerosal from all seasonal flu vaccine recommendations, they did endorse a preference for thimerosal-free formulations for specific populations, indicating a significant shift in their recommendations regarding the use of this preservative in vaccines.

Analysis

The claim that the CDC panel voted to drop thimerosal from seasonal flu vaccine recommendations is partially true. The ACIP's vote reflects a strong recommendation against the use of thimerosal in vaccines for certain vulnerable groups, which could be interpreted as a move towards phasing out this preservative in seasonal flu vaccines. However, the language used in the ACIP's recommendations does not constitute a complete removal of thimerosal from all flu vaccine formulations, as the committee reaffirmed the overall recommendation for routine annual influenza vaccination for all persons over six months of age who do not have contraindications (CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Concludes Meeting with Joint ...).

The reliability of the source is high, as it comes directly from the CDC, a leading public health authority in the United States. The ACIP consists of medical and public health experts who provide evidence-based recommendations, making their statements credible and authoritative (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | CDC).

However, the interpretation of the ACIP's recommendations can vary, and some may view the preference for thimerosal-free vaccines as a complete removal of thimerosal from all recommendations, which is not entirely accurate. This nuance is important to consider when evaluating the claim.

Conclusion

The claim that the CDC panel voted to drop thimerosal from seasonal flu vaccine recommendations is partially true. While the ACIP did recommend that specific populations receive thimerosal-free formulations, they did not eliminate thimerosal from all seasonal flu vaccine recommendations entirely. The distinction between a preference for certain formulations and a complete ban is crucial to understanding the implications of the ACIP's vote.

Fact Check: CDC panel votes to drop thimerosal from seasonal flu vaccine recommendations.