Fact Check: Vaccine Panel Votes to Drop Thimerosal Despite Overwhelming Safety Data
What We Know
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recently voted to recommend that flu vaccines should only be administered in single-dose formulations that do not contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. This decision was made despite the fact that thimerosal has been used in vaccines for nearly a century and has been extensively studied, with more than 40 studies showing no link between thimerosal and developmental delays (CDC vaccine panel recommends avoiding thimerosal in flu ..., What to Know About the Vaccine Preservative Thimerosal). The recommendation passed with six votes in favor and one abstention (Kennedy's US vaccine panel backs preservative-free shot ...).
Historically, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the removal of thimerosal from vaccines in 1999 not due to safety concerns, but to bolster public confidence in vaccination (What to Know About the Vaccine Preservative Thimerosal). The CDC has consistently stated that there is no scientific evidence supporting the claim that thimerosal causes neurodevelopmental problems (RFK Jr.'s vaccine advisers raise disproven fears about the ...).
Analysis
The decision by ACIP to recommend against thimerosal in flu vaccines has sparked significant debate. Critics argue that the vote lends credibility to unfounded fears surrounding thimerosal, which have been propagated by anti-vaccine groups (RFK Jr.'s vaccine advisers vote down flu-shot ingredient). The presentation that influenced the vote was given by Lyn Redwood, a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement, which raised concerns among medical experts about the lack of scientific backing for her claims (What to Know About the Vaccine Preservative Thimerosal).
Dr. Cody Meissner, a voting member of ACIP, emphasized that there is no scientific evidence that thimerosal has caused any problems, highlighting a departure from ACIP's usual reliance on strong scientific data for its recommendations (What to Know About the Vaccine Preservative Thimerosal). Furthermore, a document detailing decades of research on thimerosal was removed from the CDC's website shortly before the meeting, raising questions about transparency and the motivations behind the vote (CDC vaccine panel recommends avoiding thimerosal in flu ...).
While the decision may reflect a precautionary approach, it is important to note that thimerosal is rarely used in vaccines in the U.S. today, with approximately 96% of flu shots being thimerosal-free (What to Know About the Vaccine Preservative Thimerosal). This context suggests that the practical implications of the ACIP's recommendation may be limited, but the symbolic weight of the decision could contribute to vaccine hesitancy.
Conclusion
The claim that the vaccine panel voted to drop thimerosal despite overwhelming safety data is Partially True. While it is accurate that the ACIP recommended against thimerosal in flu vaccines, the assertion that this was done despite overwhelming safety data is misleading. The safety data regarding thimerosal is robust, with numerous studies showing no harmful effects. However, the context of the vote, including the influence of anti-vaccine rhetoric and the removal of supportive scientific documentation, raises concerns about the motivations behind the recommendation. Thus, while the safety data exists, the decision reflects a complex interplay of public perception and scientific evidence.
