CDC’s new vaccine advisory panel to vote on thimerosal in flu shots, reigniting controversy over a preservative long cleared by science.
CDC Schedules Vote on Thimerosal in Flu Vaccines
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will hold a two-day meeting beginning June 25, during which its newly appointed vaccine advisory panel is expected to discuss and vote on the use of thimerosal—a mercury-based preservative used in some flu vaccines. The move has raised concern among public health experts who fear science may be sidelined by political influence.
New Advisory Panel Sparks Debate
This will be the first meeting of the reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), reduced from 17 to 8 members after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed the previous panel, citing conflicts of interest. Several new appointees have drawn scrutiny for promoting vaccine misinformation and testifying against vaccine makers in court.
Thimerosal’s Safety Backed by Decades of Research
Thimerosal has been used to prevent bacterial and fungal growth in multi-dose vaccine vials. Despite past claims linking the compound to autism, extensive studies have debunked those theories. The CDC maintains that thimerosal, which contains ethylmercury—a compound cleared quickly from the body—is safe. The FDA began reducing its use in 1999, and it is now absent from nearly all vaccines recommended for young children in the U.S., except for some seasonal flu shots.
Experts Warn of Potential Vaccine Shortages
Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine specialist and FDA adviser, warns that removing thimerosal could disrupt production of flu vaccines, leading to shortages and higher costs. “All that’s going to do is make those vaccines less available and more expensive,” Offit told CNN. Reformulating vaccines without thimerosal is not a rapid process and could strain manufacturers during flu season.
Meeting Agenda Suggests Wider Changes
In addition to the thimerosal vote, the agenda includes potential changes to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine recommendations for children under 5. While specifics remain unclear, the CDC previously flagged slightly increased risks of fever-related seizures with the combination vaccine—an issue already studied and publicly addressed.
CDC Faces Internal Discontent
Some CDC staff members, speaking anonymously, have expressed frustration over the abrupt reshuffling of the ACIP and the narrowing of the meeting agenda. Topics like the HPV, meningococcal, and pneumococcal vaccines were removed, and many scheduled presentations still list “TBD” as presenters, including those for Covid-19 and RSV. Several longtime CDC scientists recently resigned, citing concerns about the agency’s changing direction under Kennedy.
Public Health Community on Edge
The upcoming meeting is being closely watched amid growing fears that political ideology may override science-based recommendations. Critics argue that revisiting thimerosal—a topic settled by decades of research—only fuels vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
“The CDC’s decisions must be driven by science, not conspiracy,” said Offit. “Undoing decades of progress could have dangerous consequences for public health.”
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