Vaccines have long been a topic of fierce debate in the American public. To this day, researchers and politicians are going back and forth on vaccines’ effects, a debate that grew even louder at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And this week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that one particular ingredient will no longer be used for flu shots distributed in the country. Just like vaccines in general, the ingredient in question has been regarded as a troublesome component by some and a largely harmless preservative by others.
How RFK Jr. Is Reshaping Vaccine Policy
At the helm of this vaccine directive is HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a well-documented history of advocating certain positions in vaccine policy. For one, Kennedy is the founder and former chairman of Children’s Health Defense, a nonprofit group that has been at the forefront of the anti-vaccination movement. Kennedy also authored a 2014 book that called for the removal of mercury from vaccines.
Last month, Kennedy decided to remove all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an advisory panel that gives recommendations on vaccine-related policies to the CDC. Kennedy went on to appoint new members to the ACIP, with some of these new appointees being reputed anti-vaccine individuals.
Why RFK Jr. Is Calling The Shots In This Situation
The new-look ACIP went on to recommend the removal of a certain ingredient from future flu shots. Kennedy has expressed his approval of this proposition, but strictly speaking, it’s the CDC director that has the responsibility of greenlighting ACIP recommendations. So, why is the HHS secretary calling the shots here?
That’s because the U.S. Senate has yet to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee for the role of CDC director. After Mandy Cohen’s two-year directorial stint ended in January, Dr. Susan Monarez stepped in as acting director. Though the White House announced Dr. Monarez’s nomination in late March, she has not been confirmed by the Senate to date. With the CDC having no official director at this point, Kennedy has taken on the role of approving the ACIP’s recommendation to ban the ingredient in question.
Which Vaccine Ingredient Was Flagged?
The ingredient that will be removed is thimerosal. This is a preservative that anti-vaccine groups have had an issue with for years. To be specific, these groups claim that the mercury-based preservative is linked to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. In a press release, Kennedy framed the thimerosal ban as an accomplishment years in the making. “After more than two decades of delay, this action fulfills a long-overdue promise to protect our most vulnerable populations from unnecessary mercury exposure,” Kennedy said in the release.
Anti-vaccine Group Calls Thimerosal Ban A “Major Win”
After news broke of thimerosal’s removal from future flu vaccines in the U.S., Children’s Health Defense posted a Tweet calling the ingredient ban a “major win.” In response to the group’s Tweet, netizens likewise celebrated this latest development. One netizen went so far as to call for more policy changes. “Dentists are still putting mercury in teeth. Can we ‘pull’ that next?!” one online user posted on X.
What Research Says About This Ingredient
On the other hand, decades of research have shown that thimerosal does not present safety issues as far as the administration of flu vaccines is concerned. According to more than 40 studies, there is no substantial link between thimerosal and developmental delays. As a matter of fact, this preservative is used as an ingredient to curb the growth of unwanted bacteria in multidose medicines and vaccines.
The Truth Behind The Past Scale-down On Thimerosal
According to the CDC, thimerosal was removed from most vaccines back in 2001. As reported by Politifact’s Madison Czopek, this scale-down was implemented “out of an abundance of caution.”
How Does This Impact The U.S. Flu Vaccine Supply?
As per multiple reports, roughly 4% to 5% of the country’s flu vaccines contain the ingredient. Despite this, the HHS has given the assurance that manufacturers are capable of replenishing their stocks with thimerosal-free vaccines.
In particular, pharmaceutical company Sanofi said that it will have “sufficient supply” of flu shots for the fall and winter months, which is when the so-called “flu season” usually takes place. Additionally, based on CDC data from last year, the vast majority of flu shots did not contain thimerosal.
What The Thimerosal Ban Means For The Public
Though only a small percentage of the U.S. flu vaccine supply contains thimerosal, the latest ruling to ban this ingredient poses a risk to vaccination targets. Dr. Sean O’Leary, an expert affiliated with the American Academy of Pediatrics, warned of the possible consequences arising from Kennedy’s ruling. “That would inevitably lead to fewer people being vaccinated, at least in the short term, perhaps longer term, and subsequently more hospitalizations and deaths,” O’Leary told CNBC.
More Changes Coming To Vaccine Policy?
Nevertheless, the thimerosal ban is expected to take effect as a result of Kennedy’s latest move. This might not be the last vaccine-related policy that the HHS secretary pushes for, as a number of ACIP recommendations from their June meeting are still under review. With many vaccine skeptics sitting on this panel, it’s likely that policies in accordance with Kennedy’s position could be in the works for the foreseeable future.