Robert F Kennedy Jr has made a historic decision as the US Health Secretary, requiring vaccine makers to remove thimerosal, an ethylmercury-based preservative, from all vaccines in the country. Thimerosal has been the target of anti-vaccine campaigns for decades and was recently recommended against by a key federal vaccine advisory panel with Kennedy’s ideological allies.
Despite decades of use, there is no evidence that thimerosal has caused harm to humans. The preservative was used in only about 5% of adult influenza vaccines in the US and helped prevent contamination in multi-dose vials. Kennedy described the action as a “long-overdue promise” to protect vulnerable populations from unnecessary mercury exposure.
The decision comes after Kennedy fired all members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) advisory committee on immunization practices and replaced them with eight hand-picked allies, including one directly from the anti-vaccine movement. The vaccine advisory panel voted in favor of removing thimerosal on a 5-1 vote.
The removal of thimerosal will likely complicate the global picture for vaccine makers, as Kennedy urged global health authorities to follow the US example and protect children worldwide.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/23/rfk-jr-thimerosal-vaccines