ACIP and the thimerosal hoax

Now that a notorious anti-vaxxer is Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, fringe theories on vaccines are being mainstreamed at the CDC and other governmental agencies. On example is the fake thimerosal-autism connection:

“Thimerosal, an ethyl-mercury based preservative, has been employed since the 1930s to keep multi-dose vials of vaccines safe and free of contamination. Despite its value, it has become a target for anti-vaccine activists due to faulty, unwarranted extrapolations from methyl-mercury, a distinct form of mercury that can be toxic in high doses.

 

“This fallacious association between thimerosal, toxicity, and potential neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism has been thoroughly investigated in dozens of clinical trials over decades. One of the more notable studies involved comparing cohorts of Danish children who were vaccinated with a thimerosal-containing pertussis vaccine (which was routinely in use until 1992), with those who were later vaccinated with a thimerosal-free version. No association with autism was found.”

Nevertheless, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to exclusively recommend thimerosal-free influenza vaccines, with only one member voting against the measure. 

“As the sole infectious disease physician member on ACIP and lone dissenting vote, Cody Meissner, MD, stated: "Of all the issues that ACIP needs to focus on, this is not a big issue ... To make the industry jump through hoops for something for which there is no evidence of harm, I think, is an issue that needs further discussion ... The risk from influenza is so much greater than the nonexistent risk, so far as we know, from thimerosal." He emphasized the fact that "No study has ever indicated any harm from thimerosal."

The practical effect of this shameful display of medical quackery on American health is very limited, since only 4-5% of flu vaccines administered in the 2024-2025 season were from multidose vials containing thimerosal. But it has discredited a once-authoritative voice on vaccine safety and replaced it with propaganda. 

Shame.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/116289?xid=nl_secondopinion_2025-06-29&mh=eb71348a5ff6ae370cc6759bc5dc3300&zdee=gAAAAABm4u1YoCP4y5SBTJUyUyqo9KxZhft26L1xeGdP0BzzQQN1Pb_ifR6vFqhFh-3U6Q_nU7DbA-EawzzXKxSRhMOwjrOGuOKbf7OE641eN0HfnK6eObE%3D&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WeekendOpinions_062925&utm_term=NL_Gen_Int_SecondOpinion_Active

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