Kennedy Signs ACIP Recommendation to Protect Children, Pregnant Women
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. signed a landmark policy banning thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, from all influenza vaccines, marking the final step in a 26-year effort to eliminate mercury from U.S. childhood vaccinations.
The decision, enacted at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, follows a 5-1-1 vote by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on June 25-26, mandating single-dose, mercury-free flu vaccines for children 18 and under, pregnant women, and adults.
“This action protects our most vulnerable from unnecessary mercury exposure,” Kennedy said, emphasizing restored public trust.
Initiated in 1999 by the U.S. Public Health Service and American Academy of Pediatrics, the policy aligns the U.S. with Europe’s mercury-free standards.
Manufacturers confirm sufficient supply, ensuring uninterrupted access.
Kennedy urged global adoption, reinforcing safer immunization practices.
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