CDC Recommends Annual Flu Shots Amid Thimerosal Controversy and Policy Changes
The CDC urges annual flu vaccinations for all ages while addressing Thimerosal's role in vaccines and recent health policy shifts under the Trump administration.
A rundown of recent Trump administration vaccine policy changes
Associated Press
Overview
- The CDC advisory panel recommends annual flu vaccinations for everyone aged 6 months and older to enhance public health measures.
- Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, is being phased out, with most flu vaccines now thimerosal-free, reflecting a significant safety shift.
- Recent evidence shows no proven link between prenatal thimerosal exposure and autism, despite ongoing scrutiny from vaccine advisory groups.
- The Trump administration's health policy changes may affect vaccine availability, with Health Secretary RFK Jr. needing to approve certain modifications.
- Nearly 80 medical groups, including the AMA, support vaccinations for respiratory illnesses, while the American Academy of Pediatrics maintains its own vaccine schedule despite policy shifts.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the Trump administration's vaccine policy changes with a critical lens, highlighting potential risks and controversies. They emphasize the influence of health officials like Kennedy while showcasing support from medical groups. The narrative suggests a tension between established medical guidance and emerging policy shifts, reflecting skepticism towards new directives.
The CDC's vaccine advisory committee heard a presentation from an anti-vaccine activist without a thorough review of safety and efficacy data.
While multi-dose flu vaccines may still contain thimerosal, the majority of seasonal influenza vaccines in the US are thimerosal-free.
CDC studies have found no evidence linking thimerosal in vaccines to harm or autism spectrum disorder in children.
The group voted to no longer recommend flu vaccines containing thimerosal.
The panel voted 5-1 to recommend single-dose, thimerosal-free flu vaccines for individuals under 18, adults, and pregnant women.
Articles (13)
Center (5)
"…Doctors’ groups have expressed alarm at the moves made by Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, and his appointees, who at times have ignored well-established science."
Associated Press·17d·"…The panel voted overwhelmingly to drop federal recommendations for seasonal flu shots that contain the ethyl-mercury containing preservative thimerosal after hearing a misleading and cherry-picked presentation from an anti-vaccine activist."
ARS Technica·18d·"…Reviewing the evidence, debating it with scientific rigor, and delivering recommendations rooted in data and medical integrity is pretty clearly not what the ACIP did in this case."
Reason·18d·"…The meeting showcased an ACIP that has drifted so far from its long-standing focus on science, evidence and public health."
NBC News·18d·"…Doctors have voiced concern that no longer recommending thimerosal in some flu shots could lead to less people getting vaccinated and fuel further distrust of vaccines."
ABC News·18d·FAQ
The CDC recommends annual flu vaccinations for everyone aged 6 months and older, with rare exceptions, to reduce the risk of influenza and its potentially serious complications each flu season.
Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, is being phased out from flu vaccines, with most flu vaccines now available as thimerosal-free single-dose formulations to enhance safety.
Recent evidence shows no proven link between prenatal thimerosal exposure and autism, despite ongoing scrutiny and concerns addressed by vaccine advisory groups.
Health policy changes under the Trump administration may impact vaccine availability, as modifications to vaccine recommendations or programs require approval from Health Secretary RFK Jr., potentially influencing vaccine distribution and scheduling.
Nearly 80 medical groups, including the American Medical Association, strongly support vaccinations for respiratory illnesses, while the American Academy of Pediatrics continues to maintain its own vaccine schedule despite policy shifts.
History
- 18d4 articles
- 18d3 articles
