New ACIP Panel Votes to Remove Thimerosal—But Still Recommends Flu Shots for Nearly All Americans
A long-overdue move on thimerosal still leaves millions subject to annual flu shots that increase flu risk by 27% and non-influenza infections by 340%.
On June 26, 2025, the newly formed CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 6–0 (with one abstention) to reaffirm its recommendation for annual influenza vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older without contraindications:
In a separate set of three consecutive 5–1 votes (with one abstention each time), ACIP recommended that children, pregnant women, and adults should receive only thimerosal-free single-dose influenza vaccines:
Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that is extraordinarily toxic. A comprehensive review by Geier et al concluded:
The culmination of the research that examines the effects of Thimerosal in humans indicates that it is a poison at minute levels with a plethora of deleterious consequences, even at the levels currently administered in vaccines.
While this recommendation marks a long-overdue shift, its practical impact is limited. Thimerosal was taken out of childhood vaccines in 2001 and only a small portion of flu vaccines still contain thimerosal.
The real problem is that ACIP is continuing to recommend annual flu shots for nearly the entire population, despite new data suggesting these vaccines actually increase the risk of illness.
Those who received the flu shot were 27% more likely to contract influenza compared to those who remained unvaccinated (Hazard Ratio = 1.27; P = 0.007)
Estimated vaccine effectiveness was –26.9%, indicating more illness among the vaccinated group
This aligns with prior research, including a randomized controlled trial by Cowling et al, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, which found that children who received the inactivated flu vaccine had a 4.4-fold (or 340%) increased risk of virologically confirmed non-influenza respiratory virus infections, such as rhinoviruses, coxsackie/echoviruses, and coronaviruses.
Removing thimerosal is a long-overdue move. But recommending annual flu shots with negative effectiveness and increased susceptibility to other viral infections is not evidence-based. It’s time to reevaluate the entire policy.
Am I wrong to be so disappointed? My doctor, or any of them in my town, have plenty of justification to push these things on me and treat me badly when I don’t comply.
It becomes more obvious everyday that the American people were had. What happened to RFK Jr. saying REPEATEDLY that there is no vaccine that has been proven safe or effective? The flu shot is one of the worst. Not effective and not safe. Americans better wake up and refuse to inject any of their poisons into your body. RFK Jr. has been a real disappointment and the new ACIP has already proven to be controlled. Instead of Malone they should have selected McCullough.
Am I wrong to be so disappointed? My doctor, or any of them in my town, have plenty of justification to push these things on me and treat me badly when I don’t comply.
It becomes more obvious everyday that the American people were had. What happened to RFK Jr. saying REPEATEDLY that there is no vaccine that has been proven safe or effective? The flu shot is one of the worst. Not effective and not safe. Americans better wake up and refuse to inject any of their poisons into your body. RFK Jr. has been a real disappointment and the new ACIP has already proven to be controlled. Instead of Malone they should have selected McCullough.