Latest news with #Children'sHealthDefence
Straits Times
25-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
US CDC vaccine presentation cites study that does not exist, author says
According to the CDC report, 96 per cent of all influenza vaccines in the US were thimerosal free during the 2024-25 flu season. PHOTO: REUTERS US CDC vaccine presentation cites study that does not exist, author says WASHINGTON - A review on the use of the preservative thimerosal in vaccines slated to be presented on June 26 to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's outside vaccine committee cites a study that does not exist, the scientist listed as the study's author said. The report, called 'Thimerosal as a Vaccine Preservative' published on the CDC website on June 24 , is to be presented by Ms Lyn Redwood, a former leader of the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defence. It makes reference to a study called 'Low-level neonatal thimerosal exposure: Long-term consequences in the brain', published in the journal Neurotoxicology in 2008, and co-authored by UC Davis Professor Emeritus Robert Berman. But according to Dr Berman, 'it's not making reference to a study I published or carried out'. Dr Berman said he co-authored a similarly named study in a different journal - Toxicological Sciences - that came to different conclusions than those suggested by Ms Redwood. 'We did not examine the effects of thimerosal in microglia... I do not endorse this misrepresentation of the research,' he said. Reuters is the first to report on the inaccurate citation from Ms Redwood's planned presentation. Later on June 24 , the CDC uploaded a new version of Ms Redwood's presentation, removing the slide that cited the Berman study. The meeting has become increasingly controversial after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr just weeks ago abruptly fired all previous 17 members of the expert panel and named eight new members, half of whom have advocated against vaccines. Mr Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist, founded the Children's Health Defence. Both Republican US Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Democratic US Senator Patty Murray of Washington said the June 25 and 26 meeting should be postponed. The summary of the presentation suggested that there are enough thimerosal-free flu vaccines and that all pregnant women, infants and children should receive only those shots. It was not clear if the new advisory panel would be asked to vote on such a move. Ms Redwood's presentation was in contrast to a separate report posted by CDC staff on the CDC website on June 24 that says evidence does not support a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Mr Kennedy has long pushed a link between vaccines and autism contrary to scientific evidence. Ms Redwood could not be immediately reached for comment. An HHS spokesman said the study being referenced was the Toxicological Sciences study Dr Berman said was being misrepresented. The CDC's briefing material reviewed some studies on neurodevelopmental outcomes and vaccines that contain thimerosal, which has long been used in the US in multi-dose vials of medicines and vaccines to prevent germs from growing in them. According to the CDC report, 96 per cent of all influenza vaccines in the US were thimerosal free during the 2024-25 flu season. It also added that the number of pregnant women receiving a thimerosal-containing flu vaccine has decreased over time, with only 0.3 per cent of doses given in 2024 containing thimerosal. Mr Kennedy wrote a book in 2014 claiming that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, causes brain damage. On June 23 , Mr Cassidy, who heads the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, called for the meeting to be delayed, saying it should not take place with a relatively small panel and without a CDC director in place. Ms Murray, a senior member and former chair of the Help Committee, has also called for the fired panel members to be reinstated or the meeting be delayed until new members are appropriately vetted. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr clears first vote towards Senate confirmation
Robert F Kennedy cleared the first hurdle needed to be confirmed as US health secretary when his nomination was approved by a Senate committee Tuesday. The vote split along party lines, 14-13, with all Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee voting in favour of the vaccine sceptic who threw his support behind Donald Trump after ending a presidential bid of his own and whose health expertise has been questioned. Kennedy's nomination will now move to a vote of the full US Senate, which Republicans control 53-47. Senators questioned Kennedy about his views on vaccines and other health issues and tested his knowledge about US public health infrastructure. During the hearings he insisted that he was not opposed to vaccines, nor a conspiracy theorist, but that he supports more stringent safety tests. But senators zeroed in on his past comments, including a podcast appearance where he said: "There's no vaccine that is safe and effective." Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who organises and works with Democrats, praised RFK Jr's "Make America Healthy Again" slogan. But the senator then later showed pictures of baby clothes printed with anti-vaccine messages sold by Children's Health Defence, an organisation that Kennedy headed until recently. Kennedy responded that he no longer has oversight of the group. Although RFK Jr's testimony last week did not win over any Democrats to his side, he did manage to win the crucial support of Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy. Cassidy, a doctor, had expressed scepticism about Kennedy's nomination, but ultimately supported him during Tuesday's committee hearing, clearing the way for a full Senate vote. Five takeaways from RFK Jr's first confirmation hearing Fact-checking RFK Jr's views on health policy What RFK Jr could do on US vaccines, fluoride and drugs
