Originally published by our sister publication Infectious Disease Special Edition
By Meaghan Lee Callaghan
The new members of the revamped Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, in a vote of 5-1-1, recommended removing the preservative thimerosal from the few remaining influenza vaccine formulations that still include it. It will come into effect for the 2025-2026 flu season.
The recommendation came as three separate votes focused on three groups—children, pregnant people and adults—which together encompass the entire U.S. population.
The vote, cast on June 26, was 5 to 1, with one abstention. Board members Joseph R. Hibbelen, MD, ABNP, CAPT USPHS (Ret); Retsef Levi, PhD; Robert Malone, MD, MS; James Pagano, MD, FACEP; and Chair Martin Kulldorff, PhD, voted yes. Vicky Pebsworth, PhD, RN, abstained from the vote on procedural grounds, saying a vote to remove thimerosal in this manner (a notion she said she agreed with) would also condone that universal seasonal flu shots should be recommended.
Cody Meissner, MD, a professor of pediatrics at the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, in Hanover, N.H., was the only no vote. Dr. Meissner explained his rationale after the voting, saying he was afraid that a yes vote would harm the supply of flu shots for this coming season. “My concern is that by insisting the multi-dose vials [should not] contain thimerosal, that might limit the availability of the influenza vaccine for some people. I would like to have that question answered, but it's probably a difficult one to answer. My point is the risk from influenza is so much greater than the nonexistent, as far as we know, risk from thimerosal. So I would hate for a person not to receive the influenza vaccine because the only available preparation contains thimerosal. I find that very hard to justify.”
In a separate vote, the members approved a resolution to recommend seasonal flu vaccination for the upcoming flu season for all people 6 months of age and older. Dr. Pebsworth also abstained from this vote.