The upshot: The first meeting of a new and controversial CDC vaccine advisory panel signaled its intent to focus on childhood immunizations. The panel may change childhood vaccination approvals and scheduling.

What led to this: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the entire 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) panel and installed 8 handpicked members, including several vaccine skeptics two weeks before one of its 3 annual public meetings. 

The new board recently reopened discussions on some vaccine safety topics that many had considered settled. This includes looking at flu vaccines that contain thimerosal, and the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) combination vaccine recommended for children.

What happened: The now 7-member voted to recommend thimerosol-free only flu vaccines for the fall. The MMR presentation did not lead to a vote.

Zooming in: The thimerosal vote was largely symbolic—96% of US flu vaccines administered during the 2024-2026 season did not contain thimerosol, per Truveta Research. 

However, the preservative has long been criticized by anti-vaccine groups and RFK Jr., who assert it causes autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. The CDC, FDA, and WHO have all consistently found no evidence linking it to those conditions.