Vaccine presentation from the CDC mistakenly references an unpublished study. Author asserts that the study in question does not exist.
Falsified Study: The Inaccurate Citation in the 'Thimerosal as a Vaccine Preservative' Report
The buzz around a report titled 'Thimerosal as a Vaccine Preservative' set to be presented to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) outside vaccine committee has taken an unpleasant turn. The report, published on the CDC website, cites a study that doesn't even exist, according to the scientist claimed to be its author.
The report, slated for presentation by Lyn Redwood, a former leader of the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, references a 'Low-level neonatal thimerosal exposure: Long-term consequences in the brain,' study, published in Neurotoxicology in 2008, and co-authored by UC Davis Professor Emeritus Robert Berman.
However, Berman has unequivocally stated that the study being referenced is not one he published or conducted. Instead, he wrote a similarly titled study in a different journal - Toxicological Sciences - with different conclusions than those suggested by Redwood.
"We did not examine the effects of thimerosal in microglia... I do not endorse this misrepresentation of the research," said Berman.
In a shocking revelation, the first to report on the inaccurate citation was Reuters. This debacle has added fuel to the controversy surrounding the meeting, which was already reignited by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s sudden firing of the expert panel's previous 17 members and the naming of eight new members, four of whom have a history of anti-vaccine activism.
Senators Bill Cassidy and Patty Murray have called for the June 25 and 26 meeting to be postponed. The summary of Redwood's presentation suggests that there are enough thimerosal-free flu vaccines, and all pregnant women, infants, and children should receive only those shots. The new advisory panel might be asked to vote on such a move, but this remains unclear.
Interestingly, a separate CDC report posted on the CDC website on the same day as Redwood's presentation states that evidence does not support a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Kennedy, known for his long-standing anti-vaccine activism, founded the Children's Health Defense, the organization Redwood once led. To clarify, Kennedy has continually pushed the theory of a link between vaccines and autism, contrary to established scientific evidence.
Redwood could not be reached for comment, but an HHS spokesman confirmed that the study being referenced is the Toxicological Sciences study Berman stated was being misrepresented.
The CDC's briefing material reviewed some studies on neurodevelopmental outcomes and vaccines that contain thimerosal. During the 2024-25 flu season, 96% of all influenza vaccines in the U.S. were thimerosal-free. The number of pregnant women receiving a thimerosal-containing flu vaccine has also decreased over time, with only 0.3% of doses containing thimerosal in 2024.
Kennedy penned a book in 2014 claiming that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, causes brain damage. The questionable practices in the thimerosal-related research cited in Redwood's presentation bring further doubts about her credibility and the objectivity of the report.
- The controversy surrounding the CDC's outside vaccine committee meeting has escalated due to a false study citation in a report titled 'Thimerosal as a Vaccine Preservative'.
- The report, published on the CDC website, references a nonexistent study on 'Low-level neonatal thimerosal exposure: Long-term consequences in the brain', which was attributed to UC Davis Professor Emeritus Robert Berman.
- Berman has clarified that the study being referenced is not one he published or conducted. Instead, he wrote a similar study in Toxicological Sciences with different conclusions.
- Reuters first reported on the inaccurate citation, adding fuel to the controversy surrounding the meeting.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s sudden firing of the expert panel's previous 17 members and the naming of eight new members, four of whom have a history of anti-vaccine activism, further reignited the controversy.
- Senators Bill Cassidy and Patty Murray have called for the June 25 and 26 meeting to be postponed.
- Redwood's presentation summary suggests that there are enough thimerosal-free flu vaccines and all pregnant women, infants, and children should receive only those shots.
- The new advisory panel might be asked to vote on such a move, but this remains unclear.
- A separate CDC report posted on the same day as Redwood's presentation states that evidence does not support a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine activism, founded the Children's Health Defense, the organization Redwood once led.
- Kennedy has continually pushed the theory of a link between vaccines and autism, contrary to established scientific evidence.
- Redwood could not be reached for comment, but an HHS spokesman confirmed that the study being referenced is the Toxicological Sciences study Berman stated was being misrepresented.
- The CDC's briefing material reviews some studies on neurodevelopmental outcomes and vaccines that contain thimerosal.
- During the 2024-25 flu season, 96% of all influenza vaccines in the U.S. were thimerosal-free.
- The number of pregnant women receiving a thimerosal-containing flu vaccine has also decreased over time, with only 0.3% of doses containing thimerosal in 2024.
- Kennedy penned a book in 2014 claiming that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, causes brain damage.
- The questionable practices in the thimerosal-related research cited in Redwood's presentation bring further doubts about her credibility and the objectivity of the report.
- The debacle has raised concerns about the reliability of information presented in health and wellness, particularly when it comes to medical-conditions such as neurological disorders.
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