Exclusive-US conditions funding to global vaccine group on dropping mercury-based preservative from shots
Source: Yahoo! News/Reuters
Wed, January 28, 2026 at 1:07 AM EST
LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has told global vaccine group Gavi to phase out shots containing the preservative thimerosal as a condition of providing the group with funding, a U.S. official and a Gavi spokesperson told Reuters. The request, which Reuters is the first to report, is the latest sign of efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to influence health policy globally.
Anti-vaccine groups, including one founded by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have for decades claimed that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in vaccines, is linked to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, despite many studies showing no related safety issues.
In June last year, Kennedy cut $300 million in annual funding for Gavi, which helps the world's poorest and lower-income countries buy vaccines to prevent diseases such as measles and diphtheria. Kennedy, who has long promoted anti-vaccine views contrary to scientific evidence, says the group ignores safety issues with the immunizations it provides. Gavi says vaccine safety is its utmost concern.
“Until a plan for removal of thimerosal-containing vaccines is developed and the plan initiated, the United States will withhold future new funding,” an official for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told Reuters.
Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/exclusive-us-conditions-funding-global-060745675.html
From the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) - Fact Checked: Vaccines Do Not Contain Fetal Cells, Thimerosal
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THIMEROSAL: Since 2001, thimerosal has been removed from all routine childhood vaccinations in the U.S. Some influenza vaccines still contain thimerosal, a preservative that contains ethylmercury. Several valid scientific studies have shown there is no link between thimerosal and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
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