Exclusive-US conditions funding to global vaccine group on dropping mercury-based preservative from shots

[BumRushDaShow]

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

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From the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) - Fact Checked: Vaccines Do Not Contain Fetal Cells, Thimerosal

Key Facts

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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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