The United States used to be a leader in vaccine research, development and policymaking. Now US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy jnr is undermining the country's vaccine program at the highest level and supercharging vaccine skepticism.

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Two weeks ago, RFK jnr sacked the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices responsible for reviewing the latest scientific evidence on vaccines. RFK Jr alleged conflicts of interest and hand-picked a replacement panel.

On Wednesday, RFK jnr announced the US would stop funding the global vaccine alliance, Gavi, because he claimed that "when the science was inconvenient today, Gavi ignored the science". RFK jnr questioned the safety of COVID vaccines for pregnant women, as well as the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine.

On Thursday, when the new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met, the person who first drew RFK jnr into vaccine scepticism, Lyn Redwood, shared disproved claims about a chemical called thimerosal in flu vaccines being harmful.

The undermining of regulation, advisory processes and funding changes will have global impacts, as debunked claims are given new levels of apparent legitimacy. Some of these impacts will be slow and insidious.

So what should we make of these latest claims and funding cuts?

Thiomersal (thimerosal in the the US) is a safe and effective preservative that prevents bacterial and fungal contamination of the vaccine contained in a multi-dose vial. It's a salt that contains a tiny amount of mercury in a safe........

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