The World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirmed Friday that there is no data showing any harm from thiomersal, a component of some vaccines that U.S. experts want to remove.
On Thursday, an advisory panel of experts appointed by US Secretary of Health Robert Kennedy Jr., known for his vaccine skepticism, opposed the use of this component present in certain vaccines, a long-standing demand of the anti-vax movement.
Thiomersal is a preservative used in flu vaccines. Containing mercury, it is very rarely used in injections in the United States, and its safety has not been proven at low doses.
Asked about this during a press briefing in Geneva, WHO Vaccines Director Kate O'Brien assured that thiomersal had been "reviewed several times by many agencies, including the WHO."
"And it is clear from the available evidence that there is no evidence that the use of thiomersal poses a health risk," she added.
She explained that it was "an important ingredient in some vaccines that use multi-dose vials" because it "reduces the risk of the vial becoming contaminated after multiple punctures to extract doses intended to immunize multiple children."
Ms O'Brien said that "considerable efforts" had been "made to remove thiomersal, out of an abundance of caution, from the vaccine supply" but that it was important that "the public understands that there has been a thorough review of the evidence regarding the safety of thiomersal and that we continue to need vaccines, some of which contain thiomersal."
RFK Jr., a Donald Trump appointee, has spread misinformation about vaccines in recent years, including claims of links between the vaccine and autism, particularly through the Children's Health Defense organization.
He recently fired the 17 members of this advisory committee, accusing them of conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry, and announced the appointment of eight new people, including several disparaged individuals, such as a biochemist who is a darling of anti-vaxxers.
The new panel recommended removing thiomersal from vaccines for children, pregnant women, and eventually all adults.
Thiomersal contains a form of mercury called ethylmercury, which is eliminated from the body much more quickly than naturally occurring mercury.
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