Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Criticizes Federal Health Agencies Over Thimerosal
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a significant move on Saturday, highlighting his long-standing campaign against the use of harmful neurotoxins in vaccines, particularly affecting women and children. He expressed strong disapproval of federal health agencies that have permitted such substances in medical treatments for years.
In a video statement, Kennedy discussed thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative still permitted in certain flu vaccines for children and pregnant women, despite being banned outright in the U.S. He stated, “I’m proud to have finally fulfilled my long-term promise of protecting our most vulnerable from unnecessary mercury exposure.”
Thimerosal, which mainly contains ethyl mercury, has been used for decades as a preservative in large vaccine vials. Kennedy criticized the CDC for allowing its continued use, arguing that there is an abundance of evidence showing its neurotoxic effects.
He referenced peer-reviewed studies and government documentation labeling thimerosal as a neurotoxin and reproductive hazard. “The amount of ethyl mercury in the flu vaccine that the CDC just banned under my order is 25,000 times the safety level set by the EPA for drinking water,” he claimed.
Kennedy also condemned federal agencies for ignoring scientific evidence, citing a 2001 testimony by FDA official William Egan, who admitted that thimerosal’s safety had never been assessed in humans. He highlighted that research has shown this harmful mercury remains in the brain for over 27 years and referenced a 2017 CDC-funded study linking flu shots during pregnancy to a significantly higher risk of miscarriage.
He further noted another 2017 study in JAMA that associated flu vaccinations in pregnant women with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in their children. Kennedy raised a question to federal authorities: “Why did you inject this toxin into babies and pregnant women?” He emphasized that expired thimerosal vaccines are classified as hazardous waste but still managed to enter the bloodstream of patients.
Despite facing criticism and attacks from pharmaceutical interests and media, which labeled him as “antivax,” Kennedy did not back down. “I spent 20 years working to remove mercury from vaccines,” he asserted. “I even worked for four years to eliminate mercury from fish, and no one called me anti-fish.”
He views this recent decision as a foundation for a reform initiative aimed at regaining public trust in federal health organizations. Kennedy commended former President Trump for his leadership during the “remake of the FDA and CDC” aimed at protecting consumers.
The recently adopted CDC recommendation, implemented last week, effectively eliminates thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy stressed that flu shots can be manufactured in single-dose forms without any mercury content, and manufacturers are prepared to meet that demand.
He called on the World Health Organization and vaccine alliance Gavi to end the use of mercury-based preservatives in vaccines directed at infants in developing nations. “We urge the World Health Organization and Gavi to stop injecting mercury into more than 100 million black and brown babies in developing countries,” he asserted.
This call comes shortly after the Gates Foundation pledged $1.6 billion to Gavi, a global vaccine initiative that aims to vaccinate children in impoverished nations. Gates, a known advocate for vaccines, has previously criticized Elon Musk’s proposals related to cuts in U.S. foreign aid, connecting them to preventable deaths among children.
Overall, Kennedy’s recent actions signify a pivotal moment in the ongoing quest for transparency in medical practices and the right to personal health decisions.
“This decision sends a clear message,” Kennedy concluded. “The era of ignoring science is over. The era of prioritizing profits over people is over.”
