AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
A new committee met in June 2025 to discuss vaccine recommendations, focusing on influenza and RSV. Despite debunked claims, the panel controversially discussed thimerosal, ultimately recommending single-dose, thimerosal-free flu shots for individuals aged 6 months and older. They also recommended clesrovimab, an RSV vaccine, for infants under 8 months.
Following this meeting, Secretary Kennedy and HHS made significant changes, hindering vaccine access and research. In August, HHS halted all mRNA vaccine development under BARDA, diverting $500 million to alternative vaccine platforms, citing ineffectiveness of mRNA vaccines. This decision impacted development of vaccines against diseases like H5N1 bird flu.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
The first meeting that included the new members of this committee took place on June 25 – 26, 2025. The meeting, which was rescheduled from February 2025, included discussions on the annual influenza vaccine recommendations as well as vaccines to protect against RSV for young children. Advisors also controversially discussed thimerosal, a rarely-used preservative used in trace amounts in some multi-dose vaccines for adults. Claims that this chemical causes autism have been debunked. Ultimately, the newly-appointed panel of seven, less than half of the number that usually comprises the panel, voted to recommend single-dose, thimerosal-free flu vaccinations for those aged 6 months and older. The panel also voted 5-2 to recommend clesrovimab, a vaccination against RSV, to infants less than 8 months old entering their first RSV season.
Since June, Secretary Kennedy and his top advisors have changed the vaccine landscape further, increasing barriers to access and eliminating vaccine research. In early August, HHS announced that it would stop all mRNA vaccine development under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The announcement included a quote from Secretary Kennedy that claimed mRNA vaccines are ineffective and shifting nearly $500 million in funding to “safer, broader vaccine platforms.” These vaccines previously in development were working to protect against diseases such as the influenza strain H5N1, commonly referred to as bird flu.
