Wellness Assistant Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has actually worked with an anti-vaccine supporter and long time ally to a placement at the Wellness and Human Being Solutions Division, an individual knowledgeable about the issue validated to ABC Information.
Lyn Redwood offered for several years as head of state of Kid’s Wellness Protection, the anti-vaccine company started by Kennedy. Her specific duty at HHS is uncertain.
Andrew Nixon, a division spokesperson, informed ABC Information he had no remark.
At The Same Time, Redwood is anticipated to provide a discussion at the Advisory Board on Booster Shot Practices (ACIP) conference on Thursday utilizing a record on thimerosal that is presently offered online, which includes misinforming info and mentions a resource that obviously does not exist, according to one writer, that informed ABC Information he is incorrectly mentioned in the record.
Thimerosal is a chemical in vaccinations indicated to stop contamination. It’s presently made use of in around 4% of influenza shots yet was gotten rid of from regular youth vaccinations in 2001.
” To the very best of my understanding, the research study in rats described in the prepared CDC discussion by Lyn Redwood detailing Berman RF as very first writer does not exist,” Robert F Berman, Ph.D., teacher emeritus at the College of The golden state Davis, claimed.
” I have actually not released a paper keeping that title or keeping that collection of co-authors in the journal Neurotoxicology in 2008. Likewise, none of my study has actually made any type of declarations regarding feasible thimerosal impacts on microglia in the mind or leading to neuroimmune impacts,” Berman claimed.
That citation has actually considering that been gotten rid of from the modified discussion online.
The Washington Blog post was very first to report Redwood’s visit to HHS.
Redwood has actually held a historical idea that mercury direct exposure with thimerosal-containing vaccinations triggers autism. Especially, she has actually straight associated her child’s autism to mercury direct exposure from youth vaccinations as lately as October 2024 in a podcast with RFK Jr.
Years of study has actually discovered no web link in between autism and vaccinations or any type of vaccination chemical, consisting of thimerosal.
Wellness and Human Being Solutions Assistant Robert F. Kennedy Jr. affirms prior to your house Power and Business Board Wellness Subcommittee, June 24, 2025 in Washington.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Photos
” Thimerosal was gotten rid of from all regular youth vaccinations in the United States out of a wealth of care – it is still made use of as a chemical in much of the globe. Numerous research studies have actually shown that it is risk-free and has no organization with neurodevelopmental problems,” Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatric Medicine’ Board on Transmittable Conditions and AAP’s intermediary to ACIP, informed ABC Information.
An extensive record of existing proof by the Institute of Medicine in 2004 wrapped up, “the body of epidemiological proof prefers being rejected of a causal partnership in between thimerosal-containing vaccinations and autism.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention additionally states, “study does disappoint any type of web link in between thimerosal and autism.”
While this chemical is not made use of often in the united state, if it is gotten rid of or no more suggested in those staying influenza shots, physicians fret it might bring about unneeded voids in vaccination gain access to and the possibility for injury by not securing these individuals.
” Any kind of decline in the variety of influenza vaccinations offered will likely cause less individuals being immunized and ultimately, even more hospital stays and fatalities. Its elimination might additionally indicate to the public baseless safety and security problems,” O’Leary claimed.
A minimum of one vaccination professional claimed she shivered Wednesday at the concept of Redwood signing up with HHS.
Fiona Havers, a 13-year CDC professional that serviced vaccination plan, informed ABC Information in a declaration, “Lyn Redwood is widely known for spreading out vaccination false information. It is bothering that Redwood might currently have a main duty within HHS and will possibly remain in a placement to hinder main messaging regarding vaccination safety and security.”
ABC Information has actually connected to Redwood for a remark.
Redwood and Kennedy have actually long been close. In a discussion in between both of them on Kennedy’s podcast in 2014, Kennedy attributed Redwood with being the number that “worked with” the “tracking campaign” by moms that encouraged Kennedy to start exploring the prospective damages of vaccinations in the very early 2000s.
Redwood was additionally associated with Kennedy’s current governmental project, collaborating volunteer and petition-gathering trainings in Georgia, her home state, according to sign-up web pages on the project’s internet site.
