Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed Saturday that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative historically used in flu vaccines administered to children and pregnant women, has now been officially banned in the U.S.
The announcement marks the conclusion of Kennedy’s 20-year campaign to eliminate what he has long described as a dangerous neurotoxin from American vaccines.
Used for decades in multi-dose vaccine vials to prevent bacterial contamination, thimerosal contains ethylmercury—a compound Kennedy and other critics have called unsafe, especially for vulnerable populations.
Although it was removed from most childhood vaccines starting in the early 2000s, the compound remained present in seasonal flu shots until now.
Kennedy shared the news in a detailed video statement, sharply criticizing federal health agencies for allowing thimerosal to remain in circulation despite years of internal concerns and external research pointing to its risks.
“I’m proud to finally deliver on a long-overdue promise: protecting our most vulnerable from unnecessary mercury exposure,” Kennedy posted on X.
The new CDC recommendation, formally approved in June and implemented last week, eliminates thimerosal from all U.S. vaccines, Breitbart reports.
Mercury-free, single-dose flu vaccines will remain available, and pharmaceutical manufacturers say they are prepared to meet national demand without relying on chemical preservatives.
Kennedy slammed both the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration for their long-standing refusal to act.
He cited a 2001 congressional hearing in which FDA official William Egan admitted the agency had never conducted human safety studies on thimerosal.
“Why were we injecting this toxin into babies and pregnant women?” Kennedy asked.
One of Kennedy’s most pointed criticisms came in reference to a 2017 CDC-funded study, which reported a 7.7-fold increase in miscarriage risk for women who received flu vaccines during pregnancy.
He also referenced a JAMA study from the same year that showed an uptick in autism diagnoses among children whose mothers received flu shots in the first trimester.
To emphasize the risks, Kennedy noted that each flu shot previously containing thimerosal delivered a dose of ethylmercury 25,000 times higher than the EPA’s allowable limit for mercury in drinking water.
He also referenced toxicology data classifying thimerosal as a neurotoxin, mutagen, carcinogen and reproductive hazard.
“Federal and state laws classify expired thimerosal vaccines as hazardous waste,” Kennedy said. “Yet they were good enough to put into your bloodstream?”
He further referenced long-term studies indicating mercury from vaccines can remain stored in the brain for up to 27 years.
Despite years of attacks from major pharmaceutical companies and media outlets, Kennedy said he remained committed to the fight.
“I’ve spent 20 years trying to get mercury out of vaccines,” he said. “I spent four years trying to get mercury out of fish, and nobody called me anti-fish.”
Kennedy also praised President Trump’s push for agency reform, crediting those efforts for enabling the ban.
He described the decision as a crucial step toward restoring Americans’ trust in federal health institutions.
Looking ahead, Kennedy urged international agencies to follow the U.S.’ lead in removing mercury from all vaccines.
He accused the World Health Organization and GAVI of continuing harmful practices in lower-income regions, alleging that more than 100 million children in developing countries are still exposed to thimerosal-laced vaccines annually.
His comments came just days after the Gates Foundation pledged $1.6 billion to GAVI, according to Breitbart.
Kennedy tied this to broader concerns about global vaccine policy and corporate influence.
Kennedy emphasized that the decision marks an end to ignoring scientific evidence and prioritizing profits over people’s well-being.
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