U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. approved a major policy change on Tuesday that will remove the mercury-based preservative thimerosal from all flu vaccines distributed in the U.S.
The decision comes after the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 5-1-1 during its June 25-26 meeting to recommend that only single-dose, mercury-free flu shots be given to children under 18, pregnant women, and adults. Kennedy's signature makes that recommendation official federal policy.
