Context:

A presentation for the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices cited a nonexistent study, claiming thimerosal, a vaccine preservative, causes long-term brain effects. Lyn Redwood, from the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, included a citation to a 2008 Neurotoxicology study by Dr. Robert F. Berman, which he states does not exist. The controversy is part of a broader issue with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s newly formed vaccine panel, which replaced previous experts with new members, raising concerns about their credibility and balance. The inaccurate citation was flagged by Dr. David Boulware, and the presentation was subsequently removed from the CDC website. This incident echoes previous issues with Kennedy's reports, which have been criticized for citing non-existent studies, leading to calls for corrections and more robust panel representation.

Dive Deeper:

• Lyn Redwood's presentation for the CDC's vaccine advisers inaccurately cited a non-existent study in the journal Neurotoxicology, suggesting thimerosal in vaccines has detrimental brain effects. This claim was based on a supposed 2008 study by Dr. Robert F. Berman, who denies its existence.

• Dr. Robert F. Berman clarified that while he published a study in 2008, it appeared in a different journal and concluded differently, finding no autism-relevant effects at vaccine thimerosal levels. He expressed concern over the misuse of his research in Redwood's presentation.

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s newly appointed vaccine panel, which replaced previous members citing conflicts of interest, is under scrutiny for lacking balanced expertise. The panel has faced criticism even before its first meeting, with calls for postponement from political figures like Sen. Bill Cassidy.

• Dr. David Boulware flagged the citation as suspicious due to its strong conclusions, prompting him to investigate the study's validity, only to discover it was untraceable. This led to the removal of the presentation from the CDC's website.

• The controversy surrounding thimerosal and autism is not new; it was removed from most vaccines decades ago due to safety concerns, yet no credible evidence supports its link to autism. Redwood, however, continues to assert its role in her son's autism, fueling ongoing debates in the vaccine safety discourse.

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has faced criticism before for reports with faulty citations, notably the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again report, which also cited non-existent studies. Kennedy defended the report's core claims, attributing errors to minor citation issues corrected rapidly.

• The incident highlights ongoing tensions in public health advocacy, where anti-vaccine rhetoric persists despite extensive scientific evidence to the contrary, underscoring the need for accurate information and balanced expert representation in influential health panels.