CDC Withdraws Vaccine Presentation After Citation Error Discovered

In a recent development, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has retracted a scheduled presentation related to vaccine safety amid concerns over invalid references. The presentation claimed that a preservative used in vaccines could potentially cause long-term brain effects based on a study that was later found to be nonexistent. The slide in question referenced a 2008 paper titled "Low-level neonatal thimerosal exposure: Long-term consequences in the brain," purportedly published in the journal Neurotoxicology. However, the researcher cited on the slide, Dr. Robert Berman of the University of California-Davis, clarified that he never authored such a paper, and no publication matching that citation exists by him in Neurotoxicology. Instead, Berman's actual 2008 research was published in Toxicological Sciences, involved mice rather than rats, and reached conclusions consistent with vaccine safety, showing no evidence of harm from thimerosal at vaccine levels.

The discrepancy was first noticed by Dr. David Boulware, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, who attempted to locate the study but was unable. As a result, the CDC promptly removed the original slide and replaced it with a revised version that omitted the questionable reference.

The upcoming presentation was to be delivered by Lyn Redwood, a registered nurse and former leader of the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, which is associated with figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is listed as a founder of the group. The presentation, scheduled during the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting, attracted scrutiny given the historical context of vaccine safety debates.

Thimerosal, a vaccine preservative, has been a frequent target of misinformation linking it to autism. Nevertheless, extensive scientific research over the years has found no credible evidence to support these claims, and thimerosal was removed from most vaccines over two decades ago. Despite this, some advocates continue to promote anti-vaccine arguments, citing studies that are often unverifiable or misrepresented.

This incident raises concerns about the accuracy of sources cited during vaccine discussions and the importance of factual integrity in public health information. Public health officials and scientists emphasize that vaccines are rigorously tested and monitored for safety, and studies have consistently shown no connection between vaccine ingredients like thimerosal and adverse neurological effects.

The controversy coincides with recent significant changes in the CDC vaccine advisory committees, including the removal of members and the appointment of skeptics, leading to concerns about the potential influence of vaccine misinformation. Experts continue to advocate for evidence-based communication to maintain public trust in vaccination programs.

For more information, see details at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the original journal Toxicological Sciences.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-cdc-vaccine-expert-cites-doesnt.html