The US stock market will face a huge earthquake in vaccine stocks? US officials will vote on influenza vaccine and thimerosal.

The American Vaccine Data Review Panel, which has undergone comprehensive reform, will vote on a vaccine containing a mercury compound and a common pediatric vaccine in the coming days. Earlier, the panel just announced that it will re-evaluate the childhood vaccination schedule. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is expected to determine which influenza virus strains should be included in the fall vaccines on Thursday and vote on the use of thimerosal (a mercury-containing vaccine preservative). Thimerosal prevents the growth of bacteria in multidose vials, making vaccine injection more convenient. Following the postponement of the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, the committee will also vote on Merck & Co., Inc.'s monoclonal antibody therapy Enflonsia (a single-dose vaccine for infants to prevent the common respiratory syncytial virus, RSV). The panel will hear reports on the use of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines in children under 4 years old. Currently, the first dose of the MMRV vaccine is typically administered to infants aged 12 to 15 months. Health experts say that this discussion may provide some clues on how the committee will handle recommended vaccines in the future. A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which oversees the advisory panel, did not provide details on the specific content of the ACIP vote on influenza virus strains and thimerosal-related issues. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), recently dismissed the former vaccine experts of the ACIP and appointed new members, many of whom hold anti-vaccine views. According to Chairman Martin Kulldorff, on Wednesday, the reassembled expert panel indicated that it will re-evaluate the current childhood immunization schedule, including vaccination programs that have not been reviewed for seven years. This includes the hepatitis B vaccine, which is administered within 24 hours of birth. Left untreated, this disease can lead to serious chronic conditions, including liver cancer. Shortly after, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that it will no longer collaborate with the Immunization Practices Department of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will continue to publish vaccination schedules independently. Furthermore, on Wednesday, Robert Kennedy posted on the social media platform "X," announcing that the United States will stop funding the international vaccine alliance Gavi, once again indicating that he will no longer promote vaccination efforts in the United States. Measles Vaccine Thursday's discussion on the measles, mumps, and rubella trivalent vaccine comes as the United States is experiencing a measles outbreak that has led to the deaths of two children in Texas and one adult in New Mexico. Kulldorff, who has doubts about the COVID-19 vaccine, will lead the discussion on the measles, mumps, and rubella trivalent vaccine. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist and research scientist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, expressed concerns that the committee may make a decision not to approve the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine. She stated, "There is currently no data indicating safety issues or ineffective efficacy, and it has been used for over 15 years." If this vaccine is no longer recommended or considered unsafe, it could be a blow to the manufacturer Merck & Co., Inc. This vaccine, known as ProQuad, is one of three combined vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella, bringing in about $2.5 billion in annual revenue, the fourth-largest source of income for Merck & Co., Inc. Thimerosal Component Anti-vaccine supporters have long opposed the use of thimerosal in vaccines, claiming that this mercury-containing compound could cause autism. According to the Food and Drug Administration, thimerosal is used in multi-dose vials of adult flu vaccines sold by Sanofi and CSL. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that this compound has never been proven to have safety concerns or be related to the onset of autism, and it was removed from most children's vaccines in the early 20th century. Robert Kennedy has long held strong opposition to thimerosal and called for its removal from vaccines in a book published in 2014. Lyn Redwood will lead the discussion on thimerosal. Redwood, a nurse, assisted in founding the World Mercury Project, which later evolved into the Children's Health Defense organization, a group that fights against vaccines and other substances it labels as toxins. Robert Kennedy has led this organization. The committee meeting will also discuss matters related to the yellow fever vaccine. This vaccine is not included in the federal adult immunization schedule. The vaccine is suitable for international travel and aims to prevent this mosquito-borne disease. In May of this year, the FDA and CDC recommended suspending the use of the vaccine for people aged 60 and over, as health officials investigate adverse reactions. Tina Tan, chair of the American Society for Infectious Diseases, stated, "Meetings and actions by members who openly oppose vaccines are 'undermining confidence in our vaccines and our system.' We are bringing America's health system back to a hundred years ago."