Experts Reaffirm Vaccine Safety as RFK Jr. Targets Aluminum Adjuvants
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In recent weeks, the crucial role of aluminum in childhood vaccines has come under intense scrutiny, driven largely by claims from US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. RFK Jr. has publicly argued that aluminum adjuvants—substances added to vaccines to boost their effectiveness—can cause neurological disorders, allergies, and autoimmune diseases.
However, this position starkly contradicts the scientific evidence, which has consistently confirmed the safety of these compounds.
Aluminum salts, such as aluminum sulphate and aluminum hydroxide, have served as effective adjuvants for nearly a century. They are key components in many essential inoculations, including those for diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus (HPV). Adjuvants are vital because they enhance the body's immune response, ensuring recipients gain effective and long-lasting protection; without them, many vaccines would be ineffective or only provide short-term defense. Experts emphasize that requiring the elimination of aluminum would be a "shock to the system" and render some crucial vaccines ineffective.
Scientists point out that aluminum exposure is commonplace; we are routinely exposed to it in food, water, soil, and breast milk. For instance, some processed cheese can contain up to 15mg per slice, while vaccines contain much smaller amounts (between 0.25 and 1.2mg of aluminum). Like ingested aluminum, the small amounts of aluminum salts from vaccines enter the bloodstream and are safely filtered out by the kidneys.
The claims linking vaccine aluminum to adverse health outcomes, particularly autism, are not supported by data. A recent, large-scale Danish study examined aluminum exposure in over one million children during their first two years of life and found no link between exposure and any of 50 diseases examined, including autism. Studies have also shown that the small amounts of aluminum following vaccination pose no risk of toxicity.
Despite the consensus among scientists, RFK Jr. is actively working to undermine public confidence. In November 2025, he "personally ordered" the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to alter its webpage on autism and vaccines. The CDC’s site, which previously stated there was "no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism spectrum disorder," was changed to read “‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”. This dramatic reversal feeds into the anti-vaccine narrative and is extremely concerning given the potential effect on vaccine policy, demand, and ultimately, the spread of infectious diseases. The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), whose advisors were handpicked by Kennedy, is scheduled to discuss the use of aluminum in vaccines.
Vaccines remain one of the most cost-effective, safe, and critical public health interventions available, and undermining public trust poses a significant peril to global health.
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Experts Reaffirm Vaccine Safety
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