Children’s Health Defense: Most Read News of the Week (06/29/25)

• The Defender home page: childrenshealthdefense.…

SUMMARY (with help from Grok and article subtopics)

Gavi Defunded!

“I call on Gavi today to re-earn the public trust, and to justify the $8 billion that America has provided in funding since 2001. And I’ll tell you how to start taking vaccine safety seriously: Consider the best science available, even when the science contradicts established paradigms. Until that happens, the United States won’t contribute more to Gavi.” — RFK Jr. on New York Times video (1:01): tinyurl.com/4az6kest

1. CDC’s New Vaccine Advisers Vow to Study Cumulative Effect of Childhood Vaccine Schedule. CDC advisory committee holds two-day meeting despite Sen. Bill Cassidy's call to delay. New co-chair Martin Kulldorff emphasizes evidence-based vaccine recommendations: tinyurl.com/25vnyj6y

2. RFK Jr. Slams The Guardian for False Claims About Thimerosal in Vaccines. “The Guardian’s blind and scientifically baseless repetition of empty industry assurances about thimerosal safety is yet another proof that journalists, and particularly science journalists, have now devolved into obsequious stenographers for Big Pharma.” — RFK Jr.: tinyurl.com/yv3u4ywc

3. ‘Heartbreaking’: Jury Sides With Ascension Hospital in 2021 Death of 19-Year-Old Grace Schara Admitted for COVID. Grace Schara’s family alleged medical battery, negligence and a lack of informed consent caused her death. “We know there’s unconsented medical treatment going on all over this country and it’s killing some people,” — Shara Family Attorney Warner Mendenhall”: tinyurl.com/4ye6yk64

4. New CDC Vaccine Panel Recommends Merck’s RSV Shot for All Newborns. ACIP voted 5-2 to recommend Merck’s RSV vaccine for infants, despite a member’s concerns about potential adverse reactions in clinical trials:tinyurl.com/ycy9wxdm

5. ‘Every American Wearing a Wearable’ Is Not a Vision We Share.

   RFK Jr said: “We’re about to launch one of the biggest advertising campaigns in HHS history to encourage Americans to use wearables … my vision is that every American is wearing a wearable within four years.”

   CHD rebuttal: Wireless technologies, including wearables, have clear and well-documented harms. These devices continuously emit RF radiation in direct contact with the body for long periods of time. They also collect and share biometric data, raising privacy concerns.”: tinyurl.com/fa9bd2ke

6. CDC Vaccine Advisers Vote to Stop Recommending Flu Shots That Contain Thimerosal. Flu shots continue, but won’t contain thimerosal preservative, which contains neurotoxic mercury.

   Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted separately on thimerosal-containing flu shots for children, pregnant women and adults. All three recommendations passed with a 5-1 vote and one abstention.

   Thimerosal was removed from all routine childhood vaccines in 2001, but is still used in some flu shots, including those given to children and pregnant women:tinyurl.com/y7r5jdhx

7. ‘Addictive Use’ of Screens Linked to Higher Risk of Suicide in Kids. New research in JAMA states it’s not screen time alone that predicts mental health issues, but “the quality and emotional dependence on screen use” that matters most:tinyurl.com/kcanvzmm

8. Washington Post Reports on ‘Plan to Vaccinate All Americans, Despite RFK Jr.’Vaccine makers, pharmacists, professional medical societies and others opposed to new vaccine policies will bypass government health agencies’ recommendations and create their own system for recommending and purchasing vaccines (thus attempting to continue policies of previous governments): tinyurl.com/yc2seynp

9. Mom Sues West Virginia School District That Denied Daughter’s Religious Exemption Despite Governor’s Executive Order. Miranda Guzman seeks a religious waiver for her 4-year-old daughter, based on Guzman’s objection to the use of fetal cells to develop vaccines.

   West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey has vowed to defend his commitment to faith-based objections after the state school board refused to recognize his executive order.

   California, Maine, New York and Connecticut are the only other remaining states that don’t allow religious exemptions to school vaccine mandates: tinyurl.com/yc825dz4

10. Gates Pledges $1.6 Billion for More Vaccines for Poor Countries, as RFK Jr. Stands by U.S. Decision to Cut Funding.

    U.S. and U.K. cuts in funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, mean the Gates Foundation is poised to be the biggest donor to both Gavi and the WHO. Critics said Gates’ latest funding commitment has less to do with protecting global public health and more to do with increasing his global influence.