#VaccineSafety

A federal advisory committee to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that all Americans—including children, pregnant women, and adults—receive single-dose influenza vaccines that do not contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative long scrutinized despite decades of safe use. This move, which could soon lead to an official CDC policy, reflects an ongoing international spotlight on vaccine ingredients and the public’s persistent concern over vaccine safety—a topic with direct relevance for Thailand’s immunization practices and public confidence.

A recent vote by a United States government advisory panel to curtail the use of thimerosal—a mercury-based preservative—in flu vaccines has reignited controversy over vaccine safety and the legacy of discredited autism claims. The vote, which followed a presentation by prominent vaccine critics now serving in government, illustrates how decades-old debates over vaccine ingredients continue to influence public health policy, even as the global consensus remains firm on vaccine safety.

A U.S. advisory panel has voted to limit thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, in flu vaccines. The decision revives a long-running debate about vaccine ingredients and safety, even as major health authorities maintain that vaccines containing thimerosal are safe at the doses used.

For Thai readers, the story underscores how misinformation can influence health choices and how public trust in vaccines must be protected. Thailand’s vaccination programs rely on international guidance and local communication to keep campaigns effective. The Thai public health system continues to monitor global debates while ensuring vaccines remain accessible and trustworthy.

A prominent psychiatrist has expressed deep remorse over his role in transforming the landscape of autism in America—a change that saw US autism rates leap from 1 in 2,000 children in the 1980s to approximately 1 in 31 today. The surge, he says, is largely attributable to expanded diagnostic criteria introduced in the 1990s and further broadened in the 2010s, with far-reaching consequences for families, public health policy, and social attitudes across the globe—including in Thailand.

A respected psychiatrist expresses regret over how autism understanding expanded in the United States, a shift that helped drive a sharp rise in diagnosed cases—from about 1 in 2,000 children in the 1980s to roughly 1 in 31 today. He says broader criteria in the 1990s and again in the 2010s reshaped families, health policy, and social attitudes worldwide, including in Thailand.

This reflection comes from a prominent Duke University scholar who led the team that revised the DSM in 1994. The decision to include milder forms, such as Asperger’s syndrome, aimed to give more children access to support. The psychiatrist’s current view is tinged with concern about unintended effects, including labeling challenges that might be better viewed as variations of typical development rather than a single disorder.

The safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines have returned to the spotlight following new regulatory actions and heightened public debate, but the scientific community continues to reaffirm their vital role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent scrutiny, triggered by policy changes from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is prompting fresh discussion amid persistent misinformation and growing public concerns—even as evidence underscores overwhelming benefits for both individuals and public health at large (ABC News).

A surge of global discussion around mRNA vaccines has put their safety and effectiveness back in the spotlight. While regulatory moves spark public debate, the broader scientific consensus remains clear: mRNA vaccines play a vital role in reducing severe illness and death from COVID-19. In Thailand, the ongoing conversation informs local vaccination strategies, booster plans, and how to balance risks and benefits amid evolving variants.

In the United States, the FDA has narrowed upcoming COVID-19 shots produced with mRNA technology to people aged 65 and older or those with high-risk health conditions. The agency notes new clinical trial requirements before broader use. At the same time, manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer have been asked to update warning labels to address rare heart-related risks observed in some recipients, particularly after a second dose in younger males. These actions have intensified public scrutiny, underscoring the need for clear, evidence-based information.

Thailand, like many countries worldwide, is witnessing increased public concern as reported cases of autism rise steeply each year. However, recent research and leading international experts contend that this apparent surge in autism diagnoses may not reflect a true rise in the prevalence of autism itself, but rather the product of social, medical, and diagnostic transformations over recent decades (BBC).

The significance of understanding these trends cannot be understated for Thai parents, educators, and healthcare professionals. Against a backdrop of growing public discussion and sometimes anxiety over neurodevelopmental disorders, clear and accurate information about autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—its causes, diagnosis, and support—remains critical for societal awareness, policy planning, and resource allocation.

Public concern about autism is rising in Thailand as diagnoses increase each year. Experts say the uptick is not necessarily a true increase in autism itself, but the result of social, medical, and diagnostic changes over the past decades. Research from international institutions suggests that greater awareness, improved screening, and evolving criteria are driving more children into diagnosis.

Understanding these trends is essential for Thai parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals. Clear, accurate information about autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—its causes, diagnosis, and support—helps with policy planning, resource allocation, and reducing anxiety around neurodevelopmental differences.