Health experts were shocked to see that thimerosal, a preservative that has largely been phased out of U.S. vaccines, was on the ACIP agenda.

The votes in favor of Merck's shot are a sigh of relief after Kennedy gutted the panel and tapped replacements, some of whom are well-known vaccine critics.

RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel endorsed Merck’s RSV shot for babies, easing fears that his stance might delay rollout.