The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s postponed vaccine advisory committee meeting has been rescheduled for April 15-16, according to a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, originally slated for late February, was unexpectedly delayed following Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as health secretary.
The federal register notice published Friday revealed that the committee will address several pressing vaccine-related matters, including the ongoing measles outbreak and guidelines for COVID-19, HPV, monkeypox, and RSV vaccines. Notably absent from the revised agenda are discussions about influenza vaccine guidelines, which were initially planned for the February meeting.
This scheduling change follows a pattern of disruption in vaccine policy meetings, including the cancellation of a Food and Drug Administration meeting that was meant to discuss flu shot composition for the upcoming fall and winter season. The FDA proceeded to make its recommendations to vaccine manufacturers without consulting its advisory committee, breaking from typical protocol.
ACIP, which consists of both external vaccine experts and federal health officials, traditionally convenes multiple times annually to evaluate data and make vaccine recommendations to the CDC director. The agency is currently evaluating new candidates for the director position after President Trump’s initial nominee, Dave Weldon, was withdrawn before Senate hearings last week.
The timing of these meeting changes coincides with a significant measles outbreak in Texas and Oklahoma, which has now reached 301 confirmed cases and resulted in the first measles-related child death since 2015. Kennedy, who oversees the CDC director and leads public health response efforts, has historically been skeptical of vaccine safety and effectiveness, particularly regarding the MMR vaccine that prevents measles, mumps, and rubella. In response to the recent fatality, Kennedy authored an opinion piece maintaining that vaccination decisions should remain personal choices.
Adding to the controversy, reports indicate the CDC is planning to launch an extensive study examining potential links between vaccines and autism, despite substantial existing research disproving such connections. During his confirmation process, Kennedy maintained his controversial stance regarding a supposed relationship between autism rates and vaccination in the United States.
The initial postponement was attributed to allowing additional time for public input, according to an HHS spokesperson. Andrew Nixon, the department’s communications director, confirmed the new April dates in correspondence with BioPharma Dive.
ACIP’s recommendations carry significant weight in public health policy, as they help shape vaccination guidelines that influence healthcare practices nationwide. The committee’s delayed meeting comes at a crucial time when public health officials are grappling with various infectious disease challenges, including the resurgence of measles in certain regions of the country.
The rescheduled meeting represents a critical juncture in vaccine policy-making under the new health leadership, particularly given Kennedy’s well-documented positions on vaccination. The outcome of these discussions could have far-reaching implications for public health strategies and vaccine recommendations moving forward, especially in light of current disease outbreaks and ongoing concerns about various infectious threats.
The spring meeting will provide the first opportunity for the vaccine advisory committee to convene under Kennedy’s leadership, marking a significant moment in the evolution of U.S. vaccination policy. The gathering will also serve as a platform for addressing multiple pressing vaccine-related issues that have accumulated during the extended period between meetings.