The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced new dates for its previously postponed vaccine advisory committee meeting, which will now take place on April 15-16, according to Health and Human Services communications director Andrew Nixon.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting was originally scheduled for late February but was unexpectedly delayed following Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as health secretary. At the time, HHS officials cited the need for additional public comment as the reason for the postponement.
According to a federal register notice posted Friday, the committee will address several pressing public health matters, including the ongoing measles outbreak and guidelines for various vaccines including COVID-19, HPV, monkeypox, and RSV. Notable changes to the agenda include the removal of previously planned discussions and voting on influenza vaccine guidelines.
The meeting’s delay came amid broader disruptions to vaccine policy discussions, including the cancellation of a Food and Drug
Administration meeting intended to determine flu shot composition for the upcoming fall and winter season. The FDA ultimately made its recommendations to vaccine manufacturers without consulting its advisory committee, breaking from typical procedure.
ACIP, which consists of both external vaccine experts and federal health officials, convenes multiple times annually to review 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currently evaluating new candidates for the director position after President Trump’s initial nominee, Dave Weldon, was withdrawn before Senate hearings last week.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 delays coincides with a significant measles outbreak in Texas and Oklahoma, where cases have reached 301, including the first measles-related child death since 2015. Kennedy, who oversees the CDC director and leads public health response efforts, has maintained controversial positions on vaccination. In response to the child’s death, he authored an opinion piece asserting that vaccination decisions should remain personal choices.
Kennedy’s appointment has raised concerns among public health experts due to his long-standing skepticism about vaccine safety and efficacy, particularly regarding the MMR vaccine that prevents measles, mumps, and rubella. During his confirmation hearings, he declined to distance himself from his previous statements suggesting a link between vaccines and autism rates in the United States.
The CDC is reportedly planning a comprehensive study examining potential connections between vaccines and autism, despite extensive existing research that has conclusively disproven such associations. This move comes as the agency faces unprecedented challenges in maintaining public confidence in vaccination programs while operating under leadership that has historically questioned established vaccine science.
The rescheduled ACIP meeting represents a critical juncture for public health policy, occurring against a backdrop of rising measles cases and evolving vaccine guidelines for multiple infectious diseases. The committee’s recommendations typically serve as the foundation for national immunization practices and public health strategies.
These developments mark a significant shift in how federal health agencies approach vaccine policy decisions, with traditional advisory processes being altered or bypassed. The changes have drawn attention from healthcare professionals and public health advocates who emphasize the importance of maintaining evidence-based vaccination policies during a period of increasing infectious disease challenges.