The annual Food and Drug Administration meeting to determine influenza vaccine composition for the upcoming season has been canceled, according to a committee member. The gathering, which typically occurs in March, was called off without any plans for rescheduling, raising concerns among advisory panel members.
Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert and pediatrics professor at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who serves on the committee, confirmed the cancellation and noted that no explanation was provided to members. The development marks the second recent disruption to federal vaccine advisory meetings since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. assumed the role of Health and Human Services Secretary.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently postponed its own vaccine advisory committee meeting, citing the need for extended public comment periods. Reports suggest Kennedy is evaluating potential changes to vaccine panel membership.
The timing of these disruptions has alarmed public health experts. Dr. Robert Hopkins, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, expressed concern about the CDC meeting delay, noting that interruptions to the advisory process could significantly impact public health at a crucial time for vaccine confidence and accessibility.
During his confirmation process, Kennedy pledged to operate within existing vaccine safety and approval frameworks. However, his background includes founding and chairing Children’s Health Defense, an organization that has promoted anti-vaccine positions, including disputed claims linking vaccines to autism that contradict scientific evidence.
The now-canceled FDA meeting serves a crucial annual function in advising manufacturers on which influenza strains should be targeted in seasonal flu vaccines. The meeting typically follows
recommendations from the World Health Organization’s annual committee gathering.
An HHS spokesperson indicated via email that despite the cancellation, the FDA would still provide manufacturers with timely recommendations for vaccine preparation ahead of the 2025-26 flu season.
Meanwhile, the WHO is conducting its meeting this week to discuss influenza strain selection for the upcoming Northern Hemisphere flu season. Despite President Donald Trump’s executive order withdrawing the United States from the WHO, FDA and CDC officials are
participating virtually in these discussions.
The cancellation comes at a time of heightened focus on vaccine policy and public health measures. Kennedy’s appointment as HHS Secretary has drawn particular attention given his history of questioning vaccine safety and efficacy, despite his recent commitments to work within established regulatory frameworks.
These developments represent significant changes to long-standing vaccine advisory processes that have historically guided public health decision-making in the United States. The FDA meeting’s cancellation, combined with the CDC meeting postponement, signals potential shifts in how vaccine-related decisions may be handled under the current administration.
The situation has created uncertainty among public health officials and vaccine experts who rely on these regular advisory meetings to coordinate seasonal vaccine preparation and distribution. While the HHS has assured that necessary recommendations will still be made available to manufacturers, the disruption to the traditional advisory process has raised questions about the future of vaccine policy coordination and implementation.
The impact of these changes remains to be seen, particularly as the healthcare system continues to address ongoing public health challenges and seasonal vaccine needs. The modifications to
established advisory procedures have sparked discussions about maintaining effective public health mechanisms while accommodating new administrative approaches to vaccine policy oversight.