The Food and Drug Administration has called off a crucial advisory committee meeting intended to determine the composition of influenza vaccines for the upcoming season, according to committee member Paul Offit. The cancellation, which came without any explanation or plans to reschedule, has raised concerns among committee members.
This 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 had previously postponed its vaccine advisory committee meeting, citing the need for extended public comment periods. Reports suggest Kennedy is evaluating potential changes to vaccine panel membership.
The now-canceled FDA meeting, which typically takes place in March, plays a vital role in guiding manufacturers on which flu strains should be targeted in vaccine development for the fall and winter season. The meeting traditionally follows and considers
recommendations from the World Health Organization’s annual committee gathering.
Despite Kennedy’s commitment during his confirmation process to operate within existing vaccine approval and safety frameworks, his appointment has sparked discussion given his previous stance on vaccines. As the former chairman and founder of Children’s Health Defense, Kennedy has historically questioned vaccine safety and efficacy, including promoting claims about links between vaccines and autism that scientific studies have repeatedly disproven.
Robert Hopkins, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, expressed concern about the CDC meeting delay, noting that “disruptions to the advisory process can have far-reaching consequences for public health,” particularly at a time when vaccine confidence and accessibility are crucial issues.
An HHS spokesperson has assured that despite the meeting’s
cancellation, the FDA will still communicate its recommendations to vaccine manufacturers in time for preparation of the 2025-26 flu season vaccines.
Meanwhile, the WHO is proceeding with its Northern Hemisphere influenza strain selection meeting this week. Despite President Donald Trump’s executive order to withdraw the United States from the WHO, FDA and CDC officials are participating virtually in these
discussions.
The timing of these disruptions to vaccine advisory meetings coincides with broader changes in federal health leadership. Kennedy’s history of challenging mainstream vaccine policies has led to increased scrutiny of decisions affecting vaccine advisory processes. During his confirmation hearings, he pledged to work within established frameworks for vaccine approval and safety monitoring, but his past positions have raised questions about potential changes to these processes.
The FDA meeting’s cancellation affects a long-standing annual process that helps determine which influenza strains should be included in vaccines for the upcoming flu season. This decision-making process typically involves reviewing data and recommendations from the WHO’s committee meeting, which helps ensure vaccines are properly formulated to protect against the most likely circulating strains.
The broader context of these developments includes ongoing debates about vaccine policy and public health decision-making in the United States. The disruption of these advisory meetings comes at a time when public health experts emphasize the importance of maintaining strong vaccine confidence and ensuring efficient vaccine development and distribution processes.
These recent changes to the vaccine advisory schedule represent significant departures from established procedures that have historically guided U.S. vaccine policy and preparation. The impact of these disruptions on vaccine development timelines and public health preparations remains to be seen, though health officials maintain that necessary recommendations will still be made available to
manufacturers.