Washington: A scheduled meeting of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee has been canceled, a committee member told Reuters. This marks the second disruption to a federal vaccine advisory panel since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office as the nation’s top health official earlier this month.
The meeting, originally planned for March 13, was intended to discuss the selection of influenza virus strains for the 2025-2026 flu season. However, committee member Dr. Paul Offit confirmed on Wednesday that the FDA had sent an email announcing the cancellation. No official reason was provided.
Concerns Over Delays in Flu Vaccine Production
Another committee member, Dr. Stanley Perlman, stated he had not yet received an official notice but had anticipated the cancellation, as the meeting had not been formally announced in the Federal Register. He also noted hearing about the cancellation from another committee member.
Perlman emphasized the urgency of rescheduling the meeting due to the time-consuming nature of flu vaccine production, particularly those developed using chicken eggs.
“I would think that we don’t have much time,” he warned.
He also revealed that a separate subcommittee meeting scheduled for later in March had also been canceled.
Disruptions at Key Health Agencies
The cancellations come amid broader disruptions within the FDA, CDC, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“There’s so much disruption going on at the FDA, the CDC, and the NIH. I don’t know what the basis for (the cancellation) is,” Perlman said.
The FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have not yet provided a statement regarding the cancellations.
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Kennedy’s Influence on Vaccine Policy
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was confirmed as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) earlier this month, has long been a vocal critic of federal health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although he has denied being “anti-vaccine,” Kennedy’s appointment has raised concerns about potential shifts in vaccine policy.
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Last week, HHS also postponed a CDC vaccine advisory meeting, citing the need for additional public comment.
