FDA and CDC Vaccine Meetings Canceled, Raising Concerns Over Flu Shot Supply and Transparency

The cancellations disrupt the usual process for selecting flu vaccine strains, potentially impacting production timelines and public trust in vaccine decision-making.

The FDA canceled its March 13 meeting to decide flu vaccine strains for the 2025-2026 season, with no explanation provided and no indication of rescheduling.
The CDC postponed its February Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, which was to address vaccine safety, effectiveness, and access for several diseases, including flu and meningococcal disease.
Experts warn that delays in selecting flu vaccine strains could jeopardize manufacturers' ability to produce sufficient doses for the fall flu season, though some companies assert they are prepared to adapt.
The cancellations come during a severe flu season, with over 910,000 hospitalizations and at least 19,000 deaths reported, intensifying concerns about timely vaccine availability.
Critics argue the cancellations undermine transparency and public trust, with some attributing the disruptions to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s history of vaccine skepticism.