The Trump administration has ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to indefinitely postpone a public meeting of its vaccine advisory panel, a key forum for discussing vaccine ‘safety and effectiveness.’
Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., made the decision on Thursday. Kennedy, a longtime critic of the panel and the CDC, has previously questioned vaccine safety and transparency.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon confirmed that the meeting, originally scheduled for Feb. 26-28, has beenpostponed to allow for public comment ahead of the event. However, no new date has been set.
The three-day Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting was set to review information on ten vaccines, including the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine and potential side effects of a newly approved chikungunya vaccine. Panel members were also scheduled to vote on recommendations for the use of the chikungunya vaccine, a new meningitis vaccine, and updated guidance on influenza and RSV vaccines. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licenses vaccines, clinicians rely on the CDC advisory panel’s recommendations for guidance on their use. Insurance coverage for new vaccines also typically depends on the panel’s endorsement.
Nixon noted that the panel’s workgroups, which review data and develop recommendations, met as planned this month and will present their findings at a future ACIP meeting.
