United States: US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended two vaccine meetings at the US Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), resulting in unidentified conditions for flu vaccine distribution
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The February meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices scheduled to take place in front of public comment has been postponed, according to CNN Health reports.
This week, the scheduled three-day review for vaccine safety and effectiveness between meningococcal disease and RSV and flu and chikungunya and mpox vaccines should commence.
What more would be affected?
Two matters pertaining to Vaccines for Children came up during this gathering, which enabled the government to disclose affordable vaccines to public health departments serving children from low-income families.
The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices organizes its advisory sessions for February, June, and October throughout the year.
The status of the rescheduled February meeting remains unknown, and it is doubtful how the postponement might affect vaccine delivery times.
The FDA decided to cancel its March 13 meeting scheduled for the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee that would discuss manufacturing formulas for upcoming flu vaccinations.
The authority refused to provide any reason for terminating the meeting.
Through its statement to CNN on Thursday, the FDA declared it would monitor the composition of flu vaccines, yet it remained silent about both its adviser consultation procedures and typical public discourse processes.
What more are the experts stating?
“The FDA will make public its recommendations to manufacturers in time for updated vaccines to be available for the 2025-2026 influenza season,” the statement noted.
The US faces its worst flu season to date while experiencing new outbreaks of measles, which can be prevented through vaccines since the government has failed to clarify its vaccine regulation and recommendation processes.
These infections continue to spread because people are becoming more resistant to vaccinations, and experts believe that the new HHS director will reinforce this trend.