RFK Jr. Must Let CDC and FDA Vaccine Advisory Committees Do Their Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C – Amid the Trump Administration’s war on science and public health , two federal health advisory committee meetings on vaccines and the flu have been cancelled.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cancelled the March 13, 2025 meeting of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, which has an essential role in determining the influenza virus strains to target in the upcoming seasonal flu vaccine. Previously, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) postponed without rescheduling the February 26-28, 2025 meeting of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which also makes key recommendations about the flu vaccine.
In fact, the agencies have held no advisory committee meetings since the Trump Administration took office, and the FDA cancelled or postponed the three meetings previously scheduled for February. In 2024, three FDA advisory committees met in February and five met in March.
Public Citizen’s Health Research Group Director Dr. Robert Steinbrook issued the following statement:
“Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. must let CDC and FDA advisory committees meet and do their jobs. As flu cases skyrocket, cancelling essential health advisory committee meetings without promptly rescheduling them is appalling.
“The 2024-2025 flu season in the United States is at high severity, with an estimated 430,000 to 910,000 flu hospitalizations and 19,000 to 92,000 flu deaths as of February 15, according to the CDC.
“The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. It is senseless for the Trump Administration to interfere with these life-saving vaccines.”
ICYMI: Check out this new Public Citizen report which outlines how disengaging from WHO could impact U.S. flu season and pandemic flu preparedness.