A panel of science experts advising the Food and Drug Administration on vaccine policy — and that was the target of criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — learned on Wednesday that upcoming meetings to discuss next year's flu vaccines have been cancelled.
The FDA emailed the panel's members Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on Monday afternoon to notify you of cancellations on Monday afternoon, according to a senior official familiar with the decision. There was no reason given to me. The panel was to meet on March 13th.
Kennedy's outspoken critic, Dr. Paul Offit, a member of one committee at the Philadelphia Children's Hospital, confirmed the cancellation and warned that it could interfere or delay production of the flu vaccine.
“It's a six-month production cycle,” Dr. Offit said. “So, all I can do is assume this year that I haven't picked a flu strain.”
Cancellation – And last week, last week's postponement of a similar scientific advisor's meeting with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention terrifies among scientists worried that Kennedy will use his perch to raise doubts about the vaccine and interfere in the regulatory process that leads to approval.
Richard Hughes, a lawyer for some vaccine makers, said the delay is a concern as the schedule for creating flu vaccines tends to be very tight. Strains are usually selected at FDA meetings in February or March using data from the World Health Organization. This is a relationship that has left the US away from the early days of the Trump administration. He said manufacturing tends to start in June.
“The stakes are very high,” he said. He said this year's flu season is particularly intense.
According to the CDC, 86 children and 19,000 adults have died of the flu this season. Approximately 430,000 people were hospitalized. In June, the CDC committee tends to decide whether to advise on the use of the vaccine, which sets movement insurance and government coverage for vaccines, Hughes said.
As a presidential candidate and more recently, as a supporter of President Trump, Kennedy has repeatedly warned of “regulatory capture,” the idea that federal regulators are being held in industry. He says he intends to eradicate conflicts of interest in the science panel, advising federal regulators.
Among those singled out by Kennedy is Dr. Offit, the inventor of the rotavirus vaccine that was approved by the FDA in 2006 and later developed by pharmaceutical giant Merck before Dr. Office worked for the FDA advisory panel. Dr. Ophito's research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, not by the pharmaceutical company. His hospital, which owned the vaccine patent, granted the patent to Merck.
Committee members now need to declare collaboration and reject themselves from votes on issues of economic interest. Kennedy suggests he wants more stringent restrictions.
The CDC's Advisory Committee meeting on Vaccination Practices would have covered many vaccine-related topics, including those that protect the papillomavirus in humans. Kennedy has been significantly critical of the vaccine and is working on a lawsuit against the manufacturer's Merck. He says he will be handing over the fees he earned from the lawsuit to his adult son.
