The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has unexpectedly canceled a key advisory meeting scheduled for March to determine the composition of next season's flu vaccines, a move that has raised concerns among health experts and industry officials. The meeting, held annually by the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), is a critical step in selecting flu strains for the upcoming year's vaccine production.
"We're all left trying to understand what is going on. Why was this meeting canceled? It's an important meeting. What's the plan for flu vaccines this year?" said Dr. Paul Offit, a VRBPAC member and director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, in an interview with CBS News.
The selection process for flu vaccines typically begins in early March, allowing time for manufacturers to produce and distribute updated shots before the start of flu season. "Because the vaccine is grown in eggs, for the most part, it requires six months to produce," Offit explained. "So March is six months before September, which is when these vaccines roll out."
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed the cancellation but did not provide a reason. "The FDA will make public its recommendations to manufacturers in time for updated vaccines to be available for the 2025-2026 influenza season," Andrew Nixon, an FDA spokesperson, said in a statement.
The abrupt cancellation has sparked concerns about potential delays or changes in the flu vaccine approval process, especially as early data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that this past season's flu shot may not have been a strong match for a common strain of the virus. More data on vaccine effectiveness is expected to be released this week.
Historically, VRBPAC has aligned its recommendations with the World Health Organization (WHO), which reviews global influenza data to predict circulating strains. However, the FDA advisory panel has occasionally influenced major changes, such as eliminating now-extinct flu strains from vaccines.
A former federal health official told CBS News that while the FDA could proceed without the panel's input, it would be unprecedented in recent history. Last year's meeting took place on March 5, following the usual timeline, and no prior indication had been given that this year's session would be canceled.
The decision comes amid broader disruptions to federal vaccine-related meetings. Earlier this month, the CDC unexpectedly postponed a quarterly meeting of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, citing the need to "accommodate public comment in advance of the meeting."
The flu remains a major public health concern in the U.S., with the CDC estimating that seasonal influenza can cause up to 52,000 deaths annually. In the 2023-2024 season, the agency reported an increase in pediatric flu-related deaths. Health officials continue to emphasize that annual flu vaccination is the most effective defense against severe illness and complications.
