The Trump administration has directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to indefinitely postpone a public meeting of its vaccine advisory panel, a key forum for the nation’s discussion of information about vaccine safety and effectiveness. The decision came from officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), CDC’s parent agency, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long criticized the panel and the CDC. This move has sparked concerns among doctors and public health leaders about the potential impact on vaccine policymaking and safety, with some expressing worries that the postponement is part of a larger effort to undermine the work of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

The meeting was scheduled to be the first gathering of the ACIP under Secretary Kennedy, and it was slated to run from February 26-28. However, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon confirmed to NPR that the meeting will be postponed to accommodate public comment in advance of the meeting. A written public comment period for the meeting was set to open up on February 3 and run through February 17, according to the meeting notice in the Federal Register. During the meeting, members of the public also have an opportunity to speak. The agenda for the late February meeting had included discussions and votes related to vaccines for HPV, RSV, influenza, and Lyme disease, among other topics.

Doctors and public health leaders are closely watching the fate of the vaccine committee, which consists of up to 19 voting members, under Secretary Kennedy because it's instrumental to CDC's vaccine policymaking. The committee makes recommendations for the agency's vaccine schedule for children and adults, and it also helps determine which vaccines get covered by health insurance and the Vaccines for Children Program, which provides vaccines free to eligible children. Some experts, such as Dr. Andrew Pavia, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Utah, have expressed concerns that the cancellation of the upcoming meeting is part of a move to hobble the ACIP through administrative means. The delay comes on the heels of a new executive order from President Trump calling for the elimination of some federal advisory committees and for a list to be drawn up in the next 30 days of other committees that "should be terminated on grounds that they are unnecessary."

A current CDC employee with direct knowledge told NPR that CDC staff had been asking HHS to open up public comment since February 3, but had not been given permission to do so. The person requested anonymity because they're not authorized to speak publicly. The committee's workgroups met as scheduled this month and will present "at an upcoming meeting," HHS' Nixon said. It's not clear when the meeting will be held, with the website for the vaccine committee saying it's "Postponed, Date TBA." Some are already voicing concern about the cancelled meeting, with a nonprofit called Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease circulating a letter, signed by a handful of doctors and organizations, calling for the CDC's acting director and Secretary Kennedy to reschedule the meeting and hold public comment.

The postponement of the CDC vaccine advisory panel meeting has significant implications for public health, particularly in regards to the effectiveness of vaccines and the potential risks associated with delaying important discussions and votes on vaccine-related topics. As the situation continues to unfold, it's essential to monitor the developments and ensure that the work of the ACIP is not compromised. The CDC and HHS must prioritize transparency and public engagement in their decision-making processes, especially when it comes to critical issues like vaccine safety and effectiveness. By doing so, they can maintain the trust of the public and ensure that the nation's vaccine policymaking is based on the best available evidence and expertise.