FDA cancels March meeting on flu vaccine composition without explanation
A March meeting of outside advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to discuss the composition of flu vaccines for this fall鈥檚 flu season has been canceled, a member of the advisory committee told CNN.
The meeting of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, or VRBPAC, is held every March 鈥渢o pick flu strains, because it鈥檚 a six-month production cycle for a vaccine released in September,鈥� Dr. Paul Offit, a member of VRBPAC, told CNN Wednesday.
He said this year鈥檚 meeting had been set for March 13, and he received an email Wednesday afternoon saying it had been canceled.
鈥淣o indication it鈥檚 been postponed,鈥� he told CNN; 鈥渃anceled.鈥�
He said it wasn鈥檛 clear who directed the meeting to be canceled or why, and said it鈥檚 also not clear now how flu vaccine manufacturers will get guidance on the composition of seasonal flu vaccines - 鈥渞elying on WHO recommendations? What鈥檚 the plan?鈥� he said.
The FDA confirmed the cancellation in a statement sent to CNN on Thursday.
鈥淎 planned March 13 meeting of the FDA鈥檚 Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on the influenza vaccine strains for the 2025-2026 influenza season in the northern hemisphere has been canceled,鈥� the agency said. 鈥淭he FDA will make public its recommendations to manufacturers in time for updated vaccines to be available for the 2025-2026 influenza season.鈥�
A meeting of CDC鈥檚 vaccine advisers, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, scheduled to take place this week had already been postponed. The included discussions and votes on flu shots and flu shots for the Vaccines for Children program, which provides vaccines for children whose parents and guardians may not be able to afford them.