Food and drug management vaccines and the consulting committee for related biological products were scheduled to be held next month. But the agency informed the committee members that the meeting had been canceled.
Juanna Samarz, host:
The Food and Drug Administration canceled an important upcoming meeting on vaccines. The sudden decision is to intensify concerns about the Trump administration’s approach to vaccines here in the United States. NPR Health Rob Stein is now joining us now. Rob, I want to start with this meeting. He told us who was supposed to meet, and why?
Rob Stein, side Airlines: This is a committee of external experts. The FDA on vaccines of all kinds is called vaccines and the consulting committee for related biological products. People may remember this committee from the epidemic. This was the committee that reviewed all Covid-19 vaccines in the Food and Drug Administration. March 13 was supposed to meet to review the latest data on many vaccines, and most importantly, a major decision on influenza vaccines next season.
Summer: Well, tell us about it. What was the committee being supposed to decide exactly the influenza vaccines?
Stein: The committee planned to make a recommendation regarding the formation of the following influenza vaccines – which is launched from the influenza virus to target them in the vaccines to try to make the shots as effective as possible. Experts review all the latest data about the strains that revolve and the best guess, which are likely to spread in the next fall and winter to get the best possible match. This is something that happens every year at this time, and timing is very important because it takes months to produce enough vaccine. Therefore, the process must start early, otherwise the vaccine is too late to protect people.
Summer: Well. And if there is a long -term arrangement for operations here and the production of vaccines depends on this decision, then I imagine that this meeting that is canceled does not extend well in the scientific community.
Stein: No, no. The cancellation of this consultative meeting raises many concerns among the experts of infectious pathogens, public health advocates and others. I spoke with Dr. Paul Ofit. He is a vaccine expert at the University of Pennsylvania and has been in the committee for years.
Paul Ofit: Well, it is disappointing that they canceled this consultative committee meeting. We have met every March during the past decade and longer. I think there is value in the presence of an independent committee that looks at the data, which it keeps at a very high level. This is a process that makes sure we can get the best science behind the decisions we make.
Stein: It worries that influenza vaccines next season may not be ready in time or may not be the best match. This development comes in the wake of the centers of diseases control and the prevention of canceling a similar meeting.
Summer: As Robert F. Kennedy Junior is the responsibility of the Health and Humanitarian Services Department.
Stein: Yes, definitely. As you know, HHS oversees both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDC, and Kennedy is an explicit critic of vaccines. He also specifically criticized these committees. During his assertion sessions, Kennedy argued that he was supporting vaccines, but he did not abandon any of the previous misconceptions he made. Dr. William Shavener is a physician at the University of Vanderbelt.
William Shavener: We all have concerns about the policy of vaccine to move forward, and whenever we agree with the routine method of doing things, the more we reassure the vaccines will remain available as it should be for the American public.
Stein: The United States is in the midst of one of the worst influenza seasons in years, and that vaccination rates have decreased. He has already claimed a great outbreak of the group – a returned disease because there are not enough parents whose children are immunized – already the life of one child in Texas.
Summer: Well, Rob, what does HHS say about the snapshot for the next influenza season?
Stein: The Ministry of Health and Humanitarian Services is returning to the FDA to make a decision regarding the formation of the next time in the influenza vaccine in time to ensure that the shots are ready, and that a federal official was not allowed to speak publicly, he told me that the FDA (FDA) will consult with the Center for Disease Control, Vaccines and others to make this decision.
Summer: Health Correspondent NPR Rob Stein. Rob, thank you.
Stein: You are betting.
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