CDC Meeting Postponed Amid Vaccine Advisor Scrutiny | Infectious Disease News
WASHINGTON – A scheduled meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has been postponed, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed Thursday, raising further questions about the agency’s vaccine advisory process.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon stated that additional details regarding the postponement would be released as they become available. The meeting, originally slated for February 25-27, would have been the first ACIP gathering since HHS announced an overhaul of the CDC’s childhood vaccine schedule last month, according to reporting from Healio.
The postponement follows a report by STAT News highlighting the failure to meet a federal deadline for public notification of the meeting. Federal regulations require at least 15 days’ notice for advisory committee meetings, including those of the ACIP, with exceptions made only for reasons of national security determined by the President.
While the specific agenda for the February meeting was not publicly released, comments from ACIP leadership suggested a potential review of existing vaccine recommendations for diseases including polio, measles, and COVID-19. The ACIP has faced increased scrutiny in recent months following a series of votes that some experts contend have eroded public trust in vaccine guidance.
Recent public statements by ACIP members have drawn criticism. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) last month, ACIP Vice Chair Robert W. Malone, MD, used the phrase “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,” in response to discussion about the potential removal of COVID-19 vaccines from the market. He subsequently indicated alignment with a commenter advocating for the FDA to remove the vaccines, attributing any impediment to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH.
ACIP Chair Kirk Milhoan, MD, PhD, also sparked controversy during a recent podcast appearance, repeating claims commonly circulated by anti-vaccine activists regarding the safety and necessity of vaccines for measles and polio. He questioned whether sufficient data exists to evaluate potential risks associated with these vaccines, a claim that contradicts established scientific consensus, as reported by Healio.
HHS did not respond to inquiries regarding the specific topics intended for discussion at the canceled meeting. The Institute for the Study of War reported Thursday on the ongoing Russian occupation of Ukraine, a separate but contemporaneous issue.