A group of specialists that provides guidance to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding immunization policy will not convene next week as initially planned.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was expected to hold its meeting in Atlanta from February 26 to 28. This would have marked the committee’s first assembly since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office as the secretary of Health and Human Services.
Andrew Nixon, the communications director for HHS, confirmed on Thursday that the meeting has been postponed, which was also indicated on the ACIP meetings website.
Nixon did not provide any information regarding a new date for the rescheduled meeting. The ACIP typically convenes three times annually, with scheduled meetings in February, June, and October.
During his confirmation, Kennedy expressed discontent with ACIP, and the committee has been highlighted as one of the federal advisory groups under review, as indicated by an executive order from President Donald Trump that was issued on Wednesday.
Kennedy also informed employees of the Department of Health and Human Services this week of his intention to assess the current childhood vaccination schedule, which includes vaccines for diseases such as measles and polio.
The role of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is to advise the CDC director on the usage of FDA-approved vaccines.
This includes recommendations on which demographic groups should receive vaccinations and the timing of those shots. Although their recommendations are not legally binding, agency directors typically adhere to their guidance.
The ACIP consists of various members, including academics, the chief medical officer of a community health center, a state public health official, and the proprietor of a family medicine clinic.
One member, speaking confidentially due to concerns about backlash, noted that they learned about the meeting’s postponement through media reports.
The agenda for the now-canceled meeting, which remained accessible online as of Thursday afternoon, included discussions on a new meningitis vaccine, a vaccine aimed at preventing chikungunya—a virus transmitted by mosquitoes—and vaccines for RSV and influenza.
