U.S. Senators Patty Murray, Tammy Baldwin, and Angela Alsobrooks have voiced serious concerns regarding the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent decision to cancel a pivotal meeting during what is being described as the most severe flu season in 15 years. The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting, originally slated for March 13, was intended to discuss and recommend the influenza strains for the upcoming flu vaccines. This cancellation has raised alarms among public health officials and lawmakers alike.
In a letter addressed to Dr. Marty Makary, President Trump's nominee for FDA Commissioner, the senators expressed their disappointment over the cancellation, emphasizing the critical nature of the annual VRBPAC meeting. They pointed out that this committee has convened every year for the past 30 years to evaluate and recommend the influenza virus vaccines for the forthcoming flu season, making it a vital component in the fight against seasonal flu.
The senators highlighted the potential consequences of this unprecedented cancellation on the availability and effectiveness of flu vaccines. As the 2024-2025 flu season approaches, effective vaccines are essential for reducing the incidence of influenza-associated hospitalizations. Research indicates that even vaccines with lower effectiveness can significantly alter the course of the illness, potentially preventing hospital stays. For instance, studies have shown that flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalization by 41% in young children and 82% in adults. Furthermore, individuals who contract the flu despite being vaccinated are less likely to require intensive care unit (ICU) admission.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current flu season has led to at least 33 million illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths as of February 15, 2025. The senators cautioned that any delays in the VRBPAC meeting could adversely affect the timely availability of flu vaccines, potentially endangering public health.
In addition to the FDA's meeting cancellation, the CDC has also halted its Wild to Mild campaign, which was launched in the fall of 2023 to promote flu vaccinations and reset public expectations regarding their benefits. Recent research from Cornell University has suggested that a combined COVID-flu vaccine could offer enhanced protection and broader immunity against various flu strains.
The letter to Dr. Makary also called into question his views on public health leadership, urging him to clarify his stance on vaccine skepticism. The senators stated, "We intend to use your nomination hearing next week to understand whether you support this ill-informed measure to slow critical public health decision-making." Dr. Makary's nomination hearing is set for March 6 before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, where the senators have requested he be prepared to address pressing questions concerning the rescheduling of the VRBPAC meeting and his commitment to accepting expert recommendations for vaccine development.
