1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

Continuing the current disruption of critical vaccine meetings threatens to delay the availability of flu shots for the upcoming 2025-2026 season and undermine public trust in the regulatory process. The February meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has already been postponed without a clear rationale, potentially impacting access to vital vaccines for diseases like meningococcal, RSV, and flu itself. Even more concerning is the abrupt cancellation of the FDA's March 13th advisory committee meeting to select the strains for next season's flu vaccine. Manufacturers depend on these expert recommendations months in advance to produce and distribute flu shots in time. Bypassing the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee eliminates critical public discourse and independent scientific review. This lack of transparency will only fuel existing vaccine hesitancy at a time when influenza and other preventable illnesses are resurging. I urge you to promptly reschedule these crucial advisory meetings to ensure timely access to flu vaccines and restore confidence in the regulatory process through open expert deliberation. American lives and public health depend on evidence-based decision making, not uncertainty caused by disrupting long-standing scientific practices.