New agenda for CDC vaccine committee raises eyebrows

A reshaped agenda for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) vaccine advisory committee meeting on June 25–26 signals a departure from the initial vaccine slate. New appointees named by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr dismantled the previous committee structure two days after dismissing all 17 members.

The two-day meeting will cover COVID‑19, chikungunya, anthrax and maternal/pediatric RSV vaccines, including Merck's (NYSE: MRK) Enflonsia (clesrovimab‑cfor) and Sanofi (Euronext: SAN) and AstraZeneca's (LSE :AZN) Beyfortus (nirsevimab‑alip).

However, presentations and votes on meningococcal, pneumococcal, cytomegalovirus, Lyme and HPV vaccines have been dropped. Notably, although flu vaccines remain on the agenda, there’s a new, separate item and vote specifically on thimerosal-containing influenza shots. Another new addition is a discussion and recommendation session on measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine use in children under five.