CDC Vaccine Advisory Meeting Canceled for February

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A U.S. vaccine advisory committee meeting scheduled for later this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will not be held, with no new dates announced, according to a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services. The move comes after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stepped up efforts to rewrite U.S. vaccination policy, including dropping broad recommendations for six childhood shots including COVID and hepatitis B, deepening federal support for states' vaccine exemptions, and cutting funding for mRNA-based vaccine research.

Why it matters

The cancellation of this CDC vaccine advisory meeting signals a major shift in federal vaccination policy under the new Health Secretary, who has been critical of certain vaccine mandates and mRNA vaccine technology. This could have significant implications for public health, vaccine access, and the trajectory of the pandemic response.

The details

The CDC's vaccine advisory committee, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), regularly meets to review data and make recommendations on vaccine policies and schedules. The cancellation of the February meeting comes as Health Secretary Kennedy has taken steps to overhaul the federal government's approach to vaccination, including dropping broad recommendations for several routine childhood shots and reducing funding for mRNA vaccine research.

• The CDC vaccine advisory committee meeting was originally scheduled for later this month (February 2026).
• No new dates have been announced for the postponed meeting.

What’s next

The Department of Health and Human Services has not provided a timeline for when the postponed CDC vaccine advisory committee meeting may be rescheduled.