FDA vaccine meeting abruptly canceled. Meeting was to determine 2025-2026 influenza vaccine composition.

[Nevilledog]

https://insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-fda-vaccine-meeting-abruptly?utm_medium=ios

On Wednesday afternoon, members of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) learned that its upcoming meeting to determine which strains of influenza should be used in the 2025-2026 seasonal flu shot had been canceled.

One member of the committee, Dr. Paul Offit, confirmed the news and spoke to Inside Medicine. Here is a readout of our phone conversation, edited for clarity and flow:

Inside Medicine: Is it true? The VRBPAC meeting got canceled?

Offit: Yes. It just got canceled. I got the email at 4:15 p.m. I was told not to forward the email but that I could talk to the media, if I chose to.

Inside Medicine: What was the meeting supposed to be about?

Offit: This is a meeting where we pick flu strains. It’s a 6-month cycle. So, if we are not going to have the meeting, I guess it means we will be looking to the WHO for a flu shot formulation.

Inside Medicine: Why was it canceled? Will it be rescheduled?

Offit: I have no idea. Is it part of RFK Jr.’s cleansing project of removing anyone whom he presumes to have a conflict of interest related to vaccines? I don’t know. But I feel like the world is upside down. We aren’t doing the things we need to do to protect ourselves.

*snip*

[Attilatheblond]

1. The inmates are running & ruining the asylum

RFK jr should be in a care facility, not running a critical agency during a time of multiple viral threats.

[Hekate]

2. Fabulous news for immunocompromised people like hubby & just plain old like me...

Great, just great.

[hlthe2b]

3. This is insane... a critical meeting and function in prep for next year's flu vaccine.

As he says, we can probably default to WHO's decision but normally we give strong input and there is not always unanimous agreement.

I am so damned fed up. If Bobby resumed his heroin use--how would we even know? Scarcely any viable neuronal synapses now anyway...

[lostnfound]

4. Wow, i thought i was being exceedingly cautious getting my flu shot in December

Slightly paranoid, even. Amazing.
Any chance that they are counting paper clips and cutting travel on Wall Street right now?

[BootinUp]

5. I predict another reversal after media

Catches up.

[dweller]

6. So the plan is

Cancel next year’s flu vaccine … Bob Kjr doesn’t like vaccines
We are on our own
🤬


✌🏻

[orleans]

7. these fuckers!

"Because the vaccine is grown in eggs, for the most part, it requires six months to produce. So March is six months before September, which is when these vaccines roll out," said Offit.

Last year, the FDA asked the committee to meet on March 5 to decide on how to update the influenza shots for the 2024 to 2025 season.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-cancels-flu-vaccine-meeting/

[womanofthehills]

38. CDC says flu vaccine grown 3 different ways -

1. Egg-based flu vaccine.

2. Cell culture-based flu vaccine.
Advantages of cell-based flu vaccine manufacturing

Cell-based flu vaccine production does not use flu viruses grown in eggs and, therefore, is not dependent on the supply of eggs. In addition, use of cell-based candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs) in vaccine production has the potential to offer better protection compared to traditional, egg-based flu vaccines. The viruses used to make cell-based vaccines might be more similar to circulating "wild" flu viruses than the viruses grown in eggs and used to make egg-based vaccines. In one study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases among Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older during the 2017–2018 influenza season, cell-based vaccine provided greater protection against flu-related hospitalizations than standard-dose, egg-based vaccine. However, this difference was not seen in similar studies conducted during the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 flu seasons.

Since the 2019–2020 flu season, all flu CVVs used in the Flucelvax are cell-based, making the vaccine egg-free.
Cell-based vaccine manufacturing

The cell-based vaccine manufacturing process uses mammalian cells (Madin-Darby Canine Kidney, or MDCK cells) to grow flu viruses instead of fertilized hen's eggs. Since the 2019–2020 flu season, all of the CVVs provided to the cell-based vaccine manufacturer are cell-derived rather than egg-derived. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-types/cell-based.html

3. Recombinant flu vaccine.

About recombinant flu vaccines

Recombinant influenza (flu) vaccines are produced using recombinant technology. This method does not require an egg-grown vaccine virus and does not use chicken eggs in the production process.

Recombinant flu vaccine was first licensed by the FDA in the United States in 2013. Currently, the recombinant flu vaccine and the cell culture-based flu vaccine are the only egg-free flu vaccines licensed for use in the United States.

There is one trivalent recombinant flu shot (Flublok Trivalent) available this season.
How recombinant flu vaccines differ from the other approved flu vaccines

Recombinant flu vaccines do not use the flu virus or chicken eggs in the manufacturing process.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-types/flublok-vaccine.html

[Meowmee]

8. Awful and we know rfk jr psycho killer is behind it

[Johonny]

34. It could be just the complete incompetence

Of Trump Co. in general. They seem to be control freaks but unable to respond and thus things are stacking up.

It will get worse.

[Meowmee]

41. No, it's not just that imo def rfk jr as well which is why he was chosen

To help orange psycho election and to help kill more people..

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. We need to get next season's flu vaccine approved

Link to tweet

[durablend]

10. They. Want. You. Dead.

Anyone still in denial about this?

[orangecrush]

13. Nope.

[Rebl2]

18. I feel

the same way about THEM.

[The Wizard]

11. GQP population control.

They have to cull the herd of Social Security recipients. billionaires need a tax cut. Some might call it passive genocide.

[The Madcap]

20. And don't forget the poor.

They don't want them around either, but they'll gladly take any meager savings they might have.

[Pinback]

12. Protect yourself with whale head extract

and bear tallow soup.

[orangecrush]

14. This has to be stopped.

Calling the cowards whose job it is to stop it tomorrow.

[The Third Doctor]

15. RFK Jr is literally going to kill people.

This is ridiculous.

[Rebl2]

19. He needs

to be the one who suffers.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

16. For me, personally, this doesn't matter.

I don't do flu shots, but I am NOT about to suggest anyone else not do them.

I am a huge believer in my immune system. I got sick a lot when I was very young. I was the third of six children (I was born in 1948 to help here) and of course once you get one of the "childhood illnesses" (mumps, measles, rubella, chicken pox, and recover, you can't get it again. Which was just fine 70 years ago. Things are somewhat different today.

I am also honestly very concerned that so many people have crappy immune systems. Why is that? What is different these days? I rather suspect that over the long run (and I am not about to suggest how long or short that might be) a lot of people will succumb to many of these illnesses. The very vast majority of these won't kill, but will make a lot of people sick for a time. And perhaps they won't fully recover. So over time, this country will lose a degree of health. Not sure how that will turn out.

Essentially, there are too many humans on this planet by about 70-90%. And even if our numbers could be reduced significantly, it is probably already too late. Too many people, too much of buildings, factories, waste disposal places.

[Klarkashton]

23. JFC with this.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

24. Okay, I'm an idiot. I haven't a clue

what you mean by "JFC with this".

[orleans]

40. my first thought is that it stands for jesus fucking christ. tho i could be wrong nt

[Frerotte]

27. Some of us Need Flu Shots

I am 67 with pulmonary embolisms and a compromised immune system following two particularly bad Covid infections.
I have no family left to help me if I do get sick.
A flu infection could possibly devastate me.
I've been getting the flu shot for years.
This is depressing.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

39. Yes. My point exactly.

I am an incredibly healthy person who never gets sick. As in never. As said above, I last got flu in about 50 years ago? Definitely before1980.

Here's the thing: for lots and lots of diseases (think the basic "childhood" ones like measles, mumps, rubella) you get it once, you recover, and you are now immune. Hooray! You are now immune!!!

Not all vaccines confer permanent immunity, alas.

I'm actually quite glad I'm old and had all those diseases back when.

It seems to me that your essential problem is "no family left to help". That is truly sad, and I only wish I could offer help here.

I live alone. My only son lives on the East Coast, while I'm in New Mexico. I'm somewhat old, as in trombones years old. I have recently moved into independent/assisted living, most definitely on the independent side. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to negotiate the changes I will need over time. My son, who is single, will never be able to figure that stuff out, and it worries me a lot. At some point I will need to have a conversation with him about this.

Fortunately, money won't be an issue. He and I both have assets and investments that will allow us to be on our own indefinitely.

[Frerotte]

46. Survival

Your lucky to have your son. My son was killed in a car accident several years ago. My brother committed suicide. My parents are long gone. I have been divorced for many years.

I do have a ton of cousins some of whom live several hours away, some are nearby.
I also have regrinds and some work colleagues. But it's not the same as having immediate family and living alone takes it's toll.

We need to keep up our efforts at survival despite the administration's efforts to kill us.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

48. Yes, I am lucky to have my living son.

His younger brother took his own life in 2017.

[Frerotte]

50. So Sorry to Hear

Just letting you know I received your message and I am sorry about your son.

Suicide is a brutal adjustment for those of us left behind.

Today my son who died in a car wreck would have been 43 (his birthday).

My brother was gay and had HIV and I am glad he is not here now. It would be a rough time.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

51. Thank you.

As terrible as it was, I think it would be far worse to lose a child to murder, or some terrible disease. He made a decision, one I wish he had not made, but it was his choice.

The night before he took his life he called me and we spoke for well over an hour. I didn't realize he was saying goodbye to me.

I do have a strong belief in and afterlife and that I will see him again.

[sorcrow]

31. We also need our neighbors to get flu shots

Herd immunity, heard of it?

I'm sure there are people who have great immune systems and don't get the flu or get a mild form of it.

There are people who cannot get a flu shot. Are you going to forgo your vaccination, get a mild flu, and pass it on to a neighbor who then dies? Please think about the rest of us.

Best regards
Sorghum Crow

[Mariana]

36. "Why is that? What is different these days?"

Have you ever walked through an old cemetery and read the headstones? Have you ever looked at old death records? What is different these days is that almost no one in developed countries dies of those diseases you mentioned.

[sakabatou]

17. I'm sure this won't be the last time the fuckers interrupt/cancel a meeting

to discuss diseases.

[boonecreek]

21. In the middle of the worst flu season in years.

[AllyCat]

22. This is awful. This has been one of the WORST years for flu

In my career as a nurse.

Are Americans who are able going to travel to get lifesaving vaccines? Will there be a black market for vaccines in the US?

I hate these people.

[bronxiteforever]

25. GOP war on Americans continues with vigor.

They really want to kill us.

[Diraven]

26. RFK Jr.'s ultimate goal

Is to get rid of vaccines altogether. Since he knows most people will think (or know) that's crazy he's just going to keep slowly sabotaging his department and the industry until we just can't produce or obtain them anymore.

[RockRaven]

28. The plan: Americans fuck off and get sick and die.

The oligarchs... well, those who survive, because despite being oligarchs many are incompetent dumbshits whose wealth by itself can't protect them from viruses... then rule over their empire of ashes with fewer distracting peons in the way.

[DSandra]

29. What do you do when the crazy person is driving the bus and driving erratically?

With an intent to kill some of the passengers?

[Skittles]

43. the passengers organize and pick a driver amongst themselves

then dispatch with the driver

[NBachers]

30. KILL AMERICANS NOW!

KILL AMERICANS NOW!

[Lefta Dissenter]

32. My 96-year-old dad

My 96-year-old dad was in the hospital for five days with Influenza A. He’s home now, working through a very slow recovery. I’m guessing he never would have made it out of the hospital if he hadn’t had his flu vaccination in fall.

There is no limit to the cruelty of these people.

[Skittles]

42. your dad is one tough guy

[Johonny]

33. The same WHO we arent a member of anymore?

[muriel_volestrangler]

47. Good question: strictly, Trump gave the required 1 year notice of withdrawal

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/what-us-withdrawal-who-will-mean-global-health

though the USA hadn't yet paid its 2024 dues (which is on the Biden administration - "The USA had not yet paid its 2024 assessed contribution of some USD 130 million, due in January 2024" ), let alone the 2025 dues.

[Easterncedar]

35. 49 flu deaths in Maine this year I hear

Let’s toss the science and see how much we can beat that by next season

[gay texan]

37. The flu was a bastard this year

This could have bad concequences

[Martin Eden]

44. Kennedy the Killer

Loved ones will die because of him.

Actually, because of Krasnov and Republican senators.

[BoRaGard]

45. "American suckers are on their own. Ha ha ha." - Komrade Krasnov (R)

what a deplorable dick

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

49. If only the M$M got the actual facts out there

I'm a way that can't be ignored, this country wouldn't have elected a single one of the R POTUS candidates we've had in the past 5 decades or more.

Why can't they start telling the truth now? What could be more click-baity than what the Rs are doing to this country?