Flu is a serious health threat - this year alone nearly half a million people have been hospitalized, and entire school districts have had to close. Nevertheless, Trump appointed Robert F Kennedy, Jr, -- a long-time critic of vaccines and spreader of disinformation -- to be Secretary of Health and Human Services . His lies about vaccines are egregious (e.g., the flu shot transmits the flu virus; there is zero evidence that the flu vaccine prevents any hospitalizations or deaths) as The New York Times recently documented but he's in charge now.(1)

Since starting at HHS, Kennedy has taken steps that seriously imperil the availability of an affordable vaccine for next year. Why should we worry now? That's because each flu vaccine requires a long lead time to identify the virus strains likely to be circulating a year hence through researching globally and coordinating with the WHO*, and - critically - convening a federal advisory committee whose recommendation is required for insurance to cover its cost and to ensure adequate supplies are produced.

According to the Boston Globe, "the immunization advisory committee meeting was "postponed to accommodate public comment in advance of the meeting." Give the agency its wish - let it know you want to protect yourselves, your family, and your community by keeping the flu shot and other crucial vaccines available and affordable. By autumn, it may be too late.(2)

The CDC phone number is 800-232-4636 and the docket number for the meeting is CDC-2025-0003.

*The Trump Administration has withdrawn from the World Health Organization.

(1) https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/health/rfk-jr-vaccines-autism-video.html

(2) https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/05/opinion/flu-vaccines-fda-cdc-rfk-

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