Following the resignation of CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has decided to postpone its upcoming vaccine advisory panel meeting, which was initially scheduled for late May. The decision was made in response to growing pressure from Republican lawmakers who have called for increased oversight of vaccine distribution and public health protocols. Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) has urged the meeting be indefinitely delayed until significant oversight has been conducted.
The timing of the meeting delay comes amid heightened political scrutiny over the handling of the U.S. vaccine rollout and the CDC’s role in public health decision-making. Some lawmakers argue that the pandemic response has been marred by inconsistencies and political interference, leading to calls for a more transparent and independent oversight process. While HHS officials have not provided specific details about the new meeting date, the move has been seen as a reflection of broader tensions within the federal government over public health policies and their implementation.