1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

The decision to cancel the F.D.A. meeting on selecting the strains for next year's flu vaccine is deeply concerning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu has already claimed the lives of 86 children and 19,000 adults this season, with 430,000 hospitalizations. Delaying or disrupting the annual process of determining the flu vaccine composition could put countless more lives at risk in the upcoming 2025-2026 flu season. The flu vaccine undergoes rigorous safety reviews and has been proven effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from influenza. Public health experts agree that annually updated flu shots are a vital preventive measure that saves lives every year. Any action that undermines confidence in this life-saving vaccine or interferes with its timely production and distribution is unacceptable. The health and wellbeing of the American people must be the top priority. I urge you to advocate for the immediate rescheduling of this critical F.D.A. meeting to ensure the 2025-2026 flu season is prepared for and protected against.