Vaccines
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The gist
The N.I.H. is planning a December push to fast-track cancer vaccines, modeled on the Covid-19 effort.
With CDC guidance stalled by litigation, who fills the vaccine information gap now matters.
Background
The N.I.H. cancer vaccine initiative is a planned public-private partnership involving the N.I.H., the nonprofit Foundation for the N.I.H., researchers, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, advocacy groups, philanthropies and patients, expected to begin in December with a focus on pancreatic cancer, liver cancer and colorectal cancer, as well as a subset of pediatric tumors. Separately, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has been sidelined by ongoing litigation over its membership and childhood vaccine policy changes, and the CDC has not issued updated vaccine recommendations for the 2026-27 respiratory-virus season. The Vaccines for Children program, which PhRMA says covers roughly half of U.S. children, was created after a 1989-1991 measles epidemic caused approximately 55,000 cases, 11,000 hospitalizations and 123 deaths.
How it unfolded
- Oct 9, 2026New details emerged about an N.I.H. initiative starting in December to fast-track cancer vaccines, similar to the push for the Covid-19 vaccine.
- Oct 14, 2026PhRMA published a blog on the Vaccines for Children program, noting approximately half of U.S. children are eligible and it provides ACIP-recommended vaccines against 18 serious vaccine-preventable diseases at no cost to eligible children ages 18 and younger.
- Oct 14, 2026IndexBox reported the global oxidation control excipients market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2026 to 2035, reaching a market index of 193 by 2035 (2025=100).
- Oct 15, 2026AAMC published a guide to fall vaccines, noting the CDC has not issued updated vaccine recommendations for the 2026-27 respiratory-virus season.
- Oct 16, 2026Duopharma Biotech Berhad signed a five-year exclusive agreement with Taiwan-based Enimmune Corporation for the distribution and sale of vaccines in Malaysia.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Dr. Anthony Letai, director of the National Cancer Institute, said cancer vaccines are so promising they demand a national effort to expedite discoveries, adding "We can do things that would not otherwise be done" and "We can place big bets on new ideas."
- Analysts
- Stacey Adam, senior clinical officer at the Foundation for the N.I.H., said "We hope this will be like Covid vaccines," referring to the public-private partnership that led to rapid development of coronavirus vaccines.