SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 14 (Reuters) – Sanofi chief executive Paul Hudson said on Wednesday the U.S. is likely to see a slight weakness in vaccine demand this year due to misinformation and heightened scrutiny under the current administration.
The Trump administration has in the last year upended the process for recommending immunizations, with the U.S. earlier this month ending its longstanding guidance that all children receive vaccines against flu and three other diseases.
While the benefits of immunisation remain clear, some parents and patients may hesitate in the short term, Hudson said at a media event during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.
The French drugmaker had reported a decline in vaccine sales in the third quarter. The company has not yet provided guidance for 2026 but expects demand to stabilise over time, Hudson said.
At the same time, the policy uncertainty has created favourable conditions for vaccine-focused mergers and acquisitions, as short-term investors stay on the sidelines, he added.
“It’s a good time to do vaccine M&A,” he said, noting that fewer bidders are competing for assets.
Looking ahead, he said combined flu-COVID vaccines could drive the next wave of vaccine uptake from 2027 or 2028, particularly among older adults.
(Reporting by Michael Erman in San Francisco and Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
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