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.