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Issue 1,834: September 24, 2025
Top Stories
* Immunize​.org summarizes ACIP’s September 18–19 meeting with recommendations on MMRV, hepatitis B screening, and 2025–26 COVID-19 vaccines (#IZX1)
* America's Health Insurance Plans trade organization issues statement on continued coverage for ACIP-recommended vaccines through December 2026 (#IZX2)
* Newly formed West Coast Health Alliance of four states announces recommendations for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccines (#IZX3)
* Seven northeastern states and New York City launch Northeast Public Health Collaborative (#IZX4)
* Immunize​.org offers new Website Training Videos series of short demonstrations recorded during live Website Office Hours sessions (#IZX5)
* CDC issues Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update on Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (#IZX6)
* World Rabies Day is September 28. Refresh your knowledge of rabies-prevention guidelines (#IZX7)
* Journalists interview Immunize​.org experts (#IZX8)
* Vaccines in the news (#IZX9)


Immunize​.org Website and Clinical Resources
* Recap: Immunize​.org updates "Ask the Experts: RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)," adding clesrovimab information (#IZX10)
* Recap: Immunize​.org updates “Ask the Experts: Influenza” questions and answers for 2025–26 season (#IZX11)
* Recap: Immunize​.org updates the season on its Spanish translations of screening checklists for contraindications to influenza vaccination (#IZX12)


Featured Resources
* Immunize​.org's elegantly designed "Vaccines Save Lives" black enamel pins make wonderful gifts or workplace recognitions! (#IZX13)


Notable Publications
* “Pneumococcal Vaccination Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Surveyed U.S. Adults Aged 19–64 Years at Increased Risk for Pneumococcal Disease” published in Vaccine (#IZX14)


Upcoming Events
* Register for Immunize.org Website Office Hours. Join a 30-minute discussion about the Clinical Resources web section on October 8 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or October 9 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Recorded sessions archived. (#IZX15)

Editorial Information (#Editorial)
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Top Stories
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Immunize​.org summarizes ACIP’s September 18–19 meeting with recommendations on MMRV, hepatitis B screening, and 2025–26 COVID-19 vaccines

The 12 members of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met on September 18–19 ([link removed]) to discuss the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella combination vaccine, MMRV (ProQuad, Merck), the HepB birth dose, and the use of COVID-19 vaccines for the 2025–26 season.

Committee Background
Seven of the current ACIP members were appointed by the HHS Secretary in June, following the earlier dismissal of all 17 members of the ACIP. He appointed an additional five members on September 15.

In several ways, this committee and this meeting were different from typical ACIP meetings. Most of the current members do not have extensive expertise in vaccinology, vaccine policy development, or vaccine program implementation. Prior to this meeting, representatives of the liaison organizations and CDC subject matter experts were dismissed from ACIP work groups. The standardized Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation ([link removed]) (GRADE) process typically presented for evaluating the quality of evidence considered by work groups was not used, nor was ACIP’s standard Evidence to Recommendations ([link removed]) deliberation framework, normally used by work groups and presented to support proposed recommendations.
As a consequence of these changes, professional societies including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recently began issuing immunization recommendations separate from ACIP. Several states have organized individual or collective actions related to issuing their own vaccine recommendations and standing orders.
The federal Vaccines for Children ([link removed]) (VFC) program and a variety of aspects of state vaccine policy, insurance coverage, and scope of practice for some licensed professionals are all tied to the decisions of ACIP. This report highlights the issues presented and the decisions made by the committee.

Vote Summary
During the meeting, ACIP voted:
* To not recommend use of MMRV vaccine (ProQuad, Merck) for children younger than age 4 years. The committee passed a VFC program resolution to align it with this recommendation.
* To recommend hepatitis B testing for all pregnant women ([link removed]) (a current recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force [USPSTF]).
* To recommend individual-based decision-making (also known as shared clinical decision-making ([link removed]) ([link removed]) [SCDM]) for COVID-19 vaccination of all people age 6 months and older following discussion with a healthcare professional. ACIP also voted to recommend that additional topics be added to the COVID-19 VIS and covered in informed consent discussions.

Details and the exact wording of votes are provided below.

Presentation slides ([link removed]) and detailed CDC background briefing materials on these issues are available online and may be downloaded. Video recordings of the ACIP’s September 18 session ([link removed]) and September 19 session ([link removed]) are archived on YouTube.
MMRV (ProQuad, Merck) (vote)

Background
Individual vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella were licensed in the United States in the 1960s, and the first combined MMR (MMR-II, Merck) vaccine was licensed in 1971. The vaccine against varicella (chickenpox) (Varivax, Merck) received FDA licensure in 1995. MMRV (ProQuad, Merck), the combination vaccine against all four diseases, was licensed in 2005. When ACIP initially recommended MMRV, consistent with ACIP’s general recommendations on the use of combination vaccines, use of MMRV was preferred over separate injections at the same visit (abbreviated MMR+V) for both the first and second dose to reduce the number of injections needed.

As MMRV became widely used, a small increased risk for febrile seizures was identified during the first two weeks after vaccination when MMRV was used (instead of MMR+V) for the first dose of these antigens given to children age 12 through 23 months. The risk was roughly 1 additional febrile seizure per 2,000 doses of MMRV, when compared to using MMR+V. There was no increased risk of febrile seizure after administering MMRV as a second dose, regardless of the age at administration. Febrile seizures may be triggered in young children by any cause of fever, are typically of short duration, and only a small minority of children who experience a febrile seizure go on to have long term problems. By age 5 years, 2–4% of children have had at least one simple febrile seizure, often due to early childhood infections and diseases.

Since 2010, to minimize the small risk of febrile seizure, CDC has recommended that a child receive separate injections of MMR+V for the first doses of these antigens, unless the parent or caregiver prefers the single MMRV injection. The National Immunization Survey (NIS) and state immunization information systems (IIS) indicate only about 15% of children younger than age 3 years receive their first dose as MMRV, while MMRV is used for about 75% of second dose vaccinations among children age 4 through 6 years.

The committee identified no new risks or issues with the current schedule (i.e., MMR+V preferred for dose 1, and either MMR+V or MMRV for dose 2). Discussions on September 18 centered around the well-defined small increased risk of febrile seizure with the first dose of MMRV compared to the benefits of allowing families the option to choose fewer injections. There was no discussion about the evidence that second doses of MMRV given at age 15 months or older have not been associated with an increased risk of febrile seizure compared to MMR+V.

ACIP voted (8 yes, 3 no, 1 abstain) to recommend that the pediatric vaccine schedule should be updated to reflect the following change:
* For measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccines given before age 4 years, the combined MMRV vaccine is not recommended.
* Children in this age group should receive separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and varicella vaccine (MMR+V).

ACIP conducted two votes on adoption of this language into a VFC program resolution, which provides specific details on vaccines provided through VFC. At the end of September 18, the committee voted not to update the VFC program and continue to allow use of MMRV for VFC-eligible children younger than age 4 years. The morning of September 19, the chair acknowledged that the committee did not understand what they were voting for. They then conducted a second vote on this topic to reverse the previous vote. ACIP voted a second time (9 yes, 3 abstain) to update the VFC resolution to remove MMRV as an option for vaccination of VFC-eligible children younger than age 4 years, aligning the VFC program with the committee’s recommendation.

HepB Birth Dose (vote)

Background
An estimated 2.4 million people in the United States are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), half of whom are unaware of their infection. HBV is transmitted through contact with infected blood or body fluids or through contact with environmental surfaces contaminated by even microscopic amounts of infected blood or body fluids. The virus can remain viable on surfaces for up to 7 days after leaving the body.

Babies born to HBV-infected mothers have up to an 85% chance of acquiring HBV infection without intervention (ideally, HepB vaccination and administration of hepatitis B immune globulin [HBIG] within the first 12 hours of life). If infected, 90% will develop chronic HBV infection, and 25% will die prematurely due to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Administration of HBIG and a birth dose (within 24 hours) of HepB reduces the risk of mother-to-child transmission by approximately 94%. A dose of HepB alone within 24 hours of birth reduces the risk of infection by about 75%.

In 1991, CDC adopted a policy of routine infant vaccination, with a preference for vaccination at birth. By 2005, a routine birth dose (defined as vaccination before discharge from the birthing facility) was recommended. In 2018, CDC published the revised ACIP recommendation for the routine birth dose to be administered within 24 hours of life to optimize protection of newborns with unrecognized perinatal exposure to HBV. In 2021, CDC estimated that almost 18,000 infants were born to HBV-infected mothers in the United States. (Not stated in the meeting, but to demonstrate the success of this strategy: in 2020, just ten cases of perinatal HBV infection were reported to CDC.)

During the meeting, CDC experts presented the history ([link removed]) and safety ([link removed]) of hepatitis B birth dose vaccination. Anaphylaxis was described as the primary demonstrated risk of birth dose HepB, stated as occurring with a frequency of about 1.1 cases per 1 million birth doses administered. Anaphylaxis is extremely rare and can occur with any vaccination at any age.

The committee proposed a vote to recommend that the first dose of HepB for infants born to test-negative mothers not be given earlier than one month of age. The committee did not describe any specific problem with the current schedule as a rationale for proposing this change.
CDC reviewed several ways that relying solely upon prenatal testing of mothers to identify infants at risk of HBV could fail to protect infants from HBV infection. First, an estimated 12%–16% of U.S. pregnant women are not screened for HBV infection, despite longstanding recommendations to do so. They also noted errors related to use of incorrect screening tests, errors in interpreting or transcribing test results, lapses in providing HBIG and HepB to at-risk infants, and the risk of maternal infection after early prenatal screening. In addition, U.S. studies conducted before the routine birth dose recommendation repeatedly demonstrated that a small proportion of unvaccinated infants born to test-negative mothers acquired HBV infection from household, childcare, or unknown contacts.

ACIP voted unanimously (12 yes, 0 no) to recommend that all pregnant women should be tested for hepatitis B infection. (This is a current recommendation ([link removed]) of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. ACIP members stated the vote was intended to encourage higher screening rates.)

On the morning of September 19, ACIP voted unanimously not to hold the vote proposed the previous day to change the current universal HepB birth dose recommendations. The chair indicated that the topic was tabled indefinitely.

COVID-19 Vaccine (vote)
CDC experts described the extensive monitoring of COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness through several surveillance systems, particularly through laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations reported in COVID-NET ([link removed]) , which includes approximately 10% of the U.S. population. The cumulative rates of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations from October 2024–September 2025 were highest among children younger than age 6 months (223/100,000) who are too young to be vaccinated and adults age 75 years and older (653/100,000).
Overall COVID-19 vaccination rates remain low. During the 2024–25 COVID-19 season, approximately 45% of adults age 65 years and older were vaccinated, but the vaccination rate fell to just 25% of people age 50 through 64 years and 14% of those age 18 through 49 years. Approximately 13% of children age 6 months through 17 years were up to date with COVID-19 vaccination at the end of April 2025. Up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination provided additional protection against emergency department and urgent care visits in both children and adults.

From August 2024–April 2025, 67% of COVID-19-vaccinated adults age 18 years and older received their vaccine in a pharmacy, with the remaining one-third being vaccinated at a doctor’s office, clinic, or other location.

CDC staff also described in detail their methods for identifying and evaluating vaccine safety signals from a variety of vaccine surveillance databases.

COVID-19 Work group Chair Retsef Levi presented a list of six “risks or uncertainties related to COVID-19 vaccine” that the current work group believed should be communicated to patients and medical providers in the COVID-19 Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) and during informed consent discussions with healthcare professionals. There was no evaluation of the quality or strength of evidence for these proposed risks and uncertainties.

The work group’s minority opinion ([link removed]) was presented by Dr. Henry Bernstein, a pediatrician and former ACIP member. That presentation highlighted the concerns of three work group members about the barriers to vaccine access that would be created by the proposed shared clinical decision making (SCDM) recommendation and the proposed recommendation that a prescription be required. He also reviewed the impact of COVID-19 on young children and the evidence for COVID-19 vaccine safety when given during pregnancy.

Following robust discussion, ACIP narrowly did not approve the proposed recommendation that state and local jurisdictions should require patients to have a prescription to receive a COVID-19 vaccination (6 Yes, 6 No; in a tie vote, the ACIP Chair’s vote [no] determines the final result ([link removed]) ). ACIP approved the following three recommendations as reprinted below. The votes are listed in the sequence they were made:

Vote (12 yes, 0 no)
The pediatric and adult immunization schedules for administration of FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines should be updated as follows:
* Adults 65 and older: Vaccination based on individual-based decision-making*
* Individuals 6 months to 64 years: Vaccination based on individual-based decision making - with an emphasis that the risk-benefit of vaccination is most favorable for individuals who are at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease and lowest for individual who are not at an increased risk, according to the CDC list of COVID-19 risk factors.

*also known as shared clinical decision making

Vote (11 yes, 1 no)
It is the sense of the committee that the CDC engages in an effort to promote more consistent and comprehensive informed consent processes, and as part of that considers adding language accessible to patients and medical providers to describe at least the six risks and uncertainties included in the WG chair presentation.

Vote (12 yes, 0 no)
It is the sense of the committee that in conversations with patients before COVID-19 vaccination, authorized healthcare providers discuss the risks and benefits of the vaccination for the individual patient. The discussion should consider known risk factors for severe outcomes from COVID-19, such as age, prior infections, immunosuppression, and certain comorbidities identified by the CDC, and include a discussion of the potential benefits and risks of vaccination and related uncertainties, especially those outlined in the vaccine information statement, as part of informed consent.

The September 19 votes do not exclude anyone who is age-eligible for COVID-19 vaccination from receiving COVID-19 vaccine following a discussion with a healthcare professional. Healthcare professionals who can engage in shared clinical decision-making with individuals include nurses, doctors, and pharmacists ([link removed]) .

New Work Groups (announcements)
ACIP Chair Martin Kulldorff announced the formation of two new ACIP work groups:
* Vaccines in Pregnancy
* Childhood and Adolescent Vaccine Schedule (to review the schedule in its entirety, rather than individual vaccines)

Next meeting
The next ACIP meeting is expected to be held on October 22–23, 2025. Information about past and future ACIP meetings may be found on the ACIP website ([link removed]) .

Related Links
* ACIP main page ([link removed] ) for content from previous meetings, as well as information about future meetings
* CDC: ACIP Presentation Slides: September 18–19 Meeting ([link removed]) web page

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America's Health Insurance Plans trade organization issues statement on continued coverage for ACIP-recommended vaccines through December 2026

On September 16, the trade organization America's Health Insurance Plans ([link removed]) (AHIP) released a statement from its member insurance companies regarding insurance coverage of ACIP-recommended vaccines ([link removed]) . The statement is reprinted below.

Health plans are committed to maintaining and ensuring affordable access to vaccines. Health plan coverage decisions for immunizations are grounded in each plan’s ongoing, rigorous review of scientific and clinical evidence, and continual evaluation of multiple sources of data.

Health plans will continue to cover all ACIP-recommended immunizations that were recommended as of September 1, 2025, including updated formulations of the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, with no cost-sharing for patients through the end of 2026.

While health plans continue to operate in an environment shaped by federal and state laws, as well as program and customer requirements, the evidence-based approach to coverage of immunizations will remain consistent.

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Newly formed West Coast Health Alliance of four states announces recommendations for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccines

The West Coast Health Alliance is a new partnership ([link removed]) formed by the governors of Washington, California, Oregon, and Hawaii. The four states are working together to align evidence-based health policies, share data, and issue joint recommendations. On September 17, this Alliance issued recommendations ([link removed]) for COVID-19 ([link removed]) , influenza ([link removed]) , and RSV ([link removed]) vaccines. The recommendations draw on vaccination guidance recently published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
(ACOG), and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

[link removed]

Related Links
* Washington State Department of Health: press release: West Coast Health Alliance Announces Vaccine Recommendations for COVID-19, Flu, and RSV ([link removed]) (9/17/25)
* Washington Governor Bob Ferguson: press release: Hawaii to join West Coast Health Alliance with Washington, California, and Oregon ([link removed]) (9/4/25)

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Seven northeastern states and New York City launch Northeast Public Health Collaborative

On September 18, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York State, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and New York City announced their regional partnership ([link removed]) as the Northeast Public Health Collaborative. The coalition brings together public health agencies and leaders to share expertise, improve coordination, enhance capacity, strengthen regional readiness, and promote and protect evidence-based public health.

Health departments in these jurisdictions established work groups expected to collaborate on public health emergency preparedness, vaccine recommendations, data collection, infectious disease management, and laboratory services.

Related Link
* NYC Health: press release: Several Northeastern States and America’s Largest City Announce the Northeast Public Health Collaborative ([link removed]) (9/18/25)

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Immunize​.org offers new Website Training Videos series of short demonstrations recorded during live Website Office Hours sessions

Our monthly Website Office Hours ([link removed]) webinars include live demonstrations of efficient navigation of the Immunize​.org website, followed by question-and-answer sessions with our website team. In response to participant requests, we have edited recordings of the live sessions to include only the short demonstration portions and categorized them as our Website Training Videos ([link removed]) series. Each training video is condensed to just 10- to 20-minutes, accessible for viewing at any time.
Current videos in the series include:
* Affiliated Websites ([link removed])
* Ask the Experts ([link removed])
* Clinical Resources ([link removed])
* Images, Webinars, Videos, & Social Media ([link removed])
* Let's Get Real About Vaccines Website ([link removed])
* News & Updates ([link removed])
* Official Guidance (State Resources) ([link removed])
* Official Guidance (CDC, FDA, WHO) ([link removed])
* Publication Archives, Vaccine Timeline, & About Us ([link removed])
* Travel Vaccines, Vaccine Confidence, & Addressing Concerns ([link removed])
* Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) Website Section ([link removed])
* Vaccines A–Z ([link removed])

Related Links
* Immunize​.org: Website Office Hours ([link removed]) archived videos
* Immunize​.org: Calendar of Events ([link removed]) of future Website Office Hours

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CDC issues Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update on Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

On September 18, CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) ([link removed]) Health Update: Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ([link removed]) (DRC). Currently, no suspected, probable, or confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases related to this outbreak have been reported in the United States or outside of the DRC. The risk of spread to the United States is considered low at this time. As a precaution, this Health Advisory summarizes CDC recommendations for U.S. public health departments, clinical laboratories, and healthcare workers about potential EVD case identification, testing, and biosafety considerations in clinical laboratories.

[link removed]

On September 8, 2025, the CDC issued a Travel Health Notice ([link removed]) for people traveling to the DRC. CDC recommends people who travel to the affected areas of the DRC monitor themselves for symptoms of EVD ([link removed]) while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving.

[link removed]

Related Links
* CDC: Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ([link removed]) web page
* Immunize​.org: Vaccines A–Z: Ebola ([link removed]) main page

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World Rabies Day is September 28. Refresh your knowledge of rabies-prevention guidelines

September 28 is World Rabies Day ([link removed]) . This date marks the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist who developed the first rabies vaccine. Around the world, about 59,000 people each year die of rabies, 40% of whom are children. Most rabies deaths globally occur as the result of dog bites.

Established by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and recognized by the World Health Organization, this year's theme is "Act Now: You, Me, Community." This highlights the need for worldwide elimination of rabies transmission from dogs to humans, a goal already achieved in most countries in the Americas, including the United States. Rabies can still be found in wild mammals in the United States (e.g., bats, skunks, raccoons). Vaccination of pets and people at elevated risk remains essential to prevent transmission of the virus.

Use the 2022 ACIP recommendations for rabies prophylaxis ([link removed]) to guide who should receive this vaccine. Rabies vaccination is indicated before any potential exposure for certain people whose work or recreational activities put them at increased risk of exposure to rabies. Rabies vaccination for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is also recommended for any person after a possible or confirmed exposure to rabies. Consultation with local or state public health experts is recommended when evaluating the need for PEP.

You can help prevent rabies by keeping household animals up to date on rabies vaccination and collaborating with animal health advocates and policymakers in your community to raise awareness about rabies prevention.

[link removed]

Access the World Rabies Day ([link removed]) website for more information.

Related Links
* Immunize​.org: Vaccines A–Z: Rabies ([link removed]) web page
* Institut Pasteur: Pasteur Museum ([link removed]) (Musée Pasteur) website

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Journalists interview Immunize​.org experts

Journalists seek out Immunize​.org experts to help explain vaccines to the public and policy makers. We help the media understand and communicate the complex work vaccinators do. Here is a selection of our recent citations.
* Reuters: US Vaccine Advisers Abandon Broad COVID Shot Support ([link removed]) (9/20/25)
* The Atlantic: Kennedy’s Handpicked Vaccine Committee Is a Mess ([link removed]) (9/18/25)
* Washington Post: CDC Advisers to Scrutinize Vaccines Given During Pregnancy, Childhood ([link removed]) (9/18/25)
* CBS: 2 Cases of Measles Confirmed in NYC, Department of Health Says. Here’s What to Know. ([link removed]) (9/15/25)

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Vaccines in the news

These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
* Washington Post: Vaccine Panel That Limited Covid Shot Scrutinized After Chaotic Meetings ([link removed]) (9/20/25)
* NBC: Data Investigation: Childhood Vaccination Rates Are Backsliding Across the U.S ([link removed]) . (9/18/25)
* KFF: A Look at Recent Changes to State Vaccine Requirements for School Children ([link removed]) (9/12/25)

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Immunize​.org Website and Clinical Resources
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Recap: Immunize​.org updates "Ask the Experts: RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)," adding clesrovimab information

Immunize​.org updated the clinical content of our Ask the Experts: RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) ([link removed]) web page to reflect recent recommendation changes and the addition of clesrovimab (Enflonsia, Merck) as an RSV preventive antibody product option for infants. Answers also cover the new lower recommended age for vaccinating high-risk adults (now beginning at age 50 years). Three new questions and answers were added:
* What is clesrovimab preventive antibody and how well does it work?
* What are the storage requirements for clesrovimab?
* Is palivizumab (Synagis, AstraZeneca) recommended for any infant?

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Recap: Immunize​.org updates “Ask the Experts: Influenza” questions and answers for 2025–26 season

Immunize​.org revised its Ask the Experts: Influenza ([link removed]) web page, updating content for the 2025–26 influenza season and revising hyperlinks to CDC web pages. Clinical answers address recent ACIP changes to recommendations about the use of preservative-containing multidose vials. Where relevant, answers provide links to 2025–26 season influenza vaccination recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
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Recap: Immunize​.org updates the season on its Spanish translations of screening checklists for contraindications to influenza vaccination

Immunize​.org updated the season information (i.e., 2025–26) on its Spanish-language versions of the influenza screening checklists. No substantive changes were made to the patient questions. The English language content on the back of the form matches recent minor updates to the English versions of the checklists.
* Screening Checklist for Contraindications to Injectable Influenza Vaccination ([link removed])
* Screening Checklist for Contraindications to Live Attenuated Intranasal Influenza Vaccination ([link removed])

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Featured Resources
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Immunize​.org's elegantly designed "Vaccines Save Lives" black enamel pins make wonderful gifts or workplace recognitions!

Immunize​.org’s elegantly designed “Vaccines Save Lives” pins ([link removed]) are meaningful gifts for people who care about vaccination. The pin makes a refined statement in hard black enamel with gold lettering and edges, measuring 1.125" x 0.75". The pin features a stick-through-post with the back covered by a round rubber cap that holds the pin securely. A gold metal spring-lock clasp is also provided.

[link removed]
Wear these pins on clothing, ([link removed]) uniforms, and white coats to show that you value vaccines.

([link removed])

Click here for "Vaccines Save Lives" pin pricing and ordering information. ([link removed])
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Notable Publications
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“Pneumococcal Vaccination Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Surveyed U.S. Adults Aged 19–64 Years at Increased Risk for Pneumococcal Disease” published in Vaccine

In its October 3 issue, Annals of Internal Medicine published Pneumococcal Vaccination Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Surveyed U.S. Adults Aged 19–64 Years at Increased Risk for Pneumococcal Disease ([link removed]) . A portion of the abstract appears below.

Pneumococcal disease contributes to significant morbidity in the United States. Before October 2024, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended pneumococcal vaccination for risk-eligible adults aged 19–64 years; however, as of 2023, vaccination coverage remained low (33.1%).

To understand factors associated with low vaccination coverage, in January 2024, a web-based survey was conducted among risk-eligible adults aged 19–64 years examining their knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward pneumococcal vaccination.

Of 1533 eligible participants, 39.2% self-reported having received pneumococcal vaccination. Compared with vaccinated participants, unvaccinated participants were less familiar with and had lower perceived risk of pneumococcal disease and were less willing to receive pneumococcal vaccination following healthcare provider recommendation. Common reasons for not being vaccinated were lack of understanding of vaccine-qualifying risk conditions and lack of healthcare provider recommendations.
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Upcoming Events
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Register for Immunize​.org Website Office Hours. Join a 30-minute discussion about the Clinical Resources web section on October 8 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or October 9 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Recorded sessions archived.

To learn simple tips and tricks for using our website efficiently, please register for our next set of Website Office Hours on Wednesday, October 8, at 4:00 p.m. (ET) ([link removed]) or Thursday, October 9, at 12:00 p.m. (ET) ([link removed]) . The same content will be covered in both sessions.

We will open each 30-minute session with a short, live demonstration on navigating the popular Clinical Resources website section on Immunize​.org. You can submit questions when you register or live on Zoom during the session.

[link removed]

Register today for Immunize​.org Website Office Hours (content is the same for both sessions):
* Wednesday, October 8, at 4:00 p.m. (ET) ([link removed])
* Thursday, October 9, at 12:00 p.m. (ET) ([link removed])

The archive of previous Website Office Hours content ([link removed]) is posted at Immunize​.org’s "Webinars & Videos" page.

Mark your calendar ([link removed]) for future Immunize​.org Website Office Hours.
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For more upcoming events, visit our Calendar of Events ([link removed]) .
Editorial Information
Editor-in-Chief
Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
Managing Editor
John D. Gr
äbenstein, RPh, PhD
Associate Editor
Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
Writer/Publication Coordinator
Taryn Chapman, MS
Courtnay Londo, MA
Style and Copy Editor
Marian Deegan, JD
Web Edition Managers
Arkady Shakhnovich
Jermaine Royes
Contributing Writer
Laurel H. Wood, MPA
Technical Reviewer
Kayla Ohlde

About IZ Express
Immunize​.org welcomes redistribution of this issue of IZ Express or selected articles.
When you do so, please add a note that Immunize​.org is the source of the material and provide a link to this issue ([link removed]) .

IZ Express is supported in part by Grant No. NH23IP922654 from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC. Its contents are solely the responsibility of Immunize​.org and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.

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