IZ Express

Issue 1840: November 5, 2025

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Top Stories
 
Immunize.org Website and Clinical Resources 
 
Vaccine Information Statements
 
Featured Resources
 
Notable Publications
 
Global News
 
Upcoming Events
Top Stories
Dozens of pertussis hospitalizations and two deaths in Louisiana; public health alerts lagged

On May 1, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) issued a health alert to physicians, warning of a sharp rise in pertussis cases that could result in a record high case count in 2025. By that time, LDH had identified 164 cases in the first 4 months of the year, including 42 hospitalizations, surpassing the total number of annual cases reported in the state for at least 35 years. Louisiana recorded 153 cases in all of 2024. The most recent LDH news release on pertussis is dated May 14. 

Two infants died of pertussis early in the year; 3 months elapsed after the second infant’s death until LDH issued a health alert to physicians and its first public statement. Such a delay in notification is unusual. Prompt alerts from public health to physicians and the public when there is an outbreak of a serious vaccine-preventable disease are valuable to raise public awareness and motivate vaccinators to ensure the most vulnerable are protected.



Nationally, CDC reports pertussis cases across the United States remain elevated this year compared to immediately before the pandemic. As of September 20, 2025, 20,939 cases of pertussis were reported in the United States. Of those, Louisiana reported 387 cases of pertussis.

There are two simple and effective ways to prevent infant hospitalization and death from pertussis: 
  1. Administer a dose of Tdap between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation during every pregnancy. This step alone can reduce the risk of early infant hospitalization with pertussis by about 90%.
  2. Vaccinate all infants against pertussis on time, beginning with the first DTaP at age 2 months, followed by the rest of the series at 4 months, 6 months, 15–18 months, and 4–6 years.
Pertussis infection does not result in lifelong immunity, and neither does pertussis vaccination. The risk of exposure to pertussis cannot be completely eliminated with the vaccines we have today. However, pertussis vaccination will prevent hospitalizations and save lives. Staying current on Tdap and DTaP vaccination is essential.

Related Links 

Immunize.org updates three print-ready QR code tables that give quick VIS access

Immunize.org updated three of its printable QR code tables for clinic use. The QR codes in these tables, when scanned (or clicked), link directly to a VIS. The document changes did not alter the VIS QR codes on the current documents, so there is no need to change the QR codes you are using now to continue accessing current VISs. The updates include:

    

Related Links
National STEM/STEAM Day is November 8. Use Immunize.org and partner resources to help youth learn about vaccine science.

To observe National STEM/STEAM Day on November 8, Immunize.org compiled a list of educational resources on vaccines and the immune system. Share these credible resources for elementary, middle, and high school students.

For kindergarten students

For elementary school children

For middle school children For high school students

Measles 2025: 1,648 confirmed cases across 41 states; 5,109 confirmed and probable cases in Canada

As of October 28, CDC reported 1,648 confirmed measles cases in 2025 in 41 states. Of reported confirmed cases, 87% were outbreak-associated. As of October 28:

CDC’s count includes only laboratory-confirmed measles cases. Cases without laboratory testing for confirmation are not included. Actual measles cases for 2025 are, therefore, higher than confirmed case counts.

Canada is also experiencing a widespread measles outbreak, with incidence rates that exceed those in the United States. October 26 marked a full year of continuous measles transmission in Canada. As a result of a year of uninterrupted measles transmission, Canada could soon lose its official designation as a nation that has eliminated measles. Canada reports 5,109 confirmed cases in 2025, through October 18. During week 42 (October 12–18), 19 new cases were reported. 

Case counts from Mexico lag, with September quarterly report numbers from the Pan American Health Organization indicating more than 4,500 cases by September 9, 2025, with more than 4,200 of them concentrated in the Chihuahua state across the border from Texas. The Chihuahua outbreak is linked to imported cases exposed in the U.S. outbreak in Texas earlier in the year.

Immunize.org offers measles-related resources for the public on several of our affiliated websites:

Another credible source is the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Fact Checked: The Measles Vaccine Is Safe and Effective web page.

Related Links
“Which Adults Need Hepatitis B Vaccine?” Watch the 1-minute video, part of the Ask the Experts Video Series on YouTube. 

This week, our featured episode from the Ask the Experts Video Series is titled Which Adults Need Hepatitis B Vaccine? Since 2022, the CDC and medical societies have recommended hepatitis B vaccination for all susceptible adults through age 59 years and continue to recommend vaccination of at-risk adults age 60 years and older. Catching up unvaccinated adults now is a simple step for a lifetime of protection.

The 1-minute video is available on our YouTube channel, along with our full collection of quick video answers to popular Ask the Experts questions.

Like, follow, and share Immunize.org’s social media accounts and encourage colleagues and others interested in vaccination to do likewise.

Vaccines in the news

These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.

Immunize.org Website and Clinical Resources
Spotlight on the website: "Vaccine Confidence & Addressing Concerns" 

This week, we spotlight Immunize.org’s clinical resources for improving confidence and addressing concerns about vaccinations. "Vaccine Confidence & Addressing Concerns" is found under the Clinical Resources menu. 

Each of the topics covered includes related resources available from Immunize.org and our affiliated websites (VaccineInformation.org and LetsGetRealAboutVaccines.org). Each topic also links to content from key partners.  

Within each topic, the menu on the right side provides links to relevant sections on this page. 

Summary: Updated Immunize.org clinical resources, web pages, webinars, and videos released in September and October 

IZ Express regularly provides readers with information about Immunize.org’s new and updated educational materials for healthcare professionals and handouts for patients. All Immunize.org materials are free to distribute.   
 
In case you missed them during recent weeks, the following updated materials were posted for clinicians:  

2025–26 influenza season-related web page and materials: 

Other materials to support immunization and administration:   Information and immunization schedules to share with patients:  Web pages:   Website Office Hours webinars:     View the new collection of Immunize.org website training videos, edited from the popular Office Hours series of webinars. David Sanders, MD, MS, is your guide through key content. The 12 videos can be the focus of training sessions (most under 15 minutes) to introduce staff and colleagues to the array of immunization resources available: 
Vaccine Information Statements
Summary: These VIS translations were released during September and October 

IZ Express regularly provides readers with information about VISs and translations of VISs. On May 29, 2025, CDC updated VISs for pneumococcal conjugate and polysaccharide vaccines (PCV and PPSV23). Immunize.org recently posted new VIS translations in the following wide array of languages: 

PPSV23 VIS   PCV VIS
Arabic   Arabic
Armenian   Armenian
Burmese   Bengali
Chinese-Simplified   Burmese
Chinese-Traditional   Chinese-Simplified
Farsi   Chinese-Traditional
French   Dari
Khmer   Farsi
Russian   French
Somali   German
Spanish PDF, RTF   Haitian Creole
Tagalog   Hindi
Vietnamese   Italian
    Japanese
    Khmer
    Korean
    Pashto
    Polish
    Portuguese
    Russian
    Somali
    Spanish PDF, RTF
    Swahili
    Tagalog
    Ukrainian
    Urdu
    Vietnamese
    Yiddish

Families given any VIS translation should also receive the current official VIS, which is in English. 

Check the version date of your inventory of VIS translations. Discard translations of previous versions as translations of current versions become available. 

For additional support, view these resources from Immunize.org: 

Featured Resources
Vaccinate Your Family announces Viraltruths.org website, providing plain language answers to the questions most frequently asked about vaccines 

Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) launched its new microsite Viraltruths.org built to provide plain language answers to the questions most frequently asked about vaccines. The site serves as a helpful tool to understand the challenging, dynamic vaccine policy and information environment.

The site features: 

American Pharmacists Association releases interactive maps to help people find pharmacy-based vaccination locations
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) offers two interactive maps that can be used to find pharmacy vaccination locations:
  • Public map of vaccine access allows searches by address or zip code to identify pharmacy vaccination locations. Filters allow tailored searches based on handicap access, walk-in basis, and languages spoken. Map pin descriptions give hours of vaccine availability for each pharmacy.
  • Provider map of vaccine access allows searches to identify vaccine access, with the ability to filter for medically underserved areas, social vulnerability index, health professional shortage area, and pharmacy proximity. 




Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society offers “Comprehensive Vaccine Education Program—from Training to Practice,” a free education program to address vaccine misinformation and vaccine hesitancy 

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) offers a free educational program, Comprehensive Vaccine Education Program—from Training to Practice, to help combat vaccine misinformation and address hesitancy in two ways: 

  • Collaboration for Vaccine Education and Research (CoVER) curriculum: Enhancing vaccine knowledge and confidence in having discussions with patients and parents through a web-based educational curriculum. The CoVER curriculum consists of 19 online modules. 
  • Vaccine Education from Training to Practice Program: Enhancing access for medical providers to reliable, up-to-date and accurate vaccine information through The Vaccine Handbook (PDF).


CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center releases two new videos in its Vaccines and Infectious Diseases in the News series, one on the HepB birth dose and one on separating MMR vaccine into three single-pathogen vaccines

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's (CHOP) Vaccine Education Center released two new videos in its Vaccines and Infectious Diseases in the News series featuring Paul A. Offit, MD:



Resources accompany each video, available on the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases in the News web page.

CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center offers its new “Vaccine Dictionary” web page with short definitions of vaccine-related terminology

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's (CHOP) Vaccine Education Center is offering a new vaccine dictionary resource for the public. It gives short definitions of relevant terms and, in some cases, links for those who want to take a deeper dive. The dictionary also defines common vaccine-associated acronyms. 



If there is a term that should be added, please contact Parents PACK.

Explore the www.Give2MenACWY​.org website to increase coverage for the MenACWY booster and other adolescent vaccinations

Immunize.org's www.Give2MenACWY.org website promotes the importance of adolescent vaccination, including the recommended MenACWY vaccine booster dose at age 16. Many teens are behind on vaccines, so vaccine outreach is more important than ever.

Materials on this colorful website for healthcare professionals incorporate the 2020 ACIP meningococcal vaccine recommendations and coverage statistics from CDC’s National Immunization Survey–Teen (NIS–Teen). One particularly popular resource on the site is the Algorithm for MenACWY Immunization in Adolescents 11 Through 18 Years of Age.

  

The website is divided into five easy-to-access sections:

The site also categorizes materials according to whether they are primarily of interest to providers, to adolescents, or to parents.

Visit Give2MenACWY.org and enjoy browsing (and deploying) its bountiful resources.

Related Links 

Notable Publications
"Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of 3-Year-Old Children Exposed to Maternal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection in Utero" published in Obstetrics & Gynecology

In the October 30 issue, Obstetrics & Gynecology published Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of 3-Year-Old Children Exposed to Maternal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection in Utero. The study found that infection during pregnancy with COVID-19 virus increased the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring by the third birthday. Portions of the abstract appear below. 

To determine whether in utero exposure to maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children by age 3 years. . . .

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 18,124 live births to individuals who delivered between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, within the Mass General Brigham health system. The exposure of interest was maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, defined as a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test result during pregnancy. . . .

Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy was associated with increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental diagnoses by age 3 years, with effects most pronounced after third-trimester exposure and in male offspring. These findings highlight the importance of long-term neurodevelopmental monitoring for SARS-CoV-2–exposed children.

Global News
"Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent" published in New York Times

On October 27, New York Times published Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent. Portions of the article appear below. 

There are large diphtheria outbreaks now in Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Chad—countries with civil wars or large populations of refugees where vaccination coverage is low, surveillance is weak and frail health systems leave children undiagnosed or treated too late. . . .

Diphtheria was once a major killer of children in the United States and other industrialized countries, but cases began to drop with the introduction of a diphtheria vaccine in the 1940s, and by the 1970s, the disease had become rare. There was just one case a year reported in the United States in the two decades after 1996, and only a handful since.

The disease was vanishing from developing countries, too, at the beginning of the 21st century. But cases began to resurge about 15 years ago. Venezuela had a major outbreak, when its once-strong public health system fell apart during years of political instability. Bangladesh had one, beginning in 2017, mostly among Rohingya refugees packed into crowded camps. There have been nearly 30,000 reported cases in Nigeria in the last two years, mostly in the country’s north, where vaccination coverage is lower.

There have also been cases in Europe in recent years, usually among young people who emigrated from Syria or Afghanistan and were not immunized.

In the United States, the few cases have been associated with travelers. However American vaccination rates have declined slowly but steadily for the last five years; 92 percent of kindergarten students nationally had full coverage with diphtheria vaccination in the 2024–25 school year, down from 95 percent in 2020. Achieving broad immunity requires at least 85 percent coverage.

Upcoming Events
Tomorrow; virtual: National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit hosts webinar “Payment Challenges in the New Immunization Environment” on November 6 at 3:00 p.m. (ET)

The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) will host an open, free webinar titled Payment Challenges in the New Immunization Environment at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on November 6. Speakers include Kate Berry, MPP, America's Health Insurance Plans; Chelsea Cipriano, MPH, Common Health Coalition; Mitchell Finkel, Avalere Health; Dan Jones, Alliance of Community Health Plans; and Sarah Price, MSN-ED, National Association of Community Health Centers.

Register for the webinar.

Virtual: Register for Immunize.org Website Office Hours. Join a 30-minute discussion about our new travel-vaccine content on November 12 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or November 13 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Recorded sessions archived.  

To learn simple tips and tricks for using our websites efficiently, please register for our next set of Website Office Hours on Wednesday, November 12, at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or Thursday, November 13, at 12:00 p.m. (ET). The same content will be covered in both sessions. 

 

We will open each 30-minute session with a short, live demonstration on navigating our Travel Vaccines website sections on Immunize.org and VaccineInformation​.org. You can submit questions when you register or live on Zoom during the session.

Register today for Immunize.org Website Office Hours (content is the same for both): 



The archive of previous Website Office Hours content is posted at Immunize.org’s "Webinars & Videos" page. 

Mark your calendar for future Immunize.org Website Office Hours. 

For more upcoming events, visit our Calendar of Events.

About IZ Express

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

IZ Express Disclaimer
ISSN 2771-8085

Editorial Information

  • Editor-in-Chief
    Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
  • Managing Editor
    John D. Grabenstein, 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

This page was updated on .

Our Affiliated Sites

For the Public: VaccineInformation.org
For Coalitions: ImmunizationCoalitions.org
Let's Get Real
Information about pediatric vaccines for parents and providers.
65+ Flu Defense
Protect vulnerable, older adult patients from influenza.
Give2MenACWY.org
Improve protection from meningococcal serogroups ACWY.
NAIIS
Home of the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit.