- Immunize.org pediatric standing orders template updates
- February is American Heart Month; certain vaccines are especially important for people with heart disease
- HepB birth dose policies protect babies. Immunize.org’s Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll recognizes 594 institutions, including one new honoree.
- Measles 2026: 733 confirmed cases in 20 states since January 1; South Carolina outbreak growing
- Influenza and RSV activity remains elevated nationwide; low immunization rates leave infants and adults vulnerable
- February is Black History Month; Immunize.org celebrates the contributions of Black Americans in vaccinology
- “What Should Be Done If an Infant Is Given an Adult RSV Vaccine?” See this 2-minute video, part of the Ask the Experts Video Series on YouTube.
- Vaccines in the news
- Recap: American Academy of Pediatrics releases its 2026 Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, endorsed by 12 other medical, nursing, and pharmacy organizations
- We the People Vax makes Presidents’ Day campaign materials available for download
- NFID podcast episode explores rebuilding trust and communicating science in an age of misinformation
- CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center offers recording of film, Forgetting to Remember: Lessons from a Vaccine Lost
- Updated 65+ Flu Defense website offers resources for healthcare professionals serving older adults
- Help Immunize.org reach more vaccinators through your social media networks. Follow us and share our posts on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!
- Today: Register for Immunize.org Website Office Hours. Join a 30-minute discussion about our new web section: Official Guidance: Healthcare Professional Organization Schedules on February 11 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or February 12 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Recorded sessions are archived.
- Virtual: North Dakota State University Center for Immunization Research and Education hosts webinar titled “Supporting Vaccine Decisions Through Shared Clinical Decision-Making” on February 24 at 1:00 p.m. (ET)
- Virtual: February 25–27 ACIP meeting anticipated
There are now two recommended immunization schedules that may be used by healthcare professionals who vaccinate children: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2026 Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, and the CDC/HHS schedule. The 2026 AAP schedule has been endorsed by 12 other healthcare professional organizations and about 28 U.S. states. The AAP schedule is generally same as the original ACIP/CDC schedule published in November 2024, with the exception of a few minor differences and COVID-19 guidance. All vaccines included on the AAP schedule are also listed on the CDC schedule, although the classification or details of the recommendations may differ.
Immunize.org produces standing orders templates that may be adapted to simplify routine vaccination practices. We do not have standing orders templates for combination vaccines (e.g., MMRV), only for the component products (e.g., MMR and varicella). In order to make it clear which templates may be used with the new 2026 AAP schedule, Immunize.org is in the process of labeling its existing standing orders templates with a call-out box at the top left of the document indicating that the template is compatible with the 2026 AAP childhood schedule. In addition, for templates addressing vaccination during pregnancy, it is also noted that the template is compatible with recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
In addition to the call-out box, the updated templates list the dates of the published ACIP recommendations in CDC’s MMWR upon which the standing orders templates are based.
Two templates with the additional information have been posted. Clinics using standing orders based on the previous versions of these templates do not need to make any changes to their protocols if they want to remain consistent with the AAP recommended childhood schedule for these products:
- Standing Orders for Administering Clesrovimab RSV Preventive Antibody (Enflonsia, by Merck) to Infants
- Standing Orders for Administering Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine to Children Younger Than Age 7 Years
In coming weeks, the rest of the standing orders templates will be updated and announced in IZ Express. All are available for download at www.immunize.org/clinical/topic/standing-orders-templates.
February is American Heart Month, a time for people to focus on their cardiovascular health. In August 2025, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) published 2025 Concise Clinical Guidance: An ACC Expert Consensus Statement on Adult Immunizations as Part of Cardiovascular Care.
Cardiologists emphasize the importance of the following vaccines for anyone with heart disease:
- COVID-19: people infected with COVID-19 are 3–8 times more likely to have a heart attack and 3–7 times more likely to have a stroke
- Influenza: people with heart disease are 6 times more likely to have a heart attack within a week after flu infection
- Pneumococcus: people with heart disease are at increased risk of hospitalization and even death from complications of pneumococcal disease
- RSV: one in five adults hospitalized with RSV had underlying health issues like heart attacks or heart failure
- Zoster (shingles): shingles induces an inflammatory state with increased risk of stroke or heart attack
Related Links
HepB vaccination during infancy is extremely effective, protecting about 98% of healthy, term infants. Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) during the first year of life results in chronic, lifelong infection for about 9 in 10 babies. One in four of infants who go on to develop chronic hepatitis B will die prematurely from consequences of infection, including liver failure or cancer. Vaccination and use of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) for infants born to both HBV test-positive mothers and mothers of unknown status reduces the risk of HBV transmission by 94%; vaccination alone, given on the day of birth, reduces the risk by 75%.
To ensure every child is protected, the HepB birth dose was first recommended for all U.S.-born infants in 2005. In 2016, ACIP specified that the vaccine should be given within the first 24 hours of life to better protect any newborn with an unrecognized HBV exposure. In 2013, Immunize.org started recognizing birthing institutions that established policies and practices so that at least 90% of their newborns received HepB before going home. These policies and practices represent a crucial safety net to protect newborns from the lifelong consequences of early HBV infection.
Immunize.org is pleased to welcome one new institution into its Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll, which now recognizes 594 honorees. The new birthing institution appears below with its reported HepB birth dose coverage rate in parentheses.
- Grand Island Regional Medical Center, Grand Island, NE (90%)
Please join us in recognizing these honorees with sustained excellence that qualify for an additional year:
- Guthrie Cortland Medical Center, Cortland, NY (90%) (3 years)
- Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital, Lawrence, MA (93%) (7 years)
The Honor Roll includes birthing institutions from 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. military hospitals overseas.
The Honor Roll is a key part of Immunize.org’s initiative urging the nation’s hospitals to Give Birth to the End of Hep B. Hospitals and birthing centers are recognized for attaining high coverage for hepatitis B vaccine at birth and meeting additional criteria. The How to Apply web page provides information on the criteria for inclusion in the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Role and the application form.
Please visit the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll web page that lists these institutions and celebrates their vigorous efforts to protect infants from perinatal hepatitis B transmission.
Related Immunize.org Resources
- Give Birth to the End of Hep B main page
- Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll web page
As of February 5, CDC reported 733 confirmed measles cases in 20 states in 2026. South Carolina accounts for 546 of the 2026 cases (74%). Since its outbreak began in October 2025, South Carolina reported 920 measles cases. A growing outbreak at Ave Maria University in Florida accounts for 20 of 21 confirmed measles cases in the state in 2026, according to CIDRAP News.
CDC only requires reporting of laboratory-confirmed measles cases. Cases without laboratory testing for confirmation are not included in these numbers. Actual numbers of cases are, therefore, higher than confirmed case counts.
A map of 2025–26 measles cases in the United States, as of January 30, from the Johns Hopkins International Vaccine Access Center, appears below. Their U.S. Measles Tracker website includes state and county-level data.
Immunize.org offers measles-related resources for the public on several of our affiliated websites:
- VaccineInformation.org: Measles web page
- LetsGetRealAboutVaccines.org: Measles web page
- Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: Measles main page
- PAHO: Epidemiological Alert Measles in the Americas Region (2/3/26)
Nationwide respiratory virus activity reported by CDC is highlighted below.
- Influenza (data through January 31):
- Most areas of the country are reporting stable or decreasing trends in activity; however, activity continues to increase in the Pacific Northwest
- High or very high influenza-like illness (ILI) activity levels were reported in 27 jurisdictions
- The influenza season is currently classified as moderate overall, but severe for young children
- The deaths of 8 more children were reported during week 4 (ending January 31), for a total of 60 reported child deaths associated with influenza so far this season
- RSV:
- The Epidemic Trends map shows RSV activity is growing in many areas of the country, especially in midwestern and western states
- Respiratory Illness Data Channel states that the incidence of emergency department (ED) visits for RSV is elevated among infants who are eligible for protection from RSV
- COVID-19: Activity varies by state. Adults age 65 or older represented 71% of those hospitalized for COVID-19 during week 3.
Level of Respiratory Illness Activity
The Epidemic Trends map for RSV is shown below:
Emergency Department (ED) Visits for Viral Respiratory Illness
The illustration below shows the proportion of ED visits (ranging from 0 to 10 percent) associated with COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. The horizontal axis shows trends from October 2024 into January 2026 for the three diseases.
It’s not too late to protect the vulnerable. Vaccination against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV reduces the risk of severe illness. Administration of RSV preventive antibodies to infants younger than age 8 months who are unprotected is crucial to provide them immediate protection as RSV activity rises in many communities. High-risk older infants and toddlers experiencing their second RSV season can also benefit from protection with RSV preventive antibodies now.
Other CDC Respiratory Illness Resources- CDC's Respiratory Illness Data Channel shows state and county level data on respiratory viral activity, associated ED visits, and presence in wastewater
- CDC's Weekly Flu Vaccination Dashboard shows vaccination rates by age group, showing influenza vaccination among children age 6 months through 17 years this season at 45.4%
- The National Immunization Survey–Fall Respiratory Virus Module shows influenza vaccination coverage by age, health insurance status, poverty status, race and ethnicity, urbanicity, sex, and jurisdiction
Related Links
- CDC: Weekly National Flu Vaccination Dashboard main page
- CDC: FluView main page
- CDC: RESP-NET main page
- CDC: FluVaxView main page
- 65+ Flu Defense website
February is Black History Month. Immunize.org recognizes the contributions of Black Americans to vaccinology throughout history. Here are a few:
- Onesimus, an enslaved man, introduced the idea of smallpox variolation in the United States in the 1700s
- Louis Tompkins Wright, the first Black surgeon on staff at Harlem Hospital in New York City, developed a new way to give the smallpox vaccine in the 1920s and 1930s
- Loney Clinton Gordon was one of three women to develop the pertussis vaccine in the 1940s
- Henrietta Lacks' cancer cells from the 1950s contributed to development of the first polio vaccine, HPV vaccine, and COVID-19 vaccine
- Mae C. Jemison, the first Black woman astronaut, worked in vaccine research at CDC in the 1980s and 1990s
- Kizzmekia S. Corbett-Helaire, while a viral immunologist at NIH in 2020, played a key role in developing the Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
Lower vaccination rates among Black Americans contribute to poorer health outcomes. Immunize.org encourages everyone to do their part to close the gaps in vaccination awareness, access, affordability, and coverage to ensure that everyone benefits from vaccination.
This week, our newest question and answer in the Ask the Experts Video Series is titled What Should Be Done If an Infant Is Given an Adult RSV Vaccine? The video explains the importance of preventing medication errors when storing and handling both RSV vaccine for adults and RSV preventive antibody products for infants. It also explains what to do if an error occurs: counsel the family and promptly administer the preventive antibody at a different injection site. The error and any suspected adverse events following the error should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS.hhs.gov).
The 2-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.
- Facebook at ImmunizeOrg
- Instagram at ImmunizeOrg
- LinkedIn at ImmunizeOrg
- YouTube at ImmunizeOrg
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
- KFF: KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Trust in the CDC and Views of Federal Childhood Vaccine Schedule Changes (2/6/26)
- Stateline: States That Once Led in Child Vaccination Fall as They Expand Exemptions (2/2/26)
- Center for Unbiased Science and Health: The Real Economics of Pediatric Vaccination: Examining the Evidence Behind Claims of Pediatric Vaccine Profits (1/26)
Do you need to know the date that CDC released a health advisory or the year FDA first licensed a vaccine? Refer to Immunize.org’s Vaccine History Timeline. This useful resource was updated to include recent vaccine-related events.
If you would like to suggest an event to add, contact us at admin@immunize.org.
Immunize.org made a change to its Screening Checklist for Contraindications to HPV, MenACWY, MenB, and Tdap Vaccines for Teens to specify that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends injectable influenza vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, Tdap, and RSV vaccines during pregnancy. No changes to the contraindications or the questionnaire for patients were made.
On January 26, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its 2026 Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule. The new AAP guidance continues to recommend routine vaccination against 18 vaccine-preventable diseases, largely unchanged from the original 2025 CDC schedule published in November 2024. In May 2025, AAP stopped endorsing the modified 2025 CDC schedule after CDC made changes to the COVID-19 vaccination recommendation. The CDC’s 2026 schedule narrowed the number of vaccines recommended routinely for children, moving COVID-19, HepA, HepB, influenza, MenACWY, and rotavirus vaccines into shared clinical decision-making or risk-based categories. Three other differences are notable:
- MMR and Varicella: AAP continues to support the option to use combination MMRV vaccine (ProQuad, Merck) for a child’s first dose of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella antigen. In June 2025, CDC began to recommend only giving MMR vaccine plus monovalent varicella vaccine at separate injection sites to children younger than age 5 years.
- HPV: AAP continues the long-standing recommendation for two doses of HPV vaccine routinely given at age 9–12 years, while the 2026 CDC schedule recommends one dose at 11–12 years routinely.
- COVID-19: In August 2025, AAP updated its COVID-19 guidance, recommending that all young children age 6–23 months be vaccinated routinely, along with older children in certain risk groups. The 2026 CDC schedule groups COVID-19 vaccine under shared clinical decision-making for all children age 6 months or older.
All immunizations recommended on the AAP schedule are also listed on the CDC schedule, although the classification of the recommendations may differ. HHS publicly stated that all immunizations recommended by the CDC as of December 31, 2025, before CDC issued the modified 2026 schedule, will continue to be covered by Affordable Care Act insurance plans and federal insurance programs, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the VFC program. Families will not have to purchase them out of pocket.
The 2026 AAP immunization schedule was endorsed by 12 medical, nursing, and pharmacy organizations representing more than 1 million healthcare professionals, including:
- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
- American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
- Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS)
- Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)
- National Medical Association (NMA)
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS)
- Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA)
- Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM)
We the People Vax, founded by immunization coalitions from Arizona, California, and Indiana, is a group of coalitions and health organizations raising awareness of the patriotism of strengthening communities via vaccination. Their latest campaign, Presidents' Day 2026, focuses on George Washington’s decision to inoculate the Continental Army against smallpox and how protecting public health helped secure independence. It’s a reminder that leadership and science have always been part of the American story. Materials include:
- An MP4 video to share as a post on social media platforms
- Two static graphics
- Sample messages for easy and effective sharing
Infectious IDeas, a podcast series from NFID, brings leading experts together for thought-provoking conversations. In a special compilation episode, Communicating Science in a Misinformation Age, Rebecca Alvania, PhD, MPH, and Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD, talk with infectious disease expert William Schaffner, MD, about vaccine confidence, public trust, and the growing influence of misinformation.
The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is offering a recording of the film Forgetting to Remember: Lessons from a Vaccine.
This new short film, created in partnership with Medical History Pictures, uses the abandonment of the U.S. military’s adenovirus vaccine program as a powerful cautionary tale, illustrating how easy it can be to lose a lifesaving vaccine and the devastating consequences that follow. The lessons of the adenovirus vaccine resonate strongly, as the United States faces its highest number of measles cases since elimination was achieved in 2000.
Adenovirus infections can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adults newly congregated in high-density settings, such as military basic training centers. Before availability of adenovirus vaccine tablets in the 1970s, ARDS hospitalized many previously healthy American basic trainees and was fatal in severe cases.
Confident healthcare provider recommendations for influenza vaccine are powerfully persuasive. As the nation faces a challenging influenza season, Immunize.org, in collaboration with CSL Seqirus, updated the 65+ Flu Defense website to help you maximize patient protection.
This helpful site includes information, tools, and tips for communicating with adults age 65 and older about the burden and severity of influenza. Resources include:
- Influenza in Adults 65+: The Facts
- Influenza Vaccination: Questions Patients Aged 65 and Older Frequently Ask Their HCP
- The Importance of Preventing Influenza and COVID-19
A clinician recommendation is the most important reason why a person will get vaccinated. Check out the updated 65+ Flu Defense website to assist your ongoing efforts in protecting this vulnerable population.
Immunize.org offers a social media program to highlight our educational resources for a widespread audience of vaccinators. Our social media channels now feature our most popular printable resources and Ask the Experts questions, as well as announcements important to frontline vaccinators. Please view and share our newest feature, the Ask the Experts Video Series.
Like, follow, and share Immunize.org’s social media accounts and encourage colleagues and others interested in vaccination to do likewise:
- Facebook at ImmunizeOrg
- Instagram at ImmunizeOrg
- LinkedIn at Immunize.org
- YouTube at ImmunizeOrg
To learn simple tips and tricks for using our websites efficiently, please register for our next set of Website Office Hours on Wednesday, February 11, at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or Thursday, February 12, 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 new Official Guidance: Healthcare Professional Organization Schedules website section. 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.
The North Dakota State University (NDSU) Center for Immunization Research and Education will host a webinar titled Supporting Vaccine Decisions Through Shared Clinical Decision-Making, at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on February 24. Speakers include Elizabeth Skoy, PharmD, FAPhA, an expert in immunization delivery and increasing immunization rates, and Andrea Polkinghorn, BSN, RN, who oversees immunization strategy, education, and quality improvement across more than 200 clinics.
This webinar reviews the history and context of shared clinical decision-making (SCDM) in vaccines, outlines provider and patient roles in the decision-making process, and highlights system-level considerations for implementing SCDM in clinical practice.
NDSU is seeking continuing medical education credit and continuing pharmacy education credit for this webinar.
Register for the webinar.
A meeting of the ACIP is anticipated at CDC on February 25–27. Details of the meeting are not yet available.
No registration is required to watch webcasts of live ACIP meetings or listen via telephone. Opportunities for public comment are described on the website.
Related Links
- CDC: ACIP main page for access to webcast, agendas
- CDC: ACIP: Meeting Information for presentation slides, content from previous meetings, and information about future meetings