- Immunize.org supports evidence-based childhood immunization schedule; pediatric standing orders templates updated to indicate consistency with AAP schedule
- Measles 2026: 910 confirmed cases in 23 states since January 1; South Carolina and Florida outbreaks growing
- Influenza and RSV activity remains elevated nationwide; many babies need RSV preventive antibody protection now
- “How Well Do RSV Preventive Antibody Products Work?” See this 4-minute video, part of the Ask the Experts Video Series on YouTube.
- Journalists interview Immunize.org experts
- Vaccines in the news
- North Dakota State University Center for Immunization Research and Education offers free online modules on evidence-based vaccine information; CE credit available
- Needle anxiety is common at any age. Use Immunize.org’s clinical resources to offer a positive vaccination experience.
- Immunize.org lifetime immunization record cards available for patient-held records
- Updated 65+ Flu Defense website offers resources for healthcare professionals serving older adults
- Virtual: February 25–27 ACIP meeting scheduled
- Register for Immunize.org Website Office Hours. Join a 30-minute discussion about our Ask the Experts web content on March 4 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or March 5 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Recorded sessions archived.
- Virtual: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia hosts webinar titled “Shared Clinical Decision-Making: What Does It Mean? Influenza, COVID-19 and Rotavirus Vaccination” on March 11 at 12:00 p.m. (ET); CE credit offered
- Charitable golf tournament, "18th Annual Stews Shootout," held to support adolescent vaccination advocacy, benefits Immunize.org on March 28 in Indio, California
The American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule is in most respects the same as the ACIP/CDC schedule published in November 2024. The best available scientific evidence supports the use of this schedule to safely, effectively, and efficiently protect children and teens from serious vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunize.org supports the use of the AAP schedule.
Immunize.org will continue to convey and explain federal guidance, including new information, in our resources and on our website because vaccinators need to understand that information, too. We will clearly indicate the source of any guidance when updating our materials and will provide context for new recommendations to help our clinical readers make decisions concerning immunization practice for themselves and their patients.
As first described in the February 11, 2025, IZ Express, we completed the process of updating Immunize.org’s popular standing order templates for immunizations recommended for children or teens in the following ways:
- A callout box at the top left now indicates templates compatible with the 2026 AAP childhood schedule
- Templates for vaccination during pregnancy have a callout box at the top left indicating compatibility with recommendations of AAP and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- The “purpose” section of each template now specifies the dates of the published ACIP recommendations in CDC’s MMWR upon which the standing orders templates are based
Note that Immunize.org’s standing orders templates for COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are updated annually and changes will be made when the next seasonal updates are available. The AAP recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination are already listed in the COVID-19 vaccine template. Currently available information from CDC concerning clinical considerations for new recommendations in the 2026 HHS/CDC childhood schedule (e.g., 1-dose HPV vaccination) is not sufficient to create standing orders templates.
Fifteen templates with the additional information have been posted, including two announced last week. Clinics using standing orders based on the most recent versions of these templates do not need to make any changes to their protocols to remain consistent with the AAP recommended childhood schedule for these products:
- Standing Orders for Administering Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine to Children Younger than Age 7 Years
- Standing Orders for Administering Haemophilus influenzae type b Vaccine to Children & Teens
- Standing Orders for Administering Hepatitis A Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Standing Orders for Administering Hepatitis B Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Standing Orders for Administering Human Papillomavirus Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Standing Orders for Administering Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine to Infants and Children
- Standing Orders for Administering Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Standing Orders for Administering Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Standing Orders for Administering Meningococcal B (MenB) Vaccine to Adolescents and Adults
- Standing Orders for Administering Pneumococcal Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Standing Orders for Administering Rotavirus Vaccine to Infants
- Standing Orders for Administering Nirsevimab RSV Preventive Antibody (Beyfortus, by Sanofi) to Infants and High-Risk Young Children
- Standing Orders for Administering Clesrovimab RSV Preventive Antibody (Enflonsia, by Merck) to Infant
- Standing Orders for Administering Tdap/Td Vaccine to Children and Teens Age 7 Years and Older
- Standing Orders for Administering Varicella Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Standing Orders for Administering Tdap During Pregnancy
- Standing Orders for Administering Pfizer Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine (Abrysvo) During Pregnancy
Download Immunize.org standing orders templates from: www.immunize.org/clinical/topic/standing-orders-templates.
As of February 12, CDC reported 910 confirmed measles cases in 23 states in 2026. Six new outbreaks started in 2026. Since the current national measles surge began in 2025, 276 people have been hospitalized due to measles. According to CIDRAP News, the upstate South Carolina outbreak, now at more than 950 confirmed cases since October 2025, is the largest single outbreak of measles in the United States in more than 30 years. CIDRAP News also reports a growing outbreak at Ave Maria University in south central Florida is up to at least 54 cases, although case counts vary by reporting source.
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 February 6, 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
Nationwide respiratory virus activity reported by CDC is highlighted below.
- Influenza (data through February 7):
- Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationally. Influenza A activity is decreasing while influenza B activity is increasing nationally and in most areas of the country; trends vary by region (see map below)
- High or very high influenza-like illness (ILI) activity levels were reported in 24 jurisdictions
- The influenza season is currently classified as moderate overall, but severe for young children
- The deaths of 6 more children were reported, for a total of 66 reported child deaths associated with influenza so far this season
- RSV:
- The Epidemic Trends map shows RSV activity is growing or likely growing in several areas of the country, especially in midwestern and western states (see map below)
- 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 a majority of those hospitalized for COVID-19 during week 4.
Level of Respiratory Illness Activity
The ILI activity map is shown below:
The Epidemic Trends map for RSV, with data through February 10, is shown below, indicating the growing seasonal epidemic of RSV, particularly in the West and Midwest:
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.
- 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 adults age 18 years and older this season at 46%
- 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
This week, our featured episode from the Ask the Experts Video Series is titled How Well Do RSV Preventive Antibody Products Work? The video shares data on the effectiveness of RSV preventive antibodies, Beyfortus (nirsevimab) and Enflonsia (clesrovimab), which reduce severe RSV illness, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions in infants by about 80–90%. Widespread use of RSV preventive antibodies is linked to major declines in RSV hospitalizations.
The 4-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
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 recent citation.
- Vaccines Today: Amid Measles Outbreaks, US Experts Get Real About Vaccines (2/12/26)
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
- The Atlantic: This Is How a Child Dies of Measles (2/12/26)
- STAT: FDA’s Rejection of Moderna Threatens to Stifle Broader Vaccine Industry (2/12/26)
- Fox25: FDA Refuses Review of mRNA Flu Vaccine; Move Could Chill Other Research, Doctor Says (2/11/26)
- Medscape: Medscape Poll Finds Wide Opposition to Federal Vax Recs (2/10/26)
- New York Times: Oz Offers Forceful Call for Vaccination as Measles Becomes More Dire (2/9/26)
Immunize.org's Vaccine History Timeline offers a chronology of events related to vaccine-preventable diseases and advances in vaccinology. It begins in 400 B.C.E. with Hippocrates’ description of diseases now preventable by vaccines and continues to the present. To access the timeline, go to the Vaccines & VIS menu tab and click on the “Vaccine History Timeline.”
Use the vertical scroll bar or click on a year to move back in time to explore the history of vaccines. On the right-side “On This Page” menu, select Back to Top to jump back to the most recent year.
This web page also includes useful related resources, such as links to the College of Physicians of Philadelphia's HistoryofVaccines.org and the National Library of Medicine. Select Related Resources on the right-side “On This Page” menu to view these links.
North Dakota State University (NDSU) Center for Immunization Research and Education (CIRE), in partnership with Sanford Health, developed a free, self-paced learning program. There are five, 1-hour modules available, which are designed for current and future healthcare professionals seeking up-to-date, evidence-based vaccine education. Each module includes 3–4 short videos covering core vaccine topics—from fundamentals and development to safety, ingredients, and communication.
Participants may complete any combination of modules in any order, with the option to earn free continuing medical education (CME) credit or a certificate of completion, allowing maximum flexibility to meet individual learning needs and schedules.
View the modules.
Related Link
In Clinical Resources: Improving the Vaccination Experience, Immunize.org provides print and video tools to create a positive vaccination experience and ease injection anxiety in children and adults. Links to additional resources from trusted partner organizations are also provided.
The web page links to eight printable resources on addressing vaccination anxiety (four for providers, four for recipients—also available in Spanish), two in-depth webinars, and six brief videos (listed below). As with all Immunize.org resources, these are free to download, link, copy, and share.
The video topics include:
- How to Administer Multiple Intramuscular Vaccines to Adults During One Visit
- Using Enhanced Screening Checklists for Contraindications to Vaccination
- Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Infants: Strategies for Vaccine Recipients and Caregivers
- Addressing Vaccination Anxiety: Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
- Fainting Related to Vaccination: What You Need to Know
- Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Children: Strategies for Vaccine Recipients and Caregivers
Related Link
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Improving the Vaccination Experience web page
Immunize.org offers wallet-sized Lifetime Immunization Record Cards, printed on rip-proof, smudge-proof, waterproof paper designed to last a lifetime. These are sold in boxes of 250.
To purchase record cards, please visit the Immunize.org Shop.
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.
On February 4, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the global cholera vaccine supply increased to a level sufficient to allow resumption of life-saving preventive campaigns for the first time in more than 3 years.
A global surge in cholera cases drove up oral cholera vaccine demand for outbreak control, which led to shortages. This, in turn, led to a 2022 halt in preventive vaccination campaigns. Mozambique is the first country to restart preventive vaccination.
Related Link
- WHO: Cholera web page
A meeting of the ACIP is anticipated at CDC on February 25–27. CDC has not yet made details of the meeting 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
To learn simple tips and tricks for using our websites efficiently, please register for our next set of Website Office Hours on Wednesday, March 4, at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or Thursday, March 5, 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 Ask the Experts 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 Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will present a 1-hour webinar titled Shared Clinical Decision-Making: What Does It Mean? Influenza, COVID-19 and Rotavirus Vaccination beginning at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on March 11. Part of its Current Issues in Vaccines series, the webinar will feature Paul Offit, MD, director of the VEC.
Free continuing-education credits (CME, CEU, and CPE) will be available for both the live and archived events.
Register for the webinar.
Immunize.org is honored once again to be the beneficiary of the 18th annual charitable golf event, at The Golf Course at Terra Lago – North Course in Indio, CA, on March 28. Hosts Michelle and Casey Stewart, formerly with the National Meningitis Association, launched this charitable event to raise awareness and funds for adolescent vaccination advocacy.
Those who want to participate virtually may purchase a golf ball for a chance to win. Every $10 tax-deductible donation buys you a golf ball and a chance to win up to $2,500 if your ball lands closest to the hole after it drops from a helicopter.
Visit Stews Shootout and Golf Ball Drop web page for more information.
For more upcoming events, visit our Calendar of Events.