- New! Immunize.org adds “State Public Health Immunization Recommendations” web page to link you to state vaccine recommendations.
- Measles 2026: 1,136 confirmed measles cases in first 2 months; New Mexico and New York state join list of states with 2026 cases
- Today is International HPV Awareness Day. HPV vaccination is powerful cancer prevention.
- Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 all circulating. Keep immunizing.
- Immunize.org updates "Leading Medical Organizations Endorse Strong School and Childcare Vaccination Requirements and Elimination of Non-Medical Exemptions"
- Immunize.org updates "Vaccine Storage Emergency Response Worksheet"
- “Is Influenza Vaccination Important During Pregnancy?” See this new 1-minute video, part of the Ask the Experts Video Series on YouTube.
- Vaccines in the news
- Vaccinate Your Family releases its "2026 State of the ImmUnion®" brief
- North Dakota State University Center for Immunization Research and Education offers archived webinar titled “Supporting Vaccine Decisions Through Shared Clinic Decision-Making"; CME credit offered
- New! Laminated VIS QR code tables deliver CDC VISs directly to your patients’ smartphone (Spanish translation version also available). Shipping begins mid-March.
- Updated 65+ Flu Defense website offers resources for healthcare professionals serving older adults
- Explore the www.Give2MenACWY.org website to increase coverage for the MenACWY booster and other adolescent vaccinations
- Today and tomorrow! Register for Immunize.org Website Office Hours. Join a 30-minute discussion about our Ask the Experts web content, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or March 5 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Recorded sessions archived.
- Virtual: North Dakota State University Center for Immunization Research and Education hosts webinar titled “The Evidence Hasn't Changed: Communicating Vaccine Science When the Landscape Has” on March 13 at 1:00 p.m. (ET); CE credit offered
- Virtual: March 18–19 ACIP meeting scheduled to discuss COVID-19 and ACIP recommendation methodology; public comments may be submitted March 2–12
Immunize.org added a new main page, State Public Health Immunization Recommendations, to its Official Guidance web section. This page links you to information from U.S. states and DC on their public health immunization recommendations. Beginning in mid-2025, vaccine guidance from CDC diverged from recommendations of healthcare professional organizations. For this reason, several state public health agencies offer supplemental guidance to help clinicians make evidence-based decisions and to support patient access to vaccines recommended by healthcare professionals.
Color-coding highlights three alliances formed to promote evidence-based decision making and vaccine access: West Coast Health Alliance, Northeast Public Health Collaborative, and Governors Public Health Alliance. See notes on website for more information about multistate alliances.
Related Links
- Immunize.org: State Public Health Immunization Recommendations main page
- Immunize.org: Healthcare Professional Organizations main page
- Immunize.org: State Immunization Websites web page
As of February 27, CDC reported 10 new outbreaks and 1,136 confirmed measles cases in 27 states in the first 2 months of 2026. This is half the number of cases reported throughout 2025. Since its outbreak began in October 2025, South Carolina reported 985 measles cases. The Florida Department of Health reports 114 confirmed cases, most centered in Collier County, where an outbreak involves students at Ave Maria University. Measles cases are surging as the country approaches spring break travel season.
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 27, 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
- AAP: Fact Checked: The Measles Vaccine Is Safe and Effective web page
- CDC: Measles Cases and Outbreaks main page
- Common Health Coalition: More Illness, Greater Cost: Spotlight Brief; Childhood Immunizations (PDF)
- Health Canada: Measles and Rubella Weekly Monitoring Report
- Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: Measles main page
March 4 is International HPV Awareness Day, a great time to spread the word about how the HPV vaccine can reduce the risk of cancers caused by common types of this common virus. HPV vaccination should be completed before age 13 years. If not completed on time, vaccination should be completed as soon as feasible for unprotected adolescents and young adults through age 26. Adults age 27 through 45 who want HPV protection may be vaccinated after a discussion with their healthcare provider.
Vaccination before sexual contact is the most effective way to protect against HPV-related cancers including cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and head and neck cancers. Vaccination prevents almost 90% of cervical cancer cases. HPV vaccination also protects against the most common cause of oral cancers in men.
You can raise awareness with International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) campaign resources in 14 languages and by including #OneLessWorry in your social media posts.
Related Links
- International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS): International HPV Awareness Day web page
- International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS): International HPV Awareness Day Campaign Resources main page
- Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: HPV main page
Nationwide respiratory virus activity reported by CDC is highlighted below.
- Influenza (data through February 27):
- Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated across the country, with high or very high influenza-like illness (ILI) reported in 25 jurisdictions
- CDC estimates that there have been at least 25 million illnesses, 330,000 hospitalizations, and 20,000 deaths from flu so far this season
- Children have the highest peak weekly hospitalization rate observed since the 2010–11 season
- The deaths of 8 more children were reported during week 7, for a total of 79 child deaths with influenza reported so far this season
- Among children eligible for influenza vaccination, 90% of reported pediatric deaths this season occurred in children not fully vaccinated against influenza
- RSV:
- The Epidemic Trends map shows that RSV activity is growing in the West and Northeast
- Respiratory Illness Data Channel states that emergency department (ED) visits for RSV are elevated among infants eligible for protection from RSV and children age 4 and younger
- COVID-19: Activity varies by state. Adults age 65 or older had hospitalization rates for COVID-19 higher than younger adults and children throughout the fall and winter.
Level of Respiratory Illness Activity
Because influenza is leading the respiratory illness wave, the ILI map is shown below:
The Epidemic Trends map for RSV, with data through February 27, is shown below, indicating the growing seasonal epidemic of RSV, particularly in the West and Midwest:
It’s not too late to vaccinate! Vaccination against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV reduces the risk of severe illness. Administration of RSV preventive antibodies for all infants younger than 8 months who are unprotected provides them immediate protection as RSV activity rises in many communities.
Healthcare professionals who care for infants should follow guidance of state public health officials concerning how long to administer RSV preventive antibodies to infants. State officials may extend the immunization season beyond March in areas where RSV continues to circulate later in the year than usual.
- 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 that, as of February 14, among adults age 18 and older, 46.5% reported having received a flu vaccination, higher than last season at this same time point (44.6%).
- The National Immunization Survey Fall Respiratory Virus Module shows that influenza vaccination coverage varied by age, health insurance status, poverty status, race and ethnicity, urbanicity, sex, and jurisdiction.
Immunize.org updated Leading Medical Organizations Endorse Strong School and Childcare Vaccination Requirements and Elimination of Non-Medical Exemptions with the most current dates and references for medical organizations, including AAP’s 2025 update.
Related Links
- Immunize.org: School and Childcare Vaccine-Specific Requirements main page
- Immunize.org: State Immunization Websites main page
- Immunize.org: School and Childcare Immunization Exemption Policies main page
- Immunize.org: Official Guidance: Healthcare Professional Organizations main page
Immunize.org updated its Vaccine Storage Emergency Response Worksheet to update manufacturer telephone numbers and product information.
Keep this version in your vaccine storage emergency response plan for quick access to manufacturers when you need guidance on vaccine usability after a storage failure.
Related Links
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Storage & Handling main page
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources A–Z main page, where you can filter by topic, vaccine, language, or other criteria
This week, our newest video in the Ask the Experts Video Series is titled Is Influenza Vaccination Important During Pregnancy? This video briefly describes the importance of flu vaccination during pregnancy, why only inactivated or recombinant vaccines are safe during pregnancy, and how vaccination protects both mother and newborn during the first 6 months of life.
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.
- 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.
- The Guardian: States Sue Trump Administration over Changes to Vaccine Recommendations for Children (2/25/26)
- The Hill: Most in New Poll Say Vaccines Are Safe, School Mandates Are Warranted (2/25/26)
- Washington Post: As Measles Cases Climb, These 9 Diseases Threaten Comebacks (2/24/26)
- Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance: 7 Reasons Why Measles Is More Dangerous Than You Think (2/24/26)
- Medpage Today: U.S. Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccination Rates Plunge, Reversing Years of Gains (2/23/26)
- CBS: How Safe Is America From Polio? (2/22/26)
- USA Today, Opinion: I Was Vaccine-Hesitant. Here’s What Changed My Mind. (2/22/26)
- The Gazette: Bill to End Child Vaccination Requirements in Iowa Exposes Divide (2/21/26)
IZ Express regularly provides readers with information about Immunize.org’s new and updated educational materials for healthcare professionals and patient handouts. All Immunize.org materials are free to distribute.
In case you missed them during recent weeks, the following updated materials were posted for clinicians:
- Screening Checklist for Contraindications to HPV, MenACWY, MenB, and Tdap Vaccines for Teens
- Standing Orders for Administering:
- Clesrovimab RSV Preventive Antibody (Enflonsia, by Merck) to Infants
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine to Children Younger Than Age 7 Years
- Haemophilus influenzae Type B to Children & Teens
- Hepatitis A Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Hepatitis B Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Human Papillomavirus Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine to Infants and Children
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Meningococcal B (MenB) Vaccine to Adolescents and Adults
- Nirsevimab RSV Preventive Antibody (Beyfortus, by Sanofi) to Infants and High-Risk Young Children
- Pfizer Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine (Abrysvo) During Pregnancy
- Pneumococcal Vaccines to Children and Teens
- Rotavirus Vaccine to Infants
- Tdap/Td Vaccine to Children and Teens Age 7 Years and Older
- Varicella Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Website sections:
- Website Office Hours webinars and training videos:
Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) released its 2026 State of the ImmUnion® brief. VYF’s brief describes the ongoing challenges our nation faces with respect to vaccine-preventable diseases and the policies that can increase vaccination rates and promote public safety.
View the brief.
North Dakota State University (NDSU) Center for Immunization Research and Education (CIRE) offers an archived webinar titled Supporting Vaccine Decisions Through Shared Clinic Decision-Making. Shared clinical decision-making (SCDM) is an increasingly prominent framework in vaccination guidance, shaping how healthcare providers engage patients when recommendations are not universal and individual values and risk factors matter. As vaccine recommendations evolve, understanding when and how to apply SCDM is essential for professionals involved in immunization delivery. This webinar, presented by Elizabeth Skoy, PharmD, FAPhA, and Andrea Polkinghorn, RN, reviews the history and clinical context of SCDM in vaccines, outlines provider and patient roles in the decision-making process, and highlights system-level considerations for implementing SCDM in clinical practice.
This activity is approved for free continuing medical education credit.
View the webinar recording.
New! Laminated VIS QR code tables deliver CDC VISs directly to your patients’ smartphone (Spanish translation version also available). Shipping begins mid-March.
The Immunize.org team is pleased to introduce durable, laminated tables of QR codes linking to VISs for vaccines given to children and adults. VISs explain both risks and benefits of vaccination. Federal law requires you to document provision of CDC’s current VIS before administering any vaccine covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. CDC recommends VISs accompany other vaccines, too. An easy, paperless way to comply with the law is for patients to scan a QR code and access the VIS from a smartphone or tablet.
CDC produces official VISs only in English. CDC does not produce or certify available translations, so the official CDC VIS should accompany any translation.
These new tables belong in any room where vaccinations are given. Key features include:
- Use as a booklet or poster: The laminated table arrives folded like a newspaper. It is suitable for desk use as an 8.5" x 11" booklet or wall mounted as an 11" x 17" poster.
- Durable quality: The tough laminate coating can be wiped down.
- Never out-of-date: Any time a VIS or translation is updated, the QR code will direct to the new VIS.
- One version for official CDC VISs and one for Spanish translations: The table of official CDC VISs in English is sold individually. The table of Spanish translations is sold as a bundle with the table of official VISs, so it is easy to make both available.
- Spanish version usable by non-Spanish speakers: The Spanish QR code table has side-by-side text in English to support its use by non-Spanish-speakers.
- Easy access to all available translations: Both versions include a QR code link to the Immunize.org index of all VIS translations available in dozens of languages.
- Bonus content: The reverse side of the QR code poster includes links to Immunize.org's “Addressing Vaccination Anxiety” resources and additional VIS content.
Pricing (includes all shipping and handling costs)
Products will begin shipping mid-March.
Laminated CDC VIS QR Code Table (English)
1 copy: $14.00
2 copies: $9.00 each
3–4 copies: $6.50 each
5–9 copies: $5.00 each
10–19 copies: $4.00 each
20–59 copies: $3.00 each
60+ copies: $2.50 each
Bundle: Laminated CDC (English) + Spanish Translation VIS QR Code Tables
(each bundle includes 1 CDC VIS table and 1 table of Spanish translations)
1 bundle: $20.00
2 bundles: $16.00 each
3–4 bundles: $12.00 each
5–9 bundles: $8.50 each
10–19 bundles: $7.00 each
20–59 bundles: $6.00 each
60+ bundles: $5.00 each
Visit the Shop Immunize.org: Laminated VIS QR Code Tables web page to view images and order today! For additional information, call 651-647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org.
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'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.
If you are looking for tools to explain meningococcal vaccine recommendations and assist in improving adolescent coverage for all recommended vaccines, view this site. Check out the many helpful tools from Immunize.org, CDC, and other organizations.
The website is divided into five easy-to-access sections:
- Vaccinate Teens: teen vaccination schedules and tips for improving vaccination rates
- Give 2 Doses: tools to help improve second dose coverage of MenACWY vaccine
- 16-Year-Old Visit: resources to help providers and patients remember the important vaccines recommended for 16-year-olds
- Tools for Providers: tools to explain meningococcal ACWY vaccine recommendations and improve coverage for all adolescent vaccines
- Resources: links to print materials, organizations involved in adolescent vaccination, personal stories about the importance of vaccination, and other resources of interest
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
- MenACWY: You're Not Done If You Give Just One: Give 2 Doses to Strengthen Protection
- Recommending MenACWY: What to Say and How to Say It
- Top 10 Ways to Improve Adolescent Immunization Rates
- Developing an Immunization Culture in Your Office
- Know Your Rates: Measuring Immunization Success in Your Practice
- You're 16: We Recommend These Vaccines for You
- Dear Colleague Letter: 16-Year-Old Patients: Make Sure They Receive Their Annual Well Visit and Vaccinations, signed by six medical societies
- Ask the Experts: Meningococcal ACWY
- CDC: ACIP Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations
- CDC: Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years—National Immunization Survey–Teen, United States, 2024
On February 26, Common Health Coalition (CHC) published More Illness, Greater Cost: Spotlight Brief; Childhood Immunizations. This new analysis from CHC and researchers at the Yale School of Public Health highlights the community consequences of the declining childhood MMR vaccination rates in the United States. Using measles as a case study, the report finds that:
- As little as a 1% annual decline in MMR coverage could result in more than 17,000 measles cases, 4,000 hospitalizations, and 36 preventable deaths annually in the United States by 2030
- Annual national costs could reach $1.5 billion, accumulating to $7.8 billion over 5 years
- Public health entities and healthcare systems would bear most of these costs, including $947 million annually in outbreak response and $41 million in direct medical costs
- Federal policy changes, reduced public health infrastructure funding, and growing vaccine hesitancy contribute to the decline in MMR vaccination coverage
These findings underscore how crucial sustained investment in immunization infrastructure and cross-sector collaboration are to protecting children and maintaining health system stability.
Related Link
- Common Health Coalition press release: Declining Measles Vaccination Rates Predicted to Cost the United States ~$7.8 Billion by 2030, Finds Study from the Common Health Coalition and Yale School of Public Health (2/26/26)
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 North Dakota State University (NDSU) Center for Immunization Research and Education will host a webinar titled The Evidence Hasn't Changed: Communicating Vaccine Science When the Landscape Has at 1:00 p.m. on March 13. This webinar will review the current state of vaccine safety evidence, including what the research does and does not show regarding commonly cited concerns. Participants will explore how recent policy and institutional changes are influencing access to reliable vaccine information, and gain practical, evidence-based communication strategies to address misinformation and build trust in clinical and public health settings.
This activity is approved for free continuing medical education credit and continuing pharmacy education credit.
Register for the webinar.
CDC will convene the ACIP on March 18–19, starting at 8:00 a.m. (ET). The agenda includes updates on ACIP workgroups, discussions on adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination, Long-COVID, and ACIP recommendation methodology. Recommendation votes may be scheduled.
Register to make an oral public comment during the meeting or submit a written public comment to ACIP between March 2–12. Opportunities for public comment are described on the website.
No registration is required to watch webcasts of live ACIP meetings or listen via telephone.
View the agenda.
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