- Immunize.org publishes 2026 annual data and maps of state immunization requirements and exemption policies for childcare and school; 2025 archived
- CDC publishes 2026 update to its Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit
- Immunize.org updates “Key Vaccination Resources for Healthcare Professionals”
- Measles 2026: 2,260 confirmed measles cases in 42 states and DC; MMWR describes wastewater-based surveillance
- “Healthcare Professional Organization Recs and Schedules" (mobile view): the new 3-minute video, part of the Orientation Video Series for Smartphones on YouTube
- Vaccines in the news
- Vaccinate Your Family launches new 2026 back-to-school routine immunization campaign; also available in Spanish
- National Immunization Awareness Month starts August 1. Promote protection with Voices for Vaccines' resources.
- Association of Immunization Managers publishes important resources to help administrators plan to implement new vaccine recommendations
- Reminder: Summit Adult Vaccine Recommendations Review (SAVRR) Council advises following 2025–26 seasonal respiratory virus vaccine recommendations until medical societies publish 2026–27 recommendations
Notable Publications
Immunize.org annually updates its state policy web pages based upon information confirmed and provided by state, New York City, and District of Columbia immunization program managers. These resources are valuable for vaccine advocates, public health, clinicians, families, and policymakers. In 2026, despite hundreds of vaccine-related bills filed in state legislatures, there were ultimately very few changes to state immunization requirements for childcare, school, or college entry.
Immunize.org’s website now shows the following information, updated as of May 2026:
- Vaccine-specific maps and data tables summarizing state immunization requirements for childcare, school, and college entry
- Current state vaccine exemption policies for childcare and school entry
- Web links to each state’s website with details about their childcare and school requirements, and additional related resources
Our pages link to downloadable PDF versions of each 2026 data table and map. Archived data tables and maps for 2023–25 are also available to allow for comparisons of requirements across years.
Immunize.org's August Office Hours sessions will review the content on the Official Guidance and the State Policies web pages. Register for a session: Wednesday, August 12 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or Thursday, August 13 at 12:00 p.m. (ET).
Immunize.org thanks all immunization personnel who updated and verified their information. For questions about a state’s requirements, please contact that state immunization program directly. To ask questions about our site content, contact us.
Related Links
- Immunize.org: State Immunization Vaccine-Specific Requirements web page
- Immunize.org: State Exemptions web page
- Immunize.org: Archive of State Childcare, School, and College Immunization Requirements and Exemption Policies web page
CDC released a major 2026 update to its Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit, an essential resource for every facility that stores and offers vaccines. The toolkit provides clear, science-based guidance for vaccine storage, handling, and transportation. Consistent adherence to proper storage and handling practices is essential to ensure patient safety, prevent loss of vaccine, and ensure vaccines work as designed.
The 2026 toolkit edition includes new and refreshed resources; improved guidance on storage, monitoring, preparation, and transport; clearer alignment with Vaccines for Children (VFC) program requirements; and a revised addendum for Jynneos mpox (referred to by CDC as “monkeypox”) vaccine provided through the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).
Previously available only as a PDF document, the main toolkit content is now available both on CDC's website and as a printable PDF. The web-based content improves accessibility, searchability, and ease of use across devices.
If you store or handle vaccines, view, download, or print the toolkit today:
- CDC: Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit
- CDC: Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit (PDF)
- CDC: Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit Resources (PDF)
- CDC: Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit Addendum for SNS-Supplied Jynneos (PDF)
Immunize.org updated its annotated list of key training and reference materials for people who vaccinate or oversee vaccination clinics. Key Vaccination Resources for Healthcare Professionals provides a strong foundation for building and sustaining vaccination skills.
Recent changes include:
- Removed references to CDC’s Pink Book webinar series (not updated since 2021)
- Updated links to EZ immunization services from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Immunization Branch (EZIZ)
Related Links
- Immunize.org: Skills Checklist for Vaccine Administration (PDF)
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Administering Vaccines main page
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources A–Z main page, where you can filter by topic, vaccine, language, or other criteria
Measles 2026: 2,260 confirmed measles cases in 42 states and DC; MMWR describes wastewater-based surveillance
CDC reported that as of July 17, 2026:
- 29 new measles cases in the previous week, reaching 2,260 confirmed measles cases for 2026
- 42 states, New York City, and the District of Columbia reported measles cases in 2026
- 34 new outbreaks were reported in 2026
Specific numbers from CDC and individual state websites differ slightly because the frequency and timing of federal and state updates vary.
Related Links- AAP: Fact Checked: The MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine Is Safe and Effective web page
- CDC: Measles Cases and Outbreaks main page
- Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: Measles main page
- LetsGetRealAboutVaccines.org: Measles web page
- VaccineInformation.org: Measles web page
- CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications
“Healthcare Professional Organization Recs and Schedules” (mobile view): the new 3-minute video, part of the Orientation Video Series for Smartphones on YouTube
This week, Immunize.org shares its latest 3-minute orientation video for people who use a smartphone to access our websites: Healthcare Professional Organization Recs and Schedules (mobile view).
Some healthcare professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), issue their own vaccination guidance that may differ from CDC guidance. In this video, Kelly Moore, MD, MPH, reviews the areas of the Immunize.org website that give you access to schedules and recommendations from these organizations, as well as from CDC.
The video is available on our YouTube channel, along with our full Orientation Video Series for Smartphones. This series is a collection of short videos to help you learn how to navigate Immunize.org resources through your mobile device.
The full Orientation Video Series can also be found on Immunize.org's website from the Clinical Resources menu by clicking "Webinars & Videos," then Videos, and then Orientation Video Series.
Immunize.org videos are often shared on our social media channels. Please 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
- Immunize.org: Orientation Video Series: Healthcare Professional Organization Schedules and Recommendations (standard video)
- Immunize.org: Orientation Video Series: all 24 videos
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
- Washington Post: It Was a Small Scratch. But Tetanus Left Her Fighting for Her Life. (7/18/26)
- ABC: Measles Cases in 2026 Are Set to Surpass Last Year’s Total. Here’s Why (7/15/26)
- Wyoming Public Media: Updated: Measles Reaches ‘Community Spread’ with Fourth and Fifth Case (7/14/26)
- Independent: UK Teens Urged to Get Meningitis B Jab After Deadly Student Outbreaks (7/13/26)
- The Conversation: How Canada’s Vaccine Infrastructure Helped Guard Against Infectious Disease During the FIFA World Cup (7/12/26)
This week’s Spotlight features the Travel Vaccines sections of both the Immunize.org and VaccineInformation.org sites. These resources provide easy access to reliable travel vaccination guidance for healthcare professionals and the public.
Immunize.org: Travel Vaccines
Found under the Vaccines & VISs tab, this section links to key travel vaccination resources from CDC and nongovernmental experts, such as the International Society of Travel Medicine.
Scroll down the page to see a disease directory that lists preventable diseases with travel vaccination considerations. Links take you directly to the travel information section of Vaccine A–Z pages on our website.
VaccineInformation.org: Travel Vaccine Basics
At VaccineInformation.org, our Travel Vaccine Basics main page is located under the Vaccine Basics tab. It provides links to plain-language travel vaccination resources from CDC and nongovernmental experts. Direct links to popular resources on the CDC Travelers’ Health website and CDC Travel Health Notices make it easy to find detailed advice.
Below the Key Resources section, a Disease Directory lists vaccine-preventable diseases with travel vaccination considerations. Each of the disease pages listed on the "Travel Vaccine Basics" main page contains disease-specific travel information.
Within the Where to Get Vaccinated tab of the Vaccine Basics section, we provide a section with links to assist travelers looking for a travel vaccine clinic.
Use our Travel Vaccine resources on both Immunize.org and VaccineInformation.org to connect to trustworthy travel vaccination information.
Related Links
- Orientation Video Series: Introducing Travel Vaccine Information (3:09)
- Orientation Video Series: Introducing Travel Vaccine Information (mobile view) (3:39)
- Website Office Hours: Travel Vaccines (28:15)
Immunize.org made a subtle change to its clinical handout Don’t Be Guilty of These Preventable Errors in Vaccine Administration! to clarify the interchangeability of Merck diluents for its measles- and varicella-containing vaccines. The new language states:
If the wrong diluent is used, the vaccine needs to be repeated (except in a case of mixing up the diluent for Merck’s MMR [MMR II], MMRV [ProQuad], and varicella [Varivax] vaccines, because all 3 use the same sterile water diluent).
Vaccinate Your Family recently launched #FirstDayVax, its 2026 back-to-school immunization campaign. Back-to-school season can feel overwhelming for families, with new schedules, school forms, and information coming from many directions. The campaign helps families cut through the noise and focus on one simple, important step: making sure children are up to date on routine vaccines before the first day of school.
Using the theme #MakeTheCall, the campaign encourages families to contact their children’s healthcare providers for vaccine checkups. From early childhood through college, staying on schedule helps protect students, families, and communities from preventable diseases.
Vaccinate Your Family asks partners to help spread the word using the shareable graphics and sample posts in the campaign toolkit, available in English and Spanish. When posting, use the hashtags #FirstDayVax and #MakeTheCall and tag @VaccinateYourFamily (@vaxyourfam on X) to amplify your posts.
National Immunization Awareness Month starts August 1. Promote protection with Voices for Vaccines' resources.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the importance of protecting people of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases through on-time vaccination. NIAM serves as a focal point for sharing credible information about the importance of staying up to date with routine immunizations.
Voices for Vaccines' (VFV) NIAM 2026 web page serves as a guide to promoting immunization throughout the month. This year's key message is that protection from vaccine-preventable diseases gives you one less threat to worry about. The page includes customizable social media graphics and video templates, sample captions, and a weekly posting schedule. It also offers steps to prepare for NIAM in July, including a template proclamation to submit to a governor's office or local lawmaker, and letter-to-the-editor templates for volunteers. VFV encourages partners to share these messages using the hashtags #AskForVax and #NIAM26.
During NIAM, encourage your patients to catch up on well-care exams and recommended vaccines. Research shows that healthcare providers remain the most trusted source of vaccine information for parents and patients.
Association of Immunization Managers publishes important resources to help administrators plan to implement new vaccine recommendations
Following the challenges of implementing new COVID-19 and mpox vaccines in recent years, the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) developed the Vaccine Implementation Project (VIP) to clearly outline all stages of vaccine research, approval, recommendations, and implementation, and to support improvements in this process. VIP is designed to strengthen communication, understanding, and collaboration across immunization programs, vaccine manufacturers, insurers, and governmental and nongovernmental partners involved in the implementation of a new vaccine.
AIM recently released Partner Dissemination Tools with ready-to-use materials to help partners share resources. Materials include short and long sample messages, graphics, promotion slides, and draft email content. Additional resources include:
- Vaccine Implementation Playbook: A detailed resource with steps aligned to vaccine-development stages to help partners better understand the steps immunization programs can take to prepare for new and revised vaccine recommendations.
- Environmental Scan: Considerations for Vaccine Implementation: This is an analytical resource that summarizes steps, gaps, and promising practices related to vaccine implementation.
- Routine Vaccine Implementation Process Flowchart: This resource maps key phases, partners, and activities across vaccine and policy development stages.
- Partnership Landscape Analysis: This poster clarifies partner roles and coordination points across the vaccine and policy development stages. It identifies opportunities for partners to better support immunization programs.
If you are involved in planning or implementing new vaccines, AIM encourages sharing these ready-to-use partner tools with your colleagues and networks. AIM staff can also be invited to make presentations about the Vaccine Implementation Project or to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
Reminder: Summit Adult Vaccine Recommendations Review (SAVRR) Council advises following 2025–26 seasonal respiratory virus vaccine recommendations until medical societies publish 2026–27 recommendations
The Summit Adult Vaccination Recommendations Review (SAVRR) Council is a group of representatives of diverse organizations that deliver vaccinations to adults who meet to discuss implementation challenges and provide implementation guidance to support vaccinators who are following recommendations issued by medical societies. They approved the following guidance for clinicians at their June meeting: The SAVRR Council recommends that healthcare professionals follow existing 2025–26 influenza, COVID-19, and RSV immunization recommendations from relevant professional medical associations for administering 2026–27 vaccines, once they become available, until updated recommendations for 2026–27 respiratory season vaccines are released.
The medical societies planning to issue updated vaccination recommendations for seasonal respiratory viruses (influenza, RSV, COVID-19) are the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). These organizations are coordinating the timing of the release of their updated recommendations in early September. AAP aims to publish its childhood influenza recommendations in August, with its RSV and COVID-19 recommendations coming in September.
The SAVRR Council is a committee of the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS), known as “the Summit,” established in 2026 to support implementation of evidence-based vaccination recommendations. To maintain its independence, the SAVRR Council does not accept vaccine industry funding or industry participation in its membership. Immunize.org administers and serves as the fiscal agent for the Summit and the SAVRR Council.
View the full guidance document: SAVRR Council Interim Implementation Guidance on 2026–2027 Fall Respiratory Season Vaccination Recommendations (PDF).
In its July 2026 issue, Hepatology Communications published Long-Term Protection Following a Primary Series of Hepatitis B Vaccine in Alaska Native Children and Adults. More than 4 decades after vaccination, no vaccine recipient who effectively responded to a 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine series developed chronic hepatitis B, the most serious consequence of hepatitis B infection. Portions of the abstract appear below.
We administered a 3-dose primary series of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine [Merck’s original Heptavax-B vaccine of the early 1980s] to Alaska Native persons aged 6 months or above who resided in an HBV-endemic area of western Alaska. . . .
During 1981–1982, 1351 persons completed the hepatitis B vaccine primary series and had anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL at 6 months after vaccination; median age at enrollment was 13 years (range: 0.5–77). The overall proportion with serologic evidence of protection was 95% at 22 years, 95% at 30 years, 88% at 35 years, and 91% at 41 years after vaccination. At 41 years, 32% had circulating anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL, and 59% had immune memory. During 41 years of follow-up, 16 (1%) persons had evidence of a breakthrough infection; none developed chronic hepatitis B.
In its July 10 issue, JAMA Network Open published Measles-Containing Vaccine Use for Children Aged 12 to 47 Months, 2015 to 2025. The article highlights the use of MMRV combination vaccine in children requiring catch-up vaccination and children eligible for the VFC program. Portions of the article appear below.
Between 2015 and 2025, 213 445 King County children aged 12 to 47 months received 1 or more MCV [measles-containing vaccine] or VCV dose [varicella-containing vaccine]. At first receipt, 136 084 children (64%) received coadministered MMR + VAR, 37 938 (18%) MMR alone, 31 430 (15%) MMRV and 7993 (4%) VAR alone (Table). Compared with non–MMRV-receiving children, significantly more MMRV-receiving children were 16 to 47 months old (catch-up dose); were Hispanic; were American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, multiracial, other race, or not specified; resided in the South region of King County; were VFC-eligible; or were vaccinated at safety-net clinics (P < .001). . . .
In this study, 15% of King County children received MMRV as their first MCV and VCV dose, a proportion that remained stable over time. Compared with other children in this analysis, more children who received MMRV were from minoritized racial and ethnic groups; received a catch-up dose; were VFC-eligible; and were vaccinated at safety-net clinics. This population might be at risk of not receiving recommended vaccines if options become limited. Racial and ethnic disparities in childhood vaccination coverage have declined since the implementation of the VFC program. Combination vaccines, including MMRV, are associated with improved coverage by reducing the number of injections, clinic visits, and costs for families. In safety-net settings, where visit time, vaccine inventory, and follow-up may be constrained, limited access to MMRV could disproportionately affect VFC-eligible children by reducing vaccine options and increasing barriers to timely series completion.
On July 15, WHO and UNICEF released the 2025 WHO and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) and held a public webinar to discuss the key findings. The archived webinar (92 minutes) is available for viewing.
The annual WUENIC estimates represent the world's most comprehensive and widely used dataset on immunization coverage, providing insights into trends in essential infant and childhood vaccine coverage across WHO and UNICEF Member States. The estimates help highlight areas where progress accelerated, where challenges persist, and where setbacks in coverage occurred.
A portion of the press release appears below:
According to the data, an estimated 13.5 million “zero-dose” children did not receive a single vaccine in their first year during 2025. While these represent nearly 750 000 fewer children than the previous year, progress is offset by a rising number of children who start the schedule and do not complete it. Most of these children live in countries where national immunization programmes receive support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. . . .
Globally, 7.3 million infants are estimated to have received their first DTP [diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis] dose but dropped out before receiving their first measles dose. This drop-out rate contributed to stalled measles coverage with 84% of children receiving the first measles dose (MCV1) and 77% receiving the second dose (MCV2). Both figures fall far short of the 95% threshold required to prevent outbreaks of this highly contagious virus. Consequently, 57 countries reported large or disruptive measles outbreaks in 2025. . . .
Compared to their 2019 baselines, the Americas and South-East Asia have fully recovered and improved their performance, with the latter now the highest performing region. While Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Europe regions saw gains last year, their coverage remains below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. By contrast, the Western Pacific experienced a decline, leaving it the region furthest below its 2019 baseline. . . .
In middle- and high‑income countries, even where vaccines are fully accessible, coverage is slipping amid shifting political commitment, structural challenges or rising hesitancy.
Related Links
- WHO: WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage web page
- YouTube: 2025 WHO and UNICEF National Estimates of Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) archived webinar
- WHO and UNICEF news release: Global Childhood Immunization Coverage Inches Forward Despite Conflict and Hesitancy (7/15/26)
- TechNet: Q&A: Digital Tools and WUENIC: Strengthening Immunization Data for Better Decision-Making (7/14/26)
“2025 CDC Global Health Annual Report” highlights CDC role in preventing outbreaks from spreading to the United States
On July 13, CDC released its 2025 Global Health Annual Report, highlighting the agency's work to detect and contain disease outbreaks abroad before they reach the United States. With increased travel, humanitarian crises, and evolving pathogens, outbreaks can cross borders within hours, making early detection at the source a key component of U.S. health security.
The report emphasizes immunization as one of the most effective ways to prevent outbreaks before they start. For example, global polio eradication efforts avert more than 50,000 paralytic polio cases and $2 billion in U.S. health costs annually. Global polio cases decreased by more than 99% since 1988.
The report describes CDC's work with countries to strengthen immunization programs, including experts on site in more than 60 countries who work with ministries of health, laboratories, and frontline responders to identify risks and respond to them.Related Links
- CDC: 2025 CDC Global Health Annual Report web page
- CDC: 2025 CDC Global Health Annual Report (PDF)
To learn simple tips and tricks for using our websites efficiently, please register for our next set of Website Office Hours on Wednesday, August 12, at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or Thursday, August 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 Official Guidance: States web section, which includes maps and tables for each state’s vaccination requirements and exemptions. See the first of the Top Stories in this issue for details. 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.
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ISSN 2771-8085
Editorial Information
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Editor-in-ChiefKelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
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Managing EditorJohn D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
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Associate EditorSharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
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Writer/Publication CoordinatorTaryn Chapman, MS
Courtnay Londo, MA -
Style and Copy EditorMarian Deegan, JD
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Web Edition ManagersArkady Shakhnovich
Jermaine Royes -
Technical ReviewerKayla Ohlde