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Issue 1,822: July 9, 2025  
Top Stories
 
Immunize​.org Website and Clinical Resources 
 
Featured Resources
 
Notable Publications
 
Upcoming Events
 
Top Stories

LetsGetRealAboutVaccines.org, Immunize​.org’s newest website, provides credible, plain-language information about routine pediatric vaccines

The Let’s Get Real campaign, created in 2024, was originally researched and reviewed by medical, public health, and communications experts at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies. The development team worked with parents and providers to find the right tone and focus on key issues. The HHS campaign ended in 2025. Immunize​.org acquired the content to continue providing this clear and accurate information.
 
Key features of LetsGetReal.org (also accessible via LetsGetRealAboutVaccines.org) include:

  • Personal stories to convey important facts and plain language to debunk misinformation
  • Information that is real, balanced, and unbiased
  • Content in English and Spanish (Hablemos en serio)
LetsGetReal.org is divided into four main parts:
  • Learn about Children’s Vaccines: This section offers answers to help families separate fact from fiction and to learn why most adults make sure their children receive vaccines. It addresses vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine safety, vaccine science, the vaccination schedule, and common questions.
  • Separate Fact from Fiction: This section gives families tools to separate what’s true from what’s not. It highlights subsections such as Understanding Risk, Correlation vs. Causation, and the Credibility Checklist.
  • Share the Facts: This is an extensive searchable library of parent-tested materials, including shareable social media graphics, videos, infographics, and fact sheets.
  • Help Patients: This section features a provider-tested approach called ARM (Act, Recommend, Motivate), to aid vaccine conversations.



Please explore LetsGetReal.org and see for yourself. We welcome feedback at www.immunize.org/about/org/contact.


CDC adopts MenABCWY and adult RSV recommendations from April 15–16 ACIP meeting

On June 25, the Secretary of Health and Human Services adopted the meningococcal ABCWY (MenABCWY, Penmenvy, GSK) and adult RSV vaccine recommendations made by the ACIP during its April 15–16 meeting. These are now official CDC recommendations. 

Meningococcal Vaccines
ACIP recommends GSK's MenABCWY (Penmenvy) when both MenACWY and MenB are indicated at the same visit. This recommendation applies to two groups:

  • Healthy people age 16–23 years (routine schedule) when shared clinical decision-making favors giving MenB vaccine
  • People age 10 years and older who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease (e.g., persistent complement deficiencies, complement inhibitor use, or functional or anatomic asplenia).

RSV Vaccines – Adults
Previously, ACIP recommended RSV vaccination for all people age 75 years and older and for those adults age 60–74 years at increased risk of severe RSV disease. The new recommendation expands the second cohort, adding adults age 50–59 years. Thus, ACIP recommends RSV vaccination for adults age 50–74 years at increased risk. CDC published guidance describing chronic medical conditions and other risk factors for severe RSV disease to apply to this risk-based recommendation. At this time, adult RSV vaccination, using any licensed brand, is recommended as a single lifetime dose.

Now that these recommendations are official, they will be published in MMWR and reflected in CDC and Immunize​.org’s print and digital resources in coming months.

Related Links

Back to top

Immunize​.org updates data and maps of state immunization requirements and exemption policies for childcare and school

Each year, Immunize​.org updates its state policy web pages showing:

The data Immunize​.org displays are reviewed and verified by every state immunization program each year. These resources are valuable for vaccine advocates, public health, clinicians, families, and policymakers.

Our updated pages provide links to downloadable PDF versions of each 2025 data table and map. Archived data tables and maps for 2023 and 2024 remain available.


 
Immunize.org's August Office Hours sessions will review the content found on the Official Guidance and the State Policies web pages. Register for a session: Wednesday, August 6 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or Thursday, July 10 at 12:00 p.m. (ET).

Immunize​.org thanks the state immunization personnel who shared their updated 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

Confirmed measles cases increase to 1,267 across 37 states; North Carolina, Oregon, and Utah report first cases in 2025

As of July 1, CDC reported 1,267 confirmed measles cases in 2025 in 37 states, including the first cases reported this year in North Carolina, Oregon, and Utah. The states with the most confirmed cases in 2025 are Texas (753, 59.4%), New Mexico (95, 7.5%), and Kansas (83, 6.6%). Among confirmed cases of all ages, 12% were hospitalized. Among those younger than age 5 years, 21% were hospitalized.

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 measles cases in the contiguous United States, as of July 3, from the Johns Hopkins International Vaccine Access Center appears below. The U.S. Measles Tracker website includes state and county-level data.



CDC offers measles-related resources , including infographics for families, images to help clinic personnel identify cases, guidance for caring for patients with measles, Travelers' Health: Global Measles web page, and a Be Ready for Measles communication toolkit. Spanish-language resources are available within the toolkit. 



Related Links


Immunize​.org’s Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll recognizes 589 institutions, including one new honoree

Immunize​.org is pleased to welcome one new institution into its Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll, which now recognizes 589 honorees. The new birthing institution appears below with its reported hepatitis B birth dose coverage rates in parentheses.   

  • University Health, San Antonio, TX (92%)

Please join us in recognizing these honorees with sustained excellence that qualify for an additional year:  

  • Jackson Hospital, Marianna, FL (98%) (3 years)
  • Denver Health Hospital, Denver, CO (94%) (7 years)

The Honor Roll includes 589 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. To learn whether your organization qualifies and to access the application form, please see Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll online.

Honorees receive an 8.5" x 11" color certificate suitable for printing and framing. Their acceptance is announced through Immunize​.org’s social media channels and to IZ Express’s readers. 
  
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 


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: “Travel Vaccines” page

This week’s Spotlight features our Travel Vaccines main page that provides easy access to travel vaccination guidance from authoritative sources. Found under the Vaccines & VISs tab, this section links to key travel resources from CDC and other nongovernmental experts, such as the World Health Organization.

Direct links to popular resources on the CDC Travelers’ Health website and the current CDC Yellow Book make it easy to locate what you and traveling patients need.



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 relevant Vaccine A–Z pages.


Featured Resources

Help Immunize​.org reach more vaccinators through your social media networks. Follow us and share our posts on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!

Immunize​.org offers a social media program to highlight our educational resources for a new audience of vaccinators. Our social media channels feature our most popular printable resources and Ask the Experts questions, as well as announcements important to frontline vaccinators. Our short educational videos are all available on our YouTube channel in 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:


Immunize​.org lifetime immunization record cards available for patient-held records

Immunize​.org offers wallet-sized Lifetime Immunization Record Cards, printed on rip-proof, smudge-proof, waterproof paper designed to last a lifetime. Sold in boxes of 250.

To purchase record cards, please visit the Immunize​.org Shop.

Related Link


Notable Publications

"Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy and Infant Influenza in the First 6 Months of Life" published in Obstetrics & Gynecology

In its June 26 issue, Obstetrics & Gynecology published Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy and Infant Influenza in the First 6 Months of Life. The results and conclusions sections appear below.

RESULTS: Of the 245,498 infants included in the study, 46.0% were born to vaccinated mothers. The incidence of influenza was lower among infants of vaccinated mothers than unvaccinated mothers (0.12% vs 0.30%). After adjusting for covariates, vaccination during pregnancy was associated with a reduction in infant influenza in any clinical setting by 44.4% (95% CI, 31.4–54.9%). Vaccination during the first trimester was associated with a reduction in infant influenza by 11.3%, a reduction of 51.5% during the second trimester, and a reduction of 59.3% during the third trimester. The differences in vaccine effectiveness estimates that compared the first and second trimesters (P=.02) and compared the first and third trimesters (P<.001 were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Influenza vaccination during pregnancy was associated with a reduction in infant influenza infection by 44.4%. The reduction in infant influenza infection was greater when vaccination occurred in the second or third trimester, compared with the first trimester.


“Parental Reasons for Non-Receipt of Influenza Vaccination Among Children 6 Months–17 Years and Changes over Time, 2015–2024” published in Vaccine

In its August 13, 2025, issue (now available online), Vaccine published Parental Reasons for Non-Receipt of Influenza Vaccination Among Children 6 Months–17 Years and Changes over Time, 2015–2024. The results section appears below.

The most commonly reported reasons for non-receipt of influenza vaccination across all seasons studied were: belief their child is unlikely to get very sick from influenza, concern about side effects/safety, and belief influenza vaccines do not work very well (48.2%, 43.3%, and 37.0%, respectively, in 2023–24). Parental reporting of thinking their child is unlikely to get very sick from influenza increased more than other reasons for non-vaccination since the COVID-19 pandemic. Across all seasons studied, very few reported access-related reasons. Reasons for non-vaccination varied by state and by demographic characteristics.


“Infant Antibodies After Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy or Postpartum” published in Pediatrics 

In its June 24 issue, Pediatrics published Infant Antibodies After Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy or Postpartum. The results and conclusions sections appear below.

RESULTS: Significantly higher [geometric mean titers] GMTs of binding antibody and [neutralizing antibody] nAb to all antigens were present at birth and 2 months in infants of boosted mothers (P < .01) and higher titers to the vaccine strain, but not Omicron BA.1 and BA.5, persisted up to 6 months of age in infants of boosted mothers compared with the other groups (P < .01). Higher infant antibody titers at delivery and 6 months of age were associated with a booster dose during pregnancy and maternal prenatal and infant COVID-19 infection. Maternal infection status or vaccine regimen did not influence the half-life of infant antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS: A maternal COVID-19 booster in pregnancy results in significantly higher functional antibody titers in infants compared with 2 doses in pregnancy or postpartum. High titers at birth and maternal hybrid immunity result in persistently elevated titers in infants for 6 months.


“Vaccines Matter: Measles and Its Complications” published in Pediatrics

In its June 10 issue, Pediatrics published Vaccines Matter: Measles and Its Complications. The conclusions section appears below.

When I was 7, my eldest brother, Sammy, was diagnosed with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)—a sequela of measles infection. He rapidly deteriorated into a vegetative state. Looking back, the bulk of my childhood consisted of mixing nasogastric feeds for him and assisting with his physical therapy alongside my grandfather to prevent worsening contractures. It was extremely traumatic, to say the least. . . . Sammy ultimately passed away when I was 17, after living for 10 years with SSPE.

I write today to implore you to please advocate for vaccines. My personal experience with Sammy is precisely why vaccines matter.


Upcoming Events

Today, virtual: Voices for Vaccines hosts National Immunization Awareness Month kickoff meeting on July 9 at 12:00 p.m. (ET)

Voices for Vaccines will host a kickoff meeting for National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), from 12:00–1:00 p.m. (ET) on July 9. Speakers will share the newest social media assets and how to customize them for your audience during NIAM this August.

Register for the webinar.


Today, virtual: Register for Immunize​.org Website Office Hours. Ask questions and learn about the LetsGetRealAboutVaccines.org website on July 9 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or July 10 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Recorded sessions archived.

To learn simple tips and tricks for using our website efficiently, please register for our next set of Website Office Hours today, Wednesday, July 9 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or Thursday, July 10 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). The same content will be covered in both sessions.

We will open each 45-minute session with a short, live demonstration on navigating Immunize​.org’s newly launched Let’s Get Real About Vaccines website. Please see the story above for more about this exciting resource.

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. These archived programs include Ask the Experts; Clinical Resources; Vaccine Information Statements (VISs); Affiliated Websites; Images, Webinars, Videos, & Social Media; News & Updates; Official Guidance Part 1 & 2; Publication Archives, Vaccine Timeline, & About Us; Travel Vaccines, Vaccine Confidence, & Addressing Concerns; and Vaccines A–Z.

See our Calendar of Events for future Immunize​.org Website Office Hours.


For more upcoming events, visit our Calendar of Events.
Editorial Information

Editor-in-Chief
Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
Managing Editor
John D. Gräbenstein, 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
 
About IZ Express
Immunize​.org welcomes redistribution of this issue of IZ Express or selected articles.
When you do so, please add a note that Immunize​.org is the source of the material and provide a link to this issue.

IZ Express is supported in part by Grant No. NH23IP922654 from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC. 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






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