Author: Kate Smith

2025 Immunization Champion Award

Posted on by Kate Smith

Recognize an individual who goes above and beyond to support immunization in Delaware! The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) is excited to launch the 2025 Immunization Champion Award!  This national award program recognizes an Immunization Champion from each of the 64 federally funded immunization programs. Nominees are chosen for their commitment to going above and beyond to promote or foster adult and childhood immunizations in their communities. Learn about eligibility requirements and more at www.immunizationmanagers.org.

DPH Provides Recommendations to Protect Yourself and Your Children From Measles

Posted on by Kate Smith

CONTACT: Laura Matusheski, Media Relations CoordinatorEmail: DPHMedia@delaware.gov DOVER, Del. (March 20, 2025) – With the recent increase in measles cases throughout the United States, the Delaware Division of Public (DPH) has received requests for information on how Delawareans can protect themselves from the measles virus. As advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to protect against measles remains vaccination. The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, often referred to as the MMR vaccine, is safe and highly effective, with one dose being 93% effective and two doses being 97% effective against measles. Children 12 months of Read More …

Hot Topic: Measles Cases on the Rise

Posted on by Kate Smith

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 6:00 pm The Medical Society of Delaware is presenting this online CME event. The recent surge in measles cases is a cause for concern. Join us for an educational session to learn about the outbreak and the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of this highly contagious disease. Speaker Dr. Stephen C. Eppes, MD; Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist Register

Free Event: Measles in a Time of Uncertainty

Posted on by Kate Smith

Measles in a Time of Uncertainty: What to Tell Your Patients Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm EDT Measles is surging—are you ready to diagnose, manage, and protect your patients? The US eliminated measles—or so we thought. But now, outbreaks are back, fueled by declining vaccination rates, misinformation, and increased travel. Do you know the latest epidemiology, clinical warning signs, and how to stop the spread? Key Takeaways: Can’t make it to the event? Register now to receive the recording afterward. SPEAKERS Paul A. Offit, MD, is the director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Read More …

Vaccine Composition: 2025-2026 Flu Season

Posted on by Kate Smith

On March 13, the FDA made recommendations to vaccine manufacturers for the virus strains to be used in influenza (flu) vaccines for the 2025-2026 U.S. flu season following a thorough and comprehensive review of U.S. and global surveillance data. With the action, the FDA does not anticipate any impact on timing or availability of vaccines for the American public. The recommendations are similar to the previous year’s strain selection. To inform the selection of the flu virus strains, the FDA convened a meeting of scientific and public health experts from the FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department Read More …

Measles and Vitamin A

Posted on by Kate Smith

From Your Local Epidemiologist: The WHO recommends vitamin A for people who contract measles because: Studies have shown that: However, only 0.3% of the US population has a vitamin A deficiency. Similar studies from other high-income countries with low levels of vitamin A deficiency suggest that the vitamin doesn’t make that much difference on measles. There is some data to suggest that vitamin A levels may drop during a measles infection, and when administered in cotrolled doses under the supervision of a doctor, it is a low risk intervention. But it’s unclear how much it actually helps. TL;DR: You can Read More …

Measles Update 2025

Posted on by Kate Smith

Check out this video from CHOP, created in 2022: Measles: Symptoms, Spread, & SSPE CDC.gov Measles Update Updated: March 5, 2025 Texas The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles in the South Plains region of Texas. At this time, 159 cases have been identified since late January. Twenty of the patients have been hospitalized. There has been one fatality in a school-aged child who lived in the outbreak area. The child was not vaccinated. Counties affected: Dallam (4), Dawson (9), Ector (2), Gaines (107), Lubbock (3), Lynn (2), Martin (3), Terry (22), Yoakum (7). Vaccine Read More …

WHO Recommendations for Influenza Vaccine Composition for 2025-2026

Posted on by Kate Smith

February 28, 2025 The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced the recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2025–2026 influenza season in the northern hemisphere. The announcement was made at an information session at the end of a 4-day meeting on the Composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines, a meeting that is held twice annually.  The WHO recommends that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2025–2026 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:  Egg-based vaccines Cell culture-, recombinant protein- or nucleic acid-based vaccines The recommendation for the B/Yamagata lineage component of quadrivalent influenza vaccines remains unchanged from previous recommendations: Read more