Author: Kate Smith

AAP: Recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccines

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On August 19, the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases provided the following recommendations for Infants, Children, and Adolescents and COVID-19 Vaccines. [See policy statement.] Infants and children 6-23 months of age who do not have contraindications should receive 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine Children 6 months – 18 years of age who are moderately or severely immunocompromised require 2+ doses of age-appropriate 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine depending on previous vaccination status A single dose of age-appropriate 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all children and adolescents 2-18 years in the following high risk groups (regardless of prior COVID-19 vaccination status) Read More …

HHS Pulls the Plug on mRNA Vaccine Development

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U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced yesterday that HHS will cancel 22 federally funded mRNA vaccine development projects worth $500 million—a move infectious disease specialists and biosecurity experts warned was “dangerous” and “short-sighted,” reports the AP. The contracts were between the federal emergency preparedness agency, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and leading pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna to develop vaccines for respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu—building off the breakthroughs credited with slowing the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and saving millions of lives, reports Axios.  In a statement, Kennedy claimed the mRNA vaccines “fail to Read More …

Webinars & Events

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Here’s a list of some upcoming webinars and events: Vaccines, Voices, and Validity: Confronting Misinformation and Supporting the Autism Community with Compassion and Clarity Tuesday, August 12 from 12-1pm ET Join the New Jersey Immunization Network for an important webinar focused on addressing misinformation surrounding vaccines and autism and supporting the Autism community in clinical settings. Featuring Dr. Peter Hotez and Danielle Hall (Autism Society of America), this session will explain the genetic basis of autism and its interaction with environmental factors during early pregnancy, explore the rise of antivaccine activism, clarify misconceptions around autism and vaccines, and offer practical Read More …

Danish Study Finds Aluminum in Vaccines Safe

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A new Danish study of vaccination and medical records of 1.2 million children over a 24-year period finds that aluminum salts – added to vaccines to create a stronger immune response – do not lead to statistically significant increased risks of developing autism, asthma, or 48 other conditions. Read the study, in the Annals of Internal Medicine, here: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-00997

Measles Cases Reach Highest Since Elimination

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Over the weekend, the US reached 1,281 measles cases in 2025 – the highest number since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, and the most we’ve seen since 1992 (2,126 cases). Thanks to high vaccination rates, we’ve managed to keep the disease at bay, but those rates are slipping. Since measles is the most contagious virus on Earth (that we know of), it’s often the first to resurge when vaccination coverage declines. A high case count doesn’t automatically mean the US loses its measles elimination status. That is defined by the WHO, and means that measles is not endemic Read More …

AAP Files Lawsuit to Protect Immunizations

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On July 7, 2025, the American Academy of Pediatrics, joined by the American College of Physicians, the American Public Health Association, and others, filed suit in American Academy of Pediatrics v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to restore science to U.S. vaccine policy development and ensure pediatricians are able to do their jobs taking care of patients. This is not the first time the AAP has sued the federal government in the name of protecting children’s health. In 1983, the AAP successfully sued along with other medical organizations to oppose federal regulations that intruded into the physician-patient relationship. We have also sued Read More …

From Inoculation to Innovation: The Historical and Ethical Journey of Vaccination

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Join the New Jersey Immunization Network for a thought-provoking webinar that will delve into the life-saving global impact of vaccines, explore the roots of vaccine hesitancy and organized opposition, and unpack the ethical questions surrounding mandates, informed consent, and global access. Through real-world case studies and predictive models, we’ll also examine the far-reaching public health implications of both vaccine acceptance and refusal. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with history, ethics, and science in one compelling conversation, led by guest speakers David Cennimo, MD, and Luis Alzate-Duque, MD. CME is available When: June 30, 2025 from 3:00-6:00 pm Click here Read More …

Preserving Scientific Integrety in Vaccine Policy: The Role of, and Risk to, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

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On June 24, 2025, the Annals of Internal Medicine posted an opinion post authored by Jason M. Goldman, MD and Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD: In 1964, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services established the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as a trusted, transparent, and evidence-based public body charged with making vaccine recommendations. Operating under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ACIP has played a vital role in ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and appropriate use of vaccines. Its recommendations influence public health policy, clinical practice, insurance coverage, and ultimately the lives of millions of Americans (1). Read More …