Immunization

The CDC has updated its COVID-19 vaccine guidance for children and pregnant individuals, sparking a debate among health experts and concerns over insurance coverage.

Amid intensified scrutiny of COVID-19 vaccines at HHS, Moderna’s mRNA-1283 COVID-19 vaccine was granted FDA approval for patients 65 years and older and patients aged 12 to 64 years with at least 1 or more underlying risk factors for severe COVID-19.

The announcement is set to affect multiple grants awarded to Moderna, which is developing mRNA-1018, a candidate vaccine against avian influenza.

V114, a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), provided better protection against serotypes 22F and 33F compared with 13-valent PCV (PCV13).

The FDA approved the MenQuadfi vaccine for young children, enhancing protection against invasive meningococcal disease and its severe complications.

The change is poised to impact countless individuals who may have sought a COVID-19 vaccine this upcoming respiratory season.

Following a meeting of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, the FDA announced its recommendation of COVID-19 vaccines targeting LP.8.1, a strain of the JN.1 variant that has become dominant in the US.

RSV vaccines for pregnant women and infants require careful timing and administration.

Interventions such as educational brochures, provider-delivered educational programs, and computerized reminders were found to help improve pneumococcal vaccine uptake in older adults.

In a major policy shift, officials from the FDA announced a new regulatory framework for COVID-19 vaccinations, prioritizing adults 65 years and older and individuals with serious comorbidities putting them at high risk for severe COVID-19.

A systematic review reveals declining pediatric pneumococcal complicated pneumonia rates following the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13.

Pharmacists should continue to emphasize the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing cancer and be prepared to address patient safety concerns.

The vaccine, indicated with a restriction on use for those younger than 65 years and without comorbidities, was proven safe and effective in a series of large clinical trials, and marks the first protein-based vaccine to be approved in the United States.

Explore the latest advancements in RSV vaccination strategies for newborns, focusing on maternal immunization and post-birth protection options.

Like other high-risk groups, children with sickle cell disease have a heightened risk of invasive pneumococcal disease, even if they receive proper pneumococcal conjugate vaccine coverage.

Administration during peak vaccine effectiveness provides maximal protective benefit

FDA and CDC halt Ixchiq chikungunya vaccine for adults 60 years and older due to severe adverse events, including fatalities, urging caution in vaccination practices.

While vaccine research and approvals continue to break new ground, use and faith in them are faltering.

The study found that only 38% of nations have risk-based pneumococcal vaccine policies.

The most substantial reduction was achieved 2 to 3 years after vaccination with a sustained protective effect lasting up to 8 years.

A recent study highlights the promising immune response and safety of the Arexvy vaccine in lung transplant recipients, crucial for preventing RSV infections.

One dose of the vaccine compared with 2 may help increase global HPV vaccine uptake.

In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) mouse models, the ferritin nanoparticle-preS1 (ferritin-NP-preS1) with small interfering RNA (siRNA) showed 100% and sustained serum HBsAg over an approximate 11-month period.

Pharmacists are on the front lines of the outbreak, making them well-positioned to educate and counsel patients with vaccine hesitancy.

Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, MPH, AAHIVP, discusses how looming tariffs, vaccine misinformation, and rising drug costs are straining public health pharmacy efforts, while also sparking new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and community-centered care amid uncertainty.