The Vaccine Intelligence Report: June 17-23

The Vaccine Intelligence Report—brought to you by Vaccinate Your Family—provides clear, fact-based updates on vaccine policy, research, and public health each week. This report is part of Viral Truths, a resource designed to cut through the noise, offering concise information to help navigate the evolving immunization landscape.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

  • An FDA advisory panel backed a mRNA flu vaccine for adults ages 50 and older; separately the agency also approved expanded use of a new pneumococcal vaccine for higher-risk children and teens
  • Senate Democrats launched an inquiry into HHS vaccine policy changes, requesting records related to Kennedy’s dismissal and reconstitution of ACIP
  • A State Department plan to reduce the CDC’s role in PEPFAR is raising concerns about HIV services, disease surveillance, and global outbreak response capacity
  • Pennsylvania lawmakers are pursuing legislation to preserve insurance coverage of preventive services, including vaccines, amid uncertainty around federal advisory bodies
  • As measles cases continue to rise across the U.S., researchers work to develop the first targeted treatment for the disease, while CDC simultaneously plans to end federal diagnostic measles testing
  • New research highlights the long-term impact of HPV vaccination, showing dramatic reductions in cervical cancer deaths among vaccinated women
  • A flu outbreak among Air Force trainees has renewed debate over military vaccination policy after the Pentagon ended its longstanding annual flu immunization requirement, with some military services moving to reinstate requirements for recent recruits and high-risk groups.

NEED TO KNOW

FDA Advisory Panel Backs First mRNA Flu Vaccine as Agency Expands Pediatric Pneumococcal Option

  • Federal regulators are advancing two vaccine decisions that could expand protection against serious infections—one involving a potentially first-in-class mRNA influenza (flu) vaccine for older adults, and another broadening use of a pneumococcal vaccine for higher-risk children and teens.
  • Last week (Jun. 18), the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) vaccine advisory committee endorsed Moderna’s mRNA-based flu vaccine (mRNA-1010) for adults ages 50 and older. The FDA is expected to decide on approval by August 5.
    • In a late-stage clinical trial of more than 40,000 adults, the mRNA vaccine provided more protection than other licensed flu vaccines. The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) unanimously voted that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.
    • If approved, the vaccine would be the first mRNA flu vaccine available in the U.S. mRNA vaccines can be developed far faster than traditional flu vaccines, which take several months to develop, and may allow manufacturers to better target circulating strains.
  • The VRBPAC decision marked a return to a more traditional vaccine review process following significant scrutiny of mRNA technology by Health and Human Services (HHS) leadership.
    • Last year, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled $500 million in funding for development of mRNA vaccines. In February, former FDA official Dr. Vinay Prasad briefly rejected Moderna’s application for review of its mRNA flu vaccine before reversing course.
  • Separately, the FDA approved Merck’s pneumococcal vaccine—Pneumococcal 21-valent Conjugate Vaccine (Capvaxive)—for expanded use in children and teenagers at higher risk of serious infections.
    • Capvaxive was initially approved in 2024 for adults ages 18 and older. The expanded approval includes patients ages 2 to 17 with chronic health conditions such as heart, lung, kidney, liver disease, or diabetes.
    • The single-dose vaccine is intended to complement routine childhood immunization against pneumococcal disease, which is recommended for all children by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP).
    • Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria that can cause many types of infections, including of the lungs (pneumonia), brain and spinal cord (meningitis), bloodstream, sinuses, and ears.
  • Together, the decisions highlight continued movement in the vaccine pipeline despite a more challenging policy environment.

Senate Democrats Open Inquiry Into HHS Vaccine Policy Overhaul

  • Senate Democrats are opening an inquiry into the Trump Administration’s overhaul of federal vaccine policy, including requesting records from HHS related to changes made under Kennedy.
  • In a letter to Kennedy, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Ranking Member Maggie Hassan (D-NH) requested communications and other records related to Kennedy’s decision to dismiss all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), revise the committee’s charter, and appoint new members.
    • The senators said they are seeking to better understand “the legality, decision-making process, and public health consequences” of the ACIP overhaul, including who approved the changes, what risks were considered, and how new committee members were vetted.
  • The inquiry follows Kennedy’s April testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, during which he stated that President Trump and White House Domestic Policy Council officials approved his decision to dismiss ACIP members. The senators said that testimony contradicted Kennedy’s earlier public framing of the decision as his own effort to restore public trust in vaccine recommendations.
    • ACIP plays a central role in federal vaccine policy. The committee reviews evidence and makes recommendations that inform the CDC’s childhood and adult immunization schedules, as well as vaccine coverage requirements across public and private insurance programs.
  • The inquiry may face significant political limits, as Democrats do not currently control the Senate and therefore have less power to compel documents or testimony. However, the request adds to growing congressional and legal scrutiny of Kennedy’s vaccine policy changes.
    • For more on the ongoing lawsuit against HHS over vaccine policy changes, see last week’s edition of the Vaccine Intelligence Report.

PEPFAR Restructuring Plan Raises Concerns About Global Health Infrastructure

  • The Administration is advancing efforts to restructure U.S. global health programs, raising concerns about the future of disease surveillance, outbreak response, and longstanding HIV initiatives.
  • A new State Department plan would significantly reduce the CDC’s role in implementing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the global HIV program that also supports public health infrastructure beyond HIV in many countries.
    • PEPFAR was launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush and is widely considered one of the most successful global health programs in U.S. history. The program is credited with saving more than 26 million lives and currently supports HIV treatment for roughly 20 million people worldwide.
  • If the plan goes into effect on October 1 as scheduled, it will shift control over many PEPFAR funding and program decisions from the CDC to the State Department.
    • The CDC has historically played a central technical role in PEPFAR, working with ministries of health and local partners to support HIV testing and treatment, strengthen laboratory systems, train public health workers, and build disease surveillance capacity.
  • The proposed shift follows the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2025. Before then, USAID played a key role in PEPFAR’s administration, managing more than half of the program’s budget. Since USAID’s closure, HIV testing and initiation of preventive treatment have dropped significantly.
  • Public health experts warn that reducing the CDC’s role could further disrupt HIV services while also weakening systems used to detect and respond to other infectious disease threats.
    • According to eight former CDC Directors, PEPFAR-supported infrastructure has become an important part of the U.S. global health security network, helping countries identify outbreaks and respond quickly.
    • They argue that responsible reform of PEPFAR would require a defined, multiyear transition plan, warning that a rushed shift “will destroy PEPFAR and undermine health security around the world and in our own country.”
  • The development adds to broader concerns about federal global health cuts and restructuring. HIV advocates and public health leaders warn that these changes could reverse decades of progress against HIV and undermine outbreak preparedness at a time when global disease threats remain high.

STATE POLICY SPOTLIGHT

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Propose Bill to Preserve Coverage of Preventive Care

  • Pennsylvania lawmakers are circulating a proposal to require insurers to continue covering preventive services, including vaccines, that were recommended by ACIP, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) as of January 1, 2025.
  • The proposed legislation would also give the Pennsylvania Department of Health authority to add or remove preventive service coverage requirements based on widely reviewed scientific evidence.
    • Sponsors said the measure is intended to protect access amid concerns about recent changes to federal advisory bodies, including ACIP and USPSTF.

OUTBREAK OUTLOOK

News on respiratory virus season, measles, pertussis, and other vaccine-preventable and infectious disease outbreaks.

Measles Continues to Spread Across U.S. with New Treatment Options on the Horizon

  • As of June 19, the U.S. has reported 2,196 measles cases in 2026—an increase of 33 cases in the last week.
    • California reported one new measles case, bringing the state’s 2026 total to 50.
    • Maryland health officials reported one new measles case, bringing the state’s total to four cases in 2026.
    • Pennsylvania reported one new measles casein the last week, bringing the state’s 2026 total to 73.
    • Utah officials reported 17 new measles cases since last week, bringing the state total to 499 cases in 2026. Since Utah’s outbreak began a year ago on June 20, 2025, more than 680 people have contracted measles.
    • Virginia remains a current measles hotspot—the state’s 2026 total has risen to 129 as of June 18, after officials reported 18 measles cases in the last week.
  • As the U.S. navigates the worst measles outbreak in over three decades, researchers and biotechnology companies are accelerating efforts to develop the first targeted measles treatment. Historically, the disease’s rarity in the U.S.—driven by widespread vaccination—left little commercial incentive to pursue therapies beyond supportive care.
    • Researchers say potential treatments could benefit immunocompromised patients and others at high risk of severe disease. However, experts emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective tool for preventing measles infection, transmission, and severe outcomes.
  • Meanwhile, the CDC announced plans to end federal diagnostic testing for measles, saying state and local laboratories now perform the vast majority of testing and that the change is not expected to create gaps in surveillance capacity.

Twenty Years of HPV Vaccination Show Dramatic Reductions in Cervical Cancer Deaths

  • A recent Lancet study found that girls vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) at ages 12–13 had an almost zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before age 30, with no cervical cancer deaths recorded among vaccinated women ages 20-24 in England between 2020 and 2024.
    • Researchers estimated that HPV vaccination prevented approximately 200 cervical cancer deaths in England through 2024. Women vaccinated at ages 12–13 experienced the greatest benefit, and vaccinated women ages 30–34 had a 63% lower relative risk of cervical cancer death compared to outcomes without vaccination.
  • The findings come amid the 20-year anniversary of the HPV vaccine. HPV causes virtually all cervical cancers. Comprehensive reviews have underscored the effectiveness of the vaccine, and vaccination before age 16 reduces cervical cancer risk by roughly 80%.
    • Experts say the results demonstrate that cervical cancer elimination is now an achievable goal, and the study’s authors note that maintaining high vaccine uptake remains critical, especially as vaccine hesitancy grows.
  • The findings also provide important context for recent changes to federal HPV vaccine guidance. In a policy shift unsupported by evidence, the CDC briefly changed its recommendation for some adolescents from a two-dose series to a single dose.
    • The prior schedule has since been restored, and HPV vaccination coverage remains crucial to preventing HPV-related cancers and advancing elimination goals.

Flu Outbreak at Air Force Base Follows Shift in Pentagon Vaccine Policy

  • More than 200 U.S. Air Force trainees at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have reportedly contracted flu during an outbreak that has sickened recruits in basic training. One trainee has also died, though investigators are still determining whether flu contributed to the death.
  • The outbreak comes less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the military’s longstanding requirement for U.S. troops to receive an annual flu vaccination.
    • Since the policy change, only about 40% of Air Force trainees have received a flu vaccine, according to reporting on the outbreak. Military officials have not linked the outbreak directly to the policy change, but the cluster has renewed debate about the role of vaccination in military readiness and disease prevention in congregate training settings.
  • Flu vaccination has been a routine part of military health policy for decades. Former military health officials noted that basic training environments—where recruits live, sleep, and train in close quarters—have historically relied on high vaccination coverage to limit the spread of respiratory diseases.
  • In response to the outbreak, military services have begun carving out exceptions to the new policy, reinstating requirements for basic trainees and those in high-risk settings.
    • The Air Force sought and received an exemption to Pentagon policy allowing Lackland trainees to once again be required to receive a flu vaccination while health officials work to contain further spread, while the Army is similarly preparing to expand flu vaccine requirements for some higher-risk military settings, including deployments, healthcare work, childcare, first response, prison staffing, and large-scale training exercises.

REALITY CHECK

These fact checks respond to several recent claims made by different groups and individuals.

CLAIM: Because the FDA has already selected the flu and Covid vaccine strains for the 2026-27 season, an ACIP meeting is largely procedural and less important to the rollout of updated vaccines.

  • REALITY: Strain selection is an important step, but it is not the same as vaccine recommendation, coverage, or implementation.
  • The FDA VRBPAC is made up of independent scientific experts who help determine which strains should be included in updated flu and Covid vaccines in the U.S. This process is critical to ensuring vaccines are designed to target the strains anticipated to circulate during the upcoming respiratory season.
  • However, VRBPAC’s role is focused on vaccine safety, effectiveness, and appropriate use. It does not determine how vaccines will ultimately be recommended, covered by insurers, or incorporated into federal immunization policy.
  • Historically, these downstream decisions have depended heavily on recommendations from ACIP, which reviews available evidence and makes recommendations about who should receive specific vaccines and under what circumstances.
  • In addition to informing the CDC’s annual immunization schedules, ACIP recommendations also play an important role in determining insurance coverage requirements, pharmacy authority, and provider guidelines.
    • For example, under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), vaccines recommended by ACIP must be covered by most private insurance plans and most public programs without cost-sharing, making ACIP recommendations an important mechanism for ensuring broad access to vaccination.
    • ACIP recommendations also determine which vaccines are available through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides free vaccines to eligible children, including those who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, or underinsured.
  • The downstream impacts of ACIP recommendations have received increased attention over the last several months following Kennedy’s overhaul of the committee, subsequent legal challenges, ongoing uncertainty surrounding the committee’s future, and broader questions about CDC leadership and the federal vaccine policymaking process.
  • ACIP typically meets each June to review and vote on recommendations related to  flu and Covid vaccines for the fall/winter respiratory illness season. However as of yesterday (Jun. 23), this year’s meeting—originally scheduled for June 24-26—has been canceled “due to ongoing litigation,” according to the CDC.
  • As a result, while the current situation does not affect or alter the strain selection process that took place earlier this year, it could influence how updated flu and Covid vaccines are recommended, covered, communicated about, and ultimately accessed by patients.
  • Notably, alternative pathways remain available for federal officials to move vaccine recommendations forward, including through a reconstituted ACIP, direct CDC action, or other administrative actions. However, it remains unclear which approach, if any, will be used ahead of the upcoming respiratory illness season, leaving important questions about the recommendation process unresolved.

WHAT TO WATCH

CDC Director Nominee Schwartz Moves Closer to Confirmation

  • Dr. Erica Schwartz, President Trump’s nominee to lead the CDC, disclosed that she would resign from outside positions and divest certain financial holdings if confirmed, according to ethics documents filed ahead of her Senate confirmation process.
    • Schwartz said she would sell UnitedHealth Group stock acquired through vested stock options within 90 days of confirmation and recuse herself for two years from specific-party matters involving the company.
  • A former Deputy Surgeon General and retired U.S. Public Health Service Rear Admiral, Schwartz would bring a more traditional public health background to the role than several previous candidates considered by the administration.

U.S. Pledges $107 Million in Ebola Relief Funding as Congo Outbreak Continues to Surge

  • The CDC announced last Thursday (Jun. 18) that it will activate $107 million in emergency funding to support response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
    • This outbreak, caused by the ⁠rare Bundibugyo strain, has exceeded 1,000 confirmed cases and 254 deaths since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
    • Funding will help support the ongoing effort to contain the spread of Ebola by advancing preparedness in communities close to the current outbreak and providing technical assistance for testing and screening.

AAP-Led Vaccine Lawsuit Shifts to Appeals Process

  • July 16 marks the next major filing in the lawsuit brought by AAP and other organizations, when plaintiffs must respond to the federal government’s effort to overturn the preliminary injunction.
    • The injunction currently prevents HHS from implementing certain vaccine recommendation changes and pauses recent ACIP appointments and related committee actions while the court considers the underlying legal claims.
  • The filing will offer a clearer picture of how medical societies plan to defend the court order and what legal arguments may shape the case going forward. The response will address arguments raised in the federal government’s June 17 opening brief seeking to reverse portions of the lower court’s ruling.

First Fentanyl Vaccine Enters Human Trials 

  • An investigational fentanyl vaccine developed by ARMR Sciences and the University of Houston has entered early-stage human trials, marking a significant milestone in efforts to address the nation’s ongoing overdose crisis.
  • Researchers and public health advocates describe the vaccine as a potential addition to existing overdose prevention tools. Unlike opioid antagonists such as naloxone, which reverse an overdose after it occurs, the vaccine is designed to prevent fentanyl from reaching the brain in the first place.
  • Several key questions remain, including how long protection lasts, which populations may benefit most, and how vaccination could affect patients who require fentanyl-containing medications during surgical or medical procedures.

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