The Vaccine Intelligence Report: April 8-14

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

  • HHS published an updated ACIP charter, expanding the committee’s role and signaling a shift in how immunization recommendations could be made in the future
  • CDC delayed publication of a report on Covid vaccine effectiveness, while an ICER analysis of Covid vaccine effectiveness and value reinforced individual net health benefits
  • A federal judge denied the Administration’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit from 19 states + D.C. over Kennedy’s efforts to restructure HHS, allowing the injunction to remain in place and the case to proceed
  • New research reaffirms importance of vaccination, even as new polling shows public uncertainty around vaccines
  • Maine and Maryland legislatures finalized bills to protect vaccine access, and Hawaii legislators are considering a bill to preserve vaccine insurance coverage
  • A West Virginia federal appeals court upheld the state’s school immunization requirements, which only allow for medical exemptions; a separate case on religious exemptions remains under consideration by the West Virginia Supreme Court
  • The U.S. has surpassed 1,800 measles cases in 2026, with Utah as the current outbreak epicenter; cases in Florida and South Carolina have plateaued
  • While national respiratory activity is now very low, the CDC expects the season to last longer than usual, and 12 new pediatric flu deaths bring this season’s total to 139

NEED TO KNOW

HHS Revises ACIP Charter, Expanding Scope and Prompting Concern from Experts

  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published an updated charter for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—the federal panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on immunization recommendations—outlining changes that could affect how the committee operates going forward.
    • The ACIP charter is routinely renewed (typically every two years) and updates have historically been minor; however, the changes in the charter published last week (Apr. 9) are more substantive in scope and language.
  • The revised charter makes several key changes to ACIP’s scope, structure, and composition including:
    • Expanding ACIP’s role beyond making recommendations on how to control vaccine-preventable diseases to an increased focus on examining risks, safety “gaps,” and areas of “scientific uncertainty.”
    • Directing the committee to revisit existing evidence over time and consider issues like “cumulative effects of vaccines,” variability in immune response, and “emerging technologies” such as mRNA.
    • Broadening member qualifications, allowing for a wider range of expertise that extends beyond traditional vaccine science (e.g., toxicology, pediatric neurodevelopment, and recovery from serious vaccine injuries).
    • Expanding the list of external non-voting liaison representatives, which now includes organizations with leadership who have supported anti-vaccine theories and positions not supported by scientific evidence.
  • While many of these updates may appear procedural, experts note they collectively signal a shift in how vaccine policy could be evaluated moving forward. Changes could place greater emphasis on potential risks and perceived uncertainty, broaden who is considered an expert and has a say in immunization recommendations, and elevate perspectives that diverge from longstanding scientific consensus.
  • The charter update comes in the wake of a federal court ruling last month that paused ACIP’s membership and recent committee actions, finding that the administration likely violated federal law when it reconstituted the committee in 2025.
    • Importantly, the charter revision is separate from that case and does not override the court’s decision; ACIP remains inactive unless and until the legal issues are resolved or a new panel is established.
    • However, experts note that the updated language could give HHS more flexibility in how it reconstitutes the committee moving forward, which may factor into next steps as the situation continues to evolve.

CDC Delays Report on Covid Vaccine Benefits

  • The CDC has delayed publication of a report on Covid vaccine effectiveness that was expected to appear in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
    • The delay was reportedly prompted by CDC Acting Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who cited concerns about the study’s methodology used to calculate vaccine effectiveness.
  • A preliminary summary of the study’s results shows that the 2025-26 Covid vaccine formulation reduced the likelihood of severe illness among adults by around half.
  • The methodology—commonly known as a “test-negative design”—involves comparing the vaccination status of people who tested positive for Covid to the vaccination status of those who tested negative, showing that people who had received Covid vaccinations were less likely to be hospitalized or visit the emergency department.
    • This method has been widely used by the CDC and other public health researchers to assess vaccine effectiveness—including in at least two recent MMWR editions.
  • While the release of entire MMWR issues has been paused before, former CDC staff say that delaying one paper within the report is unusual. It remains unclear when, or if, the report will be published.

ICER Analysis Reinforces Effectiveness and Safety of Covid Vaccines

  • The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) released a draft evidence report on the effectiveness and value of Covid vaccines, including the four vaccines currently available in the U.S.
    • ICER is an independent, non-profit research institute that conducts evidence-based reviews of healthcare interventions, analyzing their benefits and risks to assess value and inform pricing benchmarks.
  • In its analysis of comparative clinical effectiveness—which evaluates individual net health benefit of Covid vaccination vs. no vaccination—ICER finds that Covid vaccines provide health benefits across subpopulations.
    • Evidence indicates that Covid vaccines are particularly valuable for older adults, children ages 6 to 12 months, and pregnant women.
    • Clinical experts felt that data remain inadequate to conclude that vaccination for Covid helps prevent transmission in the current era.
  • The report also finds no significant safety concerns associated with Covid vaccination, noting that “serious harms…are extremely rare.”
    • While there was a small increased risk of myocarditis in young men (ages 12 to 24 years) following Covid vaccination in 2020 and 2021, cases have declined over time, and recent data do not show evidence of an increased risk.
    • ICER also finds that “there is no convincing evidence linking Covid vaccination to development of Guillain-Barré syndrome.”
  • ICER notes that evidence continues to evolve as new variants emerge and vaccination strategies shift, which may affect future assessments of benefit.
  • The New England Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (CEPAC) will meet in June to review the evidence and vote on key questions related to clinical benefit and value.
    • Public comments on the draft report and voting questions are open through May 4, with a final report expected ahead of the June meeting.
  • ICER reports are often used by payers and policymakers to inform coverage and pricing decisions, meaning the findings could influence how Covid vaccines are evaluated around the world.

Court Allows Lawsuit Against HHS’ Planned Restructuring to Proceed

  • A federal judge denied the Administration’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by 19 states and the District of Columbia challenging HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to restructure HHS—allowing the case to move forward and leaving a preliminary injunction in place.
    • In 2025, HHS announced plans to cut 10,000 full-time jobs, consolidate the department’s 28 divisions into 15, and to establish a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA).
  • Plaintiffs argue the restructuring is unlawful and has undermined the agency’s ability to carry out its core functions, stating the Administration “systematically deprived HHS of the resources necessary to do its job.”
    • An amended complaint outlines alleged impacts of the changes, while major medical and public health organizations—including the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)—filed a joint amicus brief supporting the states.
  • In her opinion, District Judge Melissa DuBose said the complaint includes “sufficient, plausible allegations” that the actions may be “arbitrary and capricious,” meeting the threshold to proceed.
  • A separate lawsuit brought by 15 states challenging changes to the recommended childhood immunization schedule remains ongoing.
    • In a related case, a lawsuit filed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other medical organizations resulted in a preliminary injunction blocking several vaccine policy changes.

New Research Highlights Broad Vaccine Benefits,But Public Opinion Remains Divided

  • New research published this week builds on the evidence that the benefits of vaccines extend beyond their primary purpose of infection prevention, while also highlighting persistent division in how Americans view vaccines.
  • A large study published in JAMA Oncology (Apr. 9) found that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination significantly reduces the risk of certain cancers in boys and young men, adding to longstanding evidence of the vaccine’s benefits in women and reinforcing the importance of the protection provided across genders.
    • Researchers followed more than 1 million individuals and found vaccinated males had a notably lower risk of HPV-related cancers, including head and neck cancers, within 10 years of vaccination—an early signal of cancer prevention in a population where uptake has historically lagged.
  • Another study published earlier this month (Apr. 2) found that influenza (flu) vaccines were associated with significantly lower risk of heart attack and stroke—even among vaccinated individuals who still became infected.
    • According to the research, the risk of cardiovascular events was cut roughly in half among vaccinated individuals following infection, supporting evidence that vaccination may help reduce inflammation and other complications linked to severe illness.
  • At the same time, new polling highlights ongoing public uncertainty around vaccines—despite an ever-growing body of evidence showing their benefits. A recent survey of more than 3,800 U.S. adults found that many Americans continue to question vaccine safety and believe the science is still unsettled, with views sharply divided along partisan lines.
    • That said, a substantial share of respondents still recognizes the benefits of vaccines, with many supporting school immunization requirements (44%) and acknowledging that risks are rare relative to benefits (more than one-third).
    • Public health and medical experts warn that the type of questions asked in the poll may lead to misleading interpretations and the results are inconsistent with multiple other polls recently conducted.

STATE POLICY SPOTLIGHT

Lawmakers Act to Reinforce Vaccine Policy in Hawaii, Maine, and Maryland

  • Hawaii lawmakers are considering a bill (SB 3133) to preserve insurance coverage for childhood vaccines, regardless of changes to federal immunization recommendations.
    • The measure would ensure vaccines remain available without cost-sharing and allow the state to rely on its own health department recommendations.
    • State officials have warned that reduced vaccination could lead to higher long-term health care costs.
  • Two Maine bills (LD 2071 and LD 2146) to protect vaccine access in the state received final approval in both the House and Senate last week. The bills now head to the Governor’s desk.
    • LD 2071 would allow pharmacists to administer any vaccine licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the AAP, AAFP, or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
    • LD 2146 would add liability protections for pharmacists administering vaccines and includes a provision for the Maine Vaccine Board to request state funding to cover the cost if federal funding is not available for certain vaccines.
  • Maryland’s Governor signed a bill (SB 385) into law that decouples the state’s vaccine recommendations from those made by ACIP.
    • The bill allows the state health secretary to set vaccine recommendations and ensures that recommended vaccines are covered by Maryland insurance companies.

Court Upholds West Virginia School Immunization Requirements

  • Last week (Apr. 8), a federal appeals court voted to uphold West Virginia’s school immunization requirements, which only allow for medical exemptions, and not religious or philosophical exemptions.
    • A West Virginia family challenged the state’s requirements on religious freedom grounds and had previously been granted a preliminary injunction after a district court found they were likely to succeed.
    • Notably, no major religions—including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam—prohibit or oppose vaccination.
  • The court ruled that the requirements are “a legitimate exercise of the state’s power to protect the health and well-being of school children,” and do not violate First Amendment religious freedom protections.
    • The ruling comes as a separate case on religious exemptions remains under review by the West Virginia Supreme Court, leaving broader questions about exemption policy unresolved.

OUTBREAK OUTLOOK

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

Measles Cases Plateau in Some States, but Utah Outbreak Continues to Drive U.S. Total

  • As of April 10, the U.S. has reported 1,802 measles cases in 2026, with transmission patterns varying across states.
    • Utah is the current U.S. measles epicenter and has recorded 405 measles cases this year. 85% of the state’s confirmed cases in 2025 and 2026 have occurred among unvaccinated people.
    • For the first time in months, no new measles cases were reported in Florida’s latest update. The state’s 2026 total remains at 144 as of April 4.
    • South Carolina has reported no new measles cases since March 17. If no additional cases emerge, the state’s 997-case outbreak—the largest in decades—could officially conclude on April 26.
    • Measles continues to spread across the country, with additional case counts in Arizona (78), Colorado (15), Oregon (14), Texas (176), and Washington (36).
  • Clinicians continue to emphasize that infants—who are not eligible for routine measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination until 12–15 months—remain among the most vulnerable to infection.
    • Public health data often do not fully capture infant cases, raising concern that the impact on this group may be underreported.
    • Infants 6 months or older traveling or living in an outbreak area can be vaccinated against measles early.

Respiratory Illness Activity Declines Nationwide, Though Extended Season Possible

  • National respiratory illness activity has declined to very low levels, with trends improving across most major viruses.
    • Flu activity continues to fall, with no states reporting high activity and only four reporting moderate levels.
    • However, despite declining transmission, 12 additional pediatric flu deaths were reported in the past week, bringing the seasonal total to 139.
    • Covid activity remains low, and hospitalizations continue to decrease.
    • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity is still elevated but has peaked in many regions.
  • The CDC said it expects this respiratory season to last longer than usual. A later-than-typical start to RSV circulation could prolong transmission into late April, and the emerging “Cicada” Covid variant could also cause continued transmission this spring, though levels are currently low.
    • Almost every state has expanded its RSV monoclonal antibody (mAb) recommendation through at least April 30, 2026, given the continued disease circulation.

REALITY CHECK

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

CLAIM: HHS can use the updated ACIP charter to get around the court ruling that blocked the committee last month.

  • REALITY: The charter update does not override the court’s decision—the ruling still stands, and ACIP remains paused unless the legal issues are resolved or a new panel is lawfully established.
  • Last month (Mar. 16), in a lawsuit brought by major medical groups including the AAP, a federal judge found that the Administration likely violated federal law in how it reconstituted ACIP, citing concerns about both member qualifications and the process used to appoint them. These findings remain in effect.
  • The revised charter, published last week (Apr. 9), is legally separate from the lawsuit. However, language in the charter updates key provisions—most notably broadening how “expertise” is defined—which appears to be an attempt to directly address the court’s concerns that many appointees did not meet the prior charter’s more specific expertise requirements.
  • Experts note that this revised language could give HHS more flexibility in how it appoints members going forward, which may make future appointments less susceptible to similar legal challenges in the future.
  • Still, any new committee formed under the revised charter would continue to be subject to legal scrutiny, and courts could evaluate whether the changes meaningfully resolve the issues identified in the ruling—meaning this approach is not a guaranteed path forward.
    • For context, the typical legal pathway to challenge or reverse a court decision would be to file an appeal. The Administration has not yet appealed the ruling, leaving the original decision in effect.

WHAT TO WATCH

Kennedy Returns to Capitol Hill (Apr. 16-22), Launches Podcast 

  • Kennedy is set to appear before seven Congressional committees over the next two weeks to discuss the Administration’s FY27 budget request, marking the Secretary’s first appearances on Capitol Hill since last fall, when lawmakers pressed him on vaccine policy and public health leadership.
    • On Thursday (Apr. 16), Kennedy will testify before the House Ways and Means Committee and House Appropriations health subcommittee, and on Friday (Apr. 17), he will appear before the House Education and Workforce Committee.
    • Next week, he will appear before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Senate Appropriations health subcommittee (Apr. 21), and the Senate Finance and Health Committees (Apr. 22).
  • His return is expected to draw significant attention, with additional hearings anticipated in the coming months as congressional oversight of HHS continues.
  • Kennedy has also launched a new podcast ahead of his hearings, signaling a more direct effort to communicate his views on public health issues to a broader audience.

IACC to Meet on Autism Research and Policy (Apr. 28)

  • The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) will meet on April 28, bringing together federal agencies and external stakeholders to discuss autism research, services, and policy goals.
  • This will be the first meeting of the reconstituted IACC after the scheduled March meeting was canceled. In January, Kennedy appointed 21 all-new members to the committee, several of whom have expressed skepticism of vaccines.
    • In response, a group of leading autism researchers created the Independent Autism Coordinating Committee (I-ACC), which held its first meeting on March 19.
  • The IACC meeting is open to the public and will include a public comment period, allowing advocates, researchers, and individuals to weigh in on autism policy priorities.

White House Considers CDC Director Nominee Amid Ongoing Leadership Instability

  • The Trump administration is considering Dr. Erica Schwartz—former Deputy U.S. Surgeon General during Trump’s first term and longtime public health officer—for the position of CDC Director, marking the latest attempt to fill the role amid ongoing leadership instability across the agency.
    • Schwartz, a retired rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service and former Navy physician, would bring extensive federal and military health experience to the role.
  • As federal vaccine policy continues to evolve amid legal challenges and political pressure, her potential nomination comes at a pivotal time, as the incoming CDC director will be at the center of these ongoing vaccine debates.
    • The selection also reflects the Administration’s recent efforts to find a candidate who can both align with HHS leadership priorities and also successfully navigate Senate confirmation, following previous nominations that have failed to advance.

Administration Considering Physician and Fox News Regular as Next CBER Lead

  • The Trump administration is considering Dr. Houman Hemmati—an ophthalmologist, biotech executive, and frequent Fox News guest—to lead the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), which oversees vaccines, gene therapies, and other biologics.
  • Current CBER Director Dr. Vinay Prasad will depart the agency at the end of April, following a tenure marked by changes to vaccine approval standards and broader regulatory shifts.
  • FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary reportedly supports Hemmati’s candidacy, though no final decision has been made. HHS says multiple candidates are still under review.
  • CBER director selection comes amid continued scrutiny of FDA leadership and its approach to vaccines and biologics.

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