The Vaccine Intelligence Report: October 15-21

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. Designed to cut through the noise, offering concise information to help navigate the evolving immunization landscape.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

  • A new state coalition representing 1 in 3 Americans will coordinate disease prevention and response and work to ensure vaccine access
  • Federal monitoring of infectious diseases remains paused amid government shutdown, leaving states with gaps in data and without guidance to address outbreaks
  • US surpasses 1,600 measles cases in 2025, and several states are already seeing pertussis cases exceed 2024 totals
  • Liver Awareness Month highlights the importance of hepatitis B vaccination at birth to prevent serious liver complications and death

OUTBREAK OUTLOOK

US Surpasses 1,600 Measles Cases, Pertussis Cases Exceed 2024 Totals in Some States

  • As of October 17, the US surpassed 1,600 measles cases this year.
    • The South Carolina Department of Public Health reported that its ongoing measles outbreak has grown to 15 cases. Utah and Ohio health departments report that both outbreaks have increased by one case each in the last week. Minnesota also confirmed another case of measles in an unvaccinated child.
    • Meanwhile, Arizona recorded 11 new measles cases between October 6-12 in the ongoing outbreak along its border with Utah, bringing its 2025 total to 77 cases.
  • Several states report that their 2025 pertussis (whooping cough) case numbers already outpace all whooping cough cases from 2024.
    • The Kansas City Health Department noted October 17 that the city’s 75 pertussis cases this year represent the highest total in recent years, and that number is expected to climb. A Kansas City school district warned families last Thursday about potential exposure.
    • As of October 16, Florida’s total cases of pertussis have increased to 1,321 in 2025, greater than the number of pertussis cases in the state for all of 2024.
    • Pertussis cases also remain high in Lubbock, Texas, where the city’s 41 cases as of the end of September exceed the 32 cases reported in all of 2024.

Government Shutdown Halts Federal Monitoring of Respiratory Illnesses Ahead of Peak Season  

  • CDC reporting on Covid, flu, RSV, and other respiratory diseases remains paused amid the ongoing government shutdown. This includes the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), which is the agency’s primary vehicle for publication of public health information and recommendations and has been considered essential in past shutdowns.
    • Health officials are warning that without updated CDC resources, states are left with gaps in their own infectious disease data and without federal public health guidance to address disease outbreaks.
    • Many states have their own wastewater surveillance programs to monitor Covid, flu, RSV and other diseases, but states that rely on CDC tracking or analysis are without critical early warning signs of disease spread.
  • In addition to interrupting data collection, the shutdown has also forced CDC experts to skip the leading infectious disease conference focused on diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases including Covid, flu, and others.
  • The CDC’s most recent report shows low flu and RSV activity and moderate (but declining) Covid wastewater viral activity for the week ending September 26, but officials are concerned about the lack of up-to-date tracking of infections as respiratory season gets underway.
    • In its 2025-2026 Respiratory Disease Season Outlook, the CDC predicted that the US will experience a similar number of peak hospitalizations due to Covid, flu, and RSV compared to last season.
    • However, experts caution that respiratory season remains early and actual numbers could differ from projections, especially if fewer people get recommended vaccines.

NEED TO KNOW

New Studies Reaffirm the Broad Health Benefits & Safety of Vaccines Amid Growing Public Skepticism

  • Even as public skepticism toward vaccines and health agencies rises, new evidence continues to underscore the broad and lasting benefits of vaccination, including against Covid and shingles.
  • A recent poll found that fewer Americans believe parents should follow the CDC’s recommended childhood immunization schedule—falling from 81% in March to 74% today.
    • This may reflect both attitudes toward vaccines and trust in public health agencies. Just 54% of Americans said they trust in the CDC and 52% in the FDA.
  • Yet a growing body of research continues to highlight the critical role vaccines play in improving health outcomes and preventing serious illness.
    • A study of more than 174,000 adults aged 50 and older found that those vaccinated against shingles had significantly lower risks of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, vascular dementia, and death—demonstrating benefits that extend well beyond preventing shingles itself.
    • New evidence also links Covid vaccination to improved outcomes in cancer care. A retrospective analysis found that patients who received an mRNA COVID vaccine within 100 days before beginning immunotherapy lived longer than those who did not.
    • Another study showed that among young adults aged 16 to 35 who contracted Covid, those with three or more vaccine doses were significantly less likely to experience symptoms including headaches and loss of smell.
  • Additionally, a study of over 525,000 infants in France—one of the largest safety assessments to date of Covid vaccination during early pregnancy—found that mothers who received an mRNA Covid vaccine in their first trimester experienced no increased risk of birth defects or stillbirths.
    • This research builds on a growing body of evidence showing Covid vaccine efficacy across groups.

Liver Awareness Month: Spotlighting the Importance of Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination at Birth

  • October is National Liver Awareness Month and Liver Cancer Awareness Month, marking a time to reflect on the importance of vaccination against hepatitis B—a contagious liver infection that can lead to liver damage or failure, liver cancer, and death.
    • Up to 1.89 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis B infection, and about 3,000 people in the US are newly infected each year.
    • People may not know they are infected with hepatitis B, and it can be spread by those without any symptoms.
  • Since 1991, the universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth has been recommended by the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics, which has led to a 99% decreasein hepatitis B virus in children and teens.
    • Hepatitis B is particularly dangerous to infants—those infected in the first year of life have a 90% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B, and up to 25% of those who develop chronic hepatitis B will die from the disease.
    • However, vaccination of this age group is highly effective, with 98% of healthy infants achieving full immunity after completing the course.
  • The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has indicated that they intend to review the recommendation of universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth. Their intent to review this recommendation has raised concerns from experts and advocates.
    • Hepatitis B can be spread from mother to infant during birth, but administration of the vaccine within 24 hours of birth is up to 90% effective in preventing perinatal infection.
  • Removing this recommendation could lead to delayed access, insurance coverage gaps, and ultimately, decreasing hepatitis B vaccination rates.

STATE POLICY SPOTLIGHT

States Band Together to Strengthen Disease Response and Vaccine Access 

  • In response to recent shifts in federal vaccine policy and public health funding, states are joining forces to coordinate efforts and maintain strong protection against infectious diseases for their residents.
  • On October 15, a nonpartisan coalition of 15 states announced the creation of the Governors’ Public Health Alliance, aimed at improving coordination in detecting and responding to disease threats and safeguarding vaccine access.
    • Representing one in three Americans—about 115 million people—the alliance is the largest state-led public health initiative to date. Participating states and territories include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
    • Governors plan to share data, intelligence, and disease-response strategies, and are encouraging additional states—across both parties—to join. They emphasize that collaboration can strengthen preparedness while improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
  • Separately, the Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC), representing public health leaders from 35 major U.S. cities and 61 million residents, issued a statement on October 20 urging Americans to stay up to date on vaccinations. BCHC expressed concern about federal actions that could limit access to vaccines or undermine public confidence.
  • Earlier this fall, states also launched two regional initiatives—the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) and Northeast Public Health Collaborative—to provide public health guidance independent from the CDC.
    • WCHA recently released its first vaccine recommendations for the 2025-2026 respiratory season, drawing on guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Individual States Take Varying Action on Vaccines

  • The Pennsylvania Insurance Department issued a notice confirming coverage of Covid and other recommended vaccines at no cost through the end of 2026, following an executive order from Gov. Shapiro earlier this month.
  • A new review of state legislative activity identified 350 anti-vaccine bills introduced or advanced in 2025. The measures include prohibiting discrimination against unvaccinated individuals, creating a new criminal offense for alleged “vaccine harm,” requiring blood banks to test donations for evidence of vaccination, and instituting a 48-hour waiting period before vaccination.

REALITY CHECK

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

CLAIM: Getting the Covid vaccine during early stages of pregnancy can increase risk of birth defects in children.

  • REALITY: Covid vaccination during early pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of birth defects in children.
  • Multiple studies over the past several years have shown that vaccines, including mRNA Covid vaccines, are safe during pregnancy and not linked to birth defects.
  • In fact, a recent study published last week analyzed data from over 525,000 infants and found no association between first-trimester Covid vaccination and 75 different major congenital malformations, concluding that the vaccines do not appear to have negative effects on development.
    • These findings are consistent with earlier research, including a 2024 JAMA Pediatrics study, which also found no increased risk of structural birth defects among infants whose mothers were vaccinated early in pregnancy.
  • In contrast, Covid infection during pregnancy has been associated with higher risks for both mother and baby, including hospitalization, preterm birth, and stillbirth.
  • Leading maternal health organizations—including ACOG and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM)—recommend that all pregnant women receive an updated Covid vaccine, and the most recent guidance from ACIP supports vaccination for all individuals 6 months and older, including individuals who are pregnant.

CLAIM: The CDC has an inherent conflict of interest because it both promotes vaccines and monitors their safety, in turn preventing the agency from objectively evaluating vaccine safety and efficacy.

  • REALITY: The idea that the CDC would gain from promoting vaccines that have not been deemed safe or effective is not supported by evidence or logic.
    • This claim assumes that the CDC would somehow “benefit” from promoting unsafe or ineffective vaccines when in reality, the CDC’s goal is to protect public health.
  • Vaccine promotion and safety monitoring are separate functions, managed by independent divisions, such as:
    • The Immunization Safety Office (ISO) which monitors vaccine safety and investigates potential adverse events. ISO evaluation of data is entirely independent from efforts to promote vaccination.
    • The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) which is responsible for independently reviewing and providing vaccine guidance. While the committee makes evidence-based vaccine recommendations, it is not responsible for promotion of vaccines, and historically ACIP has been subject to strict conflict-of-interest rules.
  • Independent reviews and historical data show no evidence that the CDC’s dual role has compromised its ability to evaluate vaccine safety and efficacy objectively. Separate offices, committees, and monitoring systems exist specifically to ensure vaccines are safe, effective and rigorously evaluated, which is directly aligned with the agency’s mission to protect public health.

WHAT TO WATCH

Senate Plans Hearing for Surgeon General Nominee Casey Means

  • The Senate is planning a confirmation hearing next week—tentatively scheduled for Thursday (October 30)—for Casey Means, President Trump’s nominee for Surgeon General.
  • Means, a Stanford trained physician and wellness entrepreneur, does not have a currently active medical license, according to public records.
  • Her nomination has drawn scrutiny from public health experts and lawmakers who have expressed concerns about her limited public health experience, inactive medical license, and past comments that seem to undermine vaccination and conventional medicine.
    • Means’ nomination has also been met with pushback from some of the administration’s allies, who claim Means isn’t sufficiently critical of vaccine safety.

Medical Organizations Back Lawsuit Against Kennedy, Which Remains Paused by Shutdown

  • In July, a coalition of major medical organizations led by AAP filed a lawsuit against HHS Secretary Kennedy over his removal of Covid vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, arguing the changes are unlawful and endanger public health.
  • Recently, a coalition of 20 organizations led by ACOG filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs, arguing the changes are “causing harm to vulnerable individuals, the public at large, and medical professionals.”
  • A hearing was set for October 8, but proceedings have been delayed indefinitelydue to the government shutdown.

Vaccinate Your Family is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting people of all ages from vaccine-preventable diseases. To learn more, visit us at: vaccinateyourfamily.org

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