Newsletters

New CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz takes office as the Administration considers how to implement President Trump’s vaccine Executive Order, with existing CDC childhood immunization recommendations remaining in place for now; HHS is seeking nominees for the NVAC after revising its charter to expand the committee’s focus on non-immunization strategies and shift membership criteria.

The Trump Administration issued a new Executive Order directing further changes to childhood vaccine policy, including fewer vaccines routinely recommended for all children, greater use of shared clinical decision-making, and a push to separate combination vaccines and increase the number of medical visits for vaccination; Medical and public health organizations strongly opposed the Executive Order, arguing that the changes are not supported by new evidence and could create additional barriers to vaccination.

The Senate HELP Committee advanced nominees to lead the CDC and ASPR, and the full Senate will vote on Schwartz’s confirmation today; the U.S. released $600 million in previously frozen funding for Gavi under an agreement that ties future support to new conditions, including efforts to transition away from vaccines containing thimerosal.

CDC nominee Dr. Erica Schwartz gained bipartisan support ahead of a rescheduled Senate committee vote, while ASPR nominee Sean Kaufman continues to face scrutiny over his vaccine-related statements and policy positions; the AAP vaccine policy lawsuit moved closer to a First Circuit decision as outside groups backed the plaintiffs, while the district court paused proceedings, leaving the preliminary injunction in place.

During her Senate HELP confirmation hearing, CDC Director nominee Dr. Erica Schwartz affirmed that vaccines are safe and effective, but faced repeated questions about her ability to resist possible political pressure to change CDC vaccine communications or recommendations without supporting evidence; during the same hearing, ASPR nominee Sean Kaufman said vaccines are critical for preventing infectious disease, while senators pressed him on past vaccine-critical comments and his support for canceled mRNA vaccine development grants.

HHS is moving forward with plans to create a Covid Countermeasures Injury Table, which could clarify compensation for certain rare conditions linked to Covid vaccination, but experts caution that an overly broad list could unnecessarily fuel doubts about the vaccines; the Senate HELP Committee is holding a joint hearing today on the nominations of CDC Director nominee Dr. Erica Schwartz and ASPR nominee Sean Kaufman, while the White House weighs finalists for FDA Commissioner.

A major flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base prompted the Pentagon to restore flu immunization requirements for new military recruits, underscoring the role of vaccination in protecting health in congregate settings and operational readiness for the nation’s military; new laws in Iowa and Maryland reflect diverging state vaccine policy approaches, with Iowa limiting adolescent access to HPV vaccination and Maryland strengthening state-level authority to issue immunization recommendations.

HHS released another new ACIP charter that could reshape the committee’s membership, scope, meeting cadence, and relationship to VFC coverage; newly released internal emails show behind-the-scenes pressure on CDC vaccine policy, communications, ACIP membership, and potential VFC program changes.

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.

HHS is seeking an expedited appeal in the ACIP vaccine policy lawsuit, as uncertainty continues around the committee’s ability to issue timely recommendations ahead of the fall respiratory virus season; ACOG released its own maternal immunization schedule, continuing to recommend Covid vaccination during pregnancy despite recent changes to federal guidance.