So far in 2025, nearly 380 measles cases have been reported in the United States, more than all of the cases reported throughout 2024. Nearly all of these cases have been identified in those who are unvaccinated against measles or in those whose vaccination status is unknown, highlighting the importance of ensuring that all children are vaccinated against this highly contagious disease. Beyond the direct medical costs of treating patients through both outpatient visits and hospitalizations, significant resources are needed to respond to and control measles outbreaks, and economic analyses must also account for productivity costs. As the number of measles cases in the US continues to grow, so too does the price tag associated with this outbreak.
Earlier this month, International Women's Day called for rights, equality, and empowerment for all women and girls. This includes equitable access to immunization, which is key for ensuring that all children everywhere are protected against disease.
A new commentary explores key takeaways and next steps from the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) Scorecard, which was coordinated by IVAC with support from USAID from 2021 to 2024. The scorecard is a publicly available interactive tool displaying data that enables stakeholders at all levels to monitor indicators tracked by IA2030. The latest data shows that although more large or disruptive outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease are occurring, there are bright spots worth celebrating.
This scoping review examined where, when, how, and why residual blood specimens have been used in serological surveys for vaccine-preventable diseases. Researchers found that these specimens are widely used in seroprevalence studies, particularly during emerging disease outbreaks when rapid estimates are critical, though there are inconsistencies in how researchers analyze and report their use.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently endorsed a single-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination schedule, but adoption of the revised immunization schedule has not been uniform, notably in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with outsized cervical cancer burdens. In this qualitative study, researchers interviewed national immunization stakeholders from 19 LMICs at various stages of HPV vaccine introduction to better characterize potential decision-making pathways and underlying contextual forces.
