Viruses & Vaccinations

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? RFK Jr.'s next vaccine target

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios A new CDC group will review childhood vaccines, including the safety of ingredients like aluminum, Axios' Caitlin Owens reports. Among sample topics: whether small amounts of aluminum used in vaccines to bolster recipients' immune response increase the risk of asthma. ? Vaccine skeptics, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have long questioned the scientific consensus that the small amount of aluminum used in vaccines is safe. ? "What's likely going to happen ... is at some point that subcommittee is going to take a look at that question and they're going to come away saying there's a lot of evidence [aluminum] has some issues," Robert Malone, one of Kennedy's handpicked appointees on the CDC vaccine advisory committee, tells Axios. ?‍? Mainstream scientific experts are sounding the alarm over Kennedy's move, saying aluminum is both safe and essential. Go deeper.

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COVID-19 vaccines may help some cancer patients fight tumors

The most widely used COVID-19 vaccines may offer a surprise benefit for some cancer patients by boosting their immune systems to help fight tumors. Research reported Wednesday found that people with advanced lung or skin cancer lived longer if they received a Pfizer or Moderna shot within 100 days of starting a type of immunotherapy. The mRNA in these vaccines appears to enhance the immune system's response. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

During cold and flu season, the youngest kids really are the germiest

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mRNA vaccine boosted immune response, life expectancy for cancer patients, UF research finds

The surgeon general, who works at UF, wants to eliminate mRNA vaccines.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/23/mrna-vaccine-boosted-immune-response-life-expectancy-for-cancer-patients-uf-research-finds/?

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Measles milestone

In 2016, the Americas became the first and only region to effectively eliminate the virus by ending local spread. But Canada is now poised to lose its elimination status, and the US could soon too. ps:Imagine that!! And trump came on the scene with his bull manure about vaccines etc., to get himself elected

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The Vaccine That Adults 50+ Shouldn’t Skip

A woman’s severe shingles case highlights why experts urge all adults 50 and older to get vaccinated – protection that new research shows may also lower dementia and heart risks.

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/news/20251112/the-vaccine-adults-50-plus-should-not-skip?

ps:What experts? I thought trump and his administration were the experts?????

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Flu Season's Quiet Start May Be Misleading Oct. 3, 2025 – Experts are predicting a moderate flu season – but that doesn't mean it's safe to ignore. https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20251002/flu-season-quiet-start-may-be-misleading?   Flu season

A new virus variant and lagging vaccinations may mean the US is in for a severe flu season. Health experts are closely watching a mutated strain called subclade K that's behind early surges in the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan. Flu activity in the US is low but rising quickly, according to a CDC report. Early analysis shows that this season's flu shots provide some protection against being hospitalized with this variant, especially for kids. But data shows many Americans appear to be skipping their flu vaccines this year. This comes on the heels of a severe flu season last winter: The US had its highest rates of flu hospitalizations in nearly 15 years, and at least 280 children died of influenza, the highest number since 2004.

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Flu activity is low, but experts worry about a new strain and vaccination rates

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. flu season is starting slowly, and it’s unclear if it will be as bad as last winter’s, but some health experts are worried as U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data posted Friday shows a new version of the virus has emerged.

https://apnews.com/article/flu-covid-vaccinations-7e437cc60e18e4d1c49b50c3b358a253?

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West Virginia parents can cite religious beliefs to opt out of school vaccines, judge says

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia officials suspended a school vaccination mandate Wednesday after a judge ruled that parents can cite religious beliefs to opt out of vaccines required for their children to attend classes.

https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-school-vaccines-religious-exemptions-c2b9f12549183741221373793bd375f5?

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Vaccine changes

Advisers handpicked by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are considering a major revision to the childhood vaccine schedule. The hepatitis B shot given to newborns could be delayed by weeks or even years.

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West Virginia again bans religious reasons for school vaccine exemptions West Virginia’s Supreme Court has reinstated a ban on parents citing their religious beliefs to opt out of required school vaccines for their children. The Supreme Court acted six days after a county circuit judge issued an injunction in a lawsuit filed in June. The judge had said children of families who objected to the state’s compulsory vaccination law on religious grounds would be allowed to attend school. Read more.

Key points: West Virginia was among just a handful of states that granted only medical exemptions from school vaccinations when Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued an executive order in January allowing religious exemptions. Morrisey’s authority to issue the order was challenged in a lawsuit.    The state’s school vaccination policy has been heralded by medical experts as one of the most protective in the U.S. for children. It requires children to receive vaccines for numerous diseases – including chickenpox, measles, mumps, polio and tetanus – before starting school.    At least 30 states have religious freedom laws modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which allows federal regulations that interfere with religious beliefs to be challenged.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ West Virginia parents can cite religious beliefs to opt out of school vaccines, judge says  Groups sue over West Virginia governor’s order on religious exemptions for school vaccines West Virginia GOP governor signs ‘religious freedom’ bill

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US vaccine advisers say not all babies need a hepatitis B shot at birth

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal vaccine advisory committee voted on Friday to end the longstanding recommendation that all U.S. babies get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born.

https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-babies-hepatitis-b-10f8db54beb38c5cd39a94f8a3657752?

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? Calls to pull COVID shots get louder

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios An anti-vaccine organization founded by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants the FDA to yank the most widely used COVID vaccines from the market, Axios' Caitlin Owens reports. That's despite RFK's promises that he won't take vaccines away from anyone — and part of a growing call from vaccine skeptics to pull the shots. Children's Health Defense this week filed a petition asking FDA commissioner Marty Makary to deem Moderna's and Pfizer's COVID vaccines "misbranded" and revoke their licenses due to a lack of "compliance with FDA regulations." ? Its argument is based on the vaccines' conversion from emergency use early in the pandemic to full approval later on. In other administrations, the move would be an extreme long shot. ?‍? But Kennedy's personal ties to Children's Health Defense may improve its prospects. Meanwhile: Last season's COVID vaccine significantly reduced kids' ER and urgent care visits, per new CDC data. Go deeper.

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Hundreds are quarantined in South Carolina as measles spreads in 2 US outbreaks

Measles outbreaks are growing along the Utah-Arizona border and in South Carolina, where hundreds are in quarantine.

https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-south-carolina-utah-arizona-3bfc561ecc16d8e80175effdae0791d4?

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? Children's vaccine changes expected

Photo illustration: Maura Kearns/Axios. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Some leading vaccine manufacturers could be exposed to litigation they've been protected from for decades if the U.S. adopts a childhood vaccine schedule resembling Denmark's — as it appears likely to do in the new year, Axios' Caitlin Owens writes. Why it matters: The threat of expensive lawsuits could drive vaccine makers from the U.S. market, upending access to shots for the seasonal flu, hepatitis and meningitis. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nearly proposed a childhood vaccine schedule inspired by Denmark's slimmed-down recommendations last week before pulling back, Politico reported. The change still remains likely. It's a risky political gamble in sync with President Trump's recent directive to "align U.S. core childhood vaccine recommendations with best practices from peer, developed countries." Keep reading ...

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Flu is rising rapidly in the US, driven by a new variant The variant that’s driving the rise is known as “subclade K.” On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported high or very high levels of illness in more than half the states. Read more.

Why this matters: Cases are expected to keep growing with holiday travel. The CDC estimated there have been at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths from flu so far this season. That includes at least eight child deaths, according to data as of Dec. 20.   Flu is particularly dangerous for people 65 and older, pregnant women, young children and people of any age who have chronic health problems, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and weak immune systems. It’s not too late to get a flu shot, which health experts say can still prevent severe illness even if someone gets infected.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ In a tumultuous year, US health policy has been dramatically reshaped under RFK Jr.

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? Beware the "super flu"

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios A massive surge in flu cases is rocking the country this winter, with many tied to the so-called "super flu," Axios' Herb Scribner and Jason Lalljee report. ? There have been at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths from the flu so far this season, the CDC says. Many of these cases involve "subclade K" — a variant of the H3N2 virus, itself a subtype of influenza A. ? Experts say subclade K is an example of the "super flu," referring to a strain that spreads quickly and rapidly. ? Other illnesses — the "winter vomiting bug," COVID and whooping cough — are also circulating. Go deeper.

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? Mapped: Kids' vaccination rates

Data: The Washington Post. (County-level data unavailable for Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Wyoming.) Map: Jacque Schrag/Axios The battle against infectious diseases like the flu and measles has taken a hit, with sinking vaccination rates for children in many parts of the U.S., Axios' Herb Scribner writes from new data collected and analyzed by The Washington Post. At least 5.2 million kindergarten-age kids live in counties where vaccination rates are below herd immunity levels. Plunging vaccination rates have contributed to a spike in measles cases and may cost the U.S. its coveted elimination status for the first time in decades. Keep reading.

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Record Flu Activity

There have been at least 15 million flu cases this season, according to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year, outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms reached the highest recorded level since the agency began tracking cases more than 30 years ago.  The US flu season typically begins in October, peaks between December and February and extends as late as May. This season has seen at least 180,000 hospitalizations and 7,400 deaths, with 26 states reporting “very high” levels of flu-like illness and 16 seeing “high” levels. Epidemiologists have blamed a new strain of influenza A H3N2—called subclade K—for the uptick (see more on strain names, w/video). The mutation began spreading after strains were chosen for this year’s vaccine, but research shows promise it still offers protection against severe illness. Last year, a record 289 children died from the flu—the highest number since the agency began tracking cases in 2004. Roughly 90% were not fully vaccinated, and over 50% had an underlying medical condition, according to a CDC report.

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? Kids' flu shots lag despite "super flu"

Data: CDC. (States in gray had no data available in the most recent reporting period.) Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios Kids' flu shots are lagging compared to last year, even amid what's shaping up to be a historically nasty influenza season tied to the so-called "super flu," Alex Fitzpatrick reports. ? Uptake among kids aged 6 months to 17 years is down 1.5 percentage points nationally as of Jan. 3 compared to the same time last year, per the CDC's latest data. ? Childhood flu vaccination has been trending downward for the past several seasons. ? The Trump administration recently changed its flu shot recommendations for kids, part of a broader overhaul of the childhood vaccination schedule. ?‍⚕️ Instead of recommending the flu shot for all kids, it's now advising parents to chat with doctors first. Many medical experts slammed those changes, which come amid rising vaccine skepticism on the political right. Go deeper.

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The US is on the verge of losing its measles elimination status. Here’s why that matters

It’s been a year since a measles outbreak began in West Texas, and international health authorities say they plan to meet in April to determine if the U.S. has lost its measles-free designation.

https://apnews.com/article/us-measles-elimination-mexico-6f0bc8f7ef31d5ef82492e42ccb38e47?

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This Flu Season Is Brutal. Here's How to Stay Safe

So far in 2025-26, the flu has caused 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths – more than twice as many cases and nearly twice as many hospitalizations and deaths as the CDC reported at this time last year. Older adults (ages 65 and up) and children under 4 are hardest hit, but even healthy young adults can fall severely ill. 

https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20260108/how-to-stay-safe-amid-brutal-flu-season?

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💉 Dropped shots

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

America's retreat from vaccines is likely to reduce investment and innovation in immunizations, investors in the sector tell Axios Pro Rata author Dan Primack. Why it matters: Many vaccines save lives and future health-care costs. Where it stands: Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel last week told Bloomberg that his company doesn't plan any new infectious disease vaccine studies. The pharma leaders' comments came after the Trump administration overhauled the childhood vaccination schedule, and the same day that the federal vaccine advisory panel's chair questioned the continued need for polio and measles vaccines. Data: CDC; Chart: Axios Visuals The vaccine retrenchment also comes as measles cases skyrocket in the U.S., which is at risk of losing its measles "elimination status." The latest: The Trump administration and vaccine critics are clashing over whether to remove COVID vaccines from the market entirely, writes Axios' Caitlin Owens. Go deeper ...

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States that once led in child vaccination fall as they expand exemptions

States that were leaders in childhood vaccination before the pandemic are among those losing ground as exemptions and unfounded skepticism take hold, encouraged by the Trump administration’s stance under U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/02/04/repub/states-that-once-led-in-child-vaccination-fall-as-they-expand-exemptions/?

ps:I wonder why that is?

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Kids and vaccines

US federal health officials recently reduced the number of vaccines recommended for children — pointing to Denmark, where newborn babies leave the hospital without a single shot. Is that a model worth copying? Dr. Sanjay Gupta goes to Copenhagen to find out.

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Tracking the virus

This flu season has seen the highest rate of doctor visits since the US began collecting data through a national surveillance network. CNN is monitoring cases and hospitalizations across the country.