Measles outbreaks could fuel rise in fatal complication, physicians warn
Mackenzie Bean / beckershospitalreview - As measles continues spreading across the U.S. at a pace not seen in decades, physicians are warning about a rare but often fatal neurological complication that can emerge years after initial infection, KFF Health News reported March 13. Subacute sclerosi…
AI Summary: Measles is resurging across the United States at levels not seen in decades, and clinicians warn this spike could drive an increase in a rare but often fatal neurological complication. Public‑health experts point to falling vaccination coverage and gaps in outbreak control as the drivers, urging renewed immunization efforts and vigilance.
Flu vaccines didn't work that well in the US, officials find
medicalxpress - As the U.S. flu season winds down, health officials say the flu vaccine didn't work very well, with one of its worst effectiveness rates in more than a decade.
AI Summary: Health officials report this season’s influenza vaccine performed poorly, with effectiveness among the lowest in recent years. A mismatch between vaccine strains and circulating viruses reduced protection, prompting calls for strain updates ahead of the fall program. Public health leaders still urge vaccination for partial protection and to blunt severe outcomes.
Severe COVID or Severe Flu May Raise Risk of Lung Cancer, But Vaccines Helped in Animal Tests
discovermagazine - Learn how severe respiratory illness leaves the lungs vulnerable to cancer, and how vaccines could prevent these vulnerabilities.
AI Summary: New animal and observational evidence suggests severe respiratory infections—including serious COVID‑19 and influenza—can prime lung tissue and accelerate cancer development months to years later. Vaccination appeared to blunt those effects in experimental models, highlighting prevention as a potential cancer‑risk reduction strategy and urging clinicians to watch survivors of severe infections more closely.
FDA Transparency Push Expands to Monitoring Safety of Vaccines and Other Regulated Products
Frank Vinluan / medcitynews - The FDA said consolidating safety reporting into a single platform, the Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), will increase transparency and reduce costs. But like the legacy systems it replaces, AEMS reports are unverified so causation and frequency of…
AI Summary: The FDA is consolidating multiple safety reporting systems into a single public Adverse Event Monitoring System to centralize reports for drugs, biologics, vaccines, cosmetics and animal products. The move aims to improve transparency, reduce fragmented reporting, and streamline monitoring — a tidy solution if it works as promised.
FDA vaccine chief to step down in April
Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - Vinay Prasad, MD, the FDA’s top regulator of vaccines and cell and gene therapies, will step down at the end of April, an agency spokesperson confirmed to Becker’s. Dr. Prasad joined the agency in 2025 on a one-year sabbatical from the University of Calif…
AI Summary: Vinay Prasad, the FDA’s top regulator for vaccines and cell and gene therapies, will step down at the end of April amid mounting criticism over controversial decisions that reportedly overrode agency scientists and spooked stakeholders. His exit follows prolonged internal and external disputes about regulatory judgment and leadership style.
RFK Jr. names 2 new members to CDC vaccine panel
Erica Cerutti / beckershospitalreview - HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed two new members to the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee Feb. 27, ahead of a rescheduled meeting in mid-March where members are expected to review COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Mr. Kennedy said Sean Downing…
AI Summary: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed two clinicians to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices just weeks before a rescheduled session, installing new voting members ahead of vaccine deliberations. The last‑minute nominations aim to ensure the panel is fully staffed for upcoming guidance discussions.
A novel C. diff vaccine shows promise
Mariah Taylor / beckershospitalreview - Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt Health researchers have developed a promising novel vaccine to treat Clostridioides difficile infections. Previous vaccine strategies targeted the bacterium’s primary toxins, according to a Feb. 18 system news release. Th…
AI Summary: Researchers at Vanderbilt have reported a novel experimental vaccine that prevents Clostridioides difficile infection and reduces recurrence in early studies, demonstrating strong protective immune responses. The work offers a much‑needed alternative to antibiotics and recurrent‑infection management, though larger clinical trials will be required to confirm safety, durability and real‑world impact.
CDC confirms 910 measles cases in 2026; South Carolina remains hardest hit
Paige Twenter / beckershospitalreview - Six weeks into 2026, the CDC has confirmed 910 measles cases. If the pace of transmission continues, this year could far outpace the 2,280 cases detected across the U.S. in 2025, as 2026’s total is already 40% of 2025’s. The hardest-hit state is South Car…
AI Summary: The CDC has confirmed a nationwide uptick in measles cases, tallying hundreds of infections and triggering local public-health responses. Hotspots include a large South Carolina outbreak, an over‑40‑case cluster at a Florida college and a Los Angeles County case involving visits to LAX eateries while infectious. Officials urge vaccination and vigilance.
'Universal' nasal-spray vaccine protects against viruses, bacteria and allergens in mice
livescience - In an early animal test, a new nasal-spray vaccine has shown promise against a variety of germs and a common allergen, scientists report.
AI Summary: Scientists reported a nasal-spray vaccine that protected mice against a range of respiratory viruses, bacteria and even a common allergen, a tantalizing step toward a universal respiratory vaccine. The animal data look promising, but human trials are essential before anyone ditches annual shots for a single spritz and a prayer.
N.I.H. Director Will Temporarily Run C.D.C. in Leadership Shake-Up
Sheryl Gay Stolberg / nytimes - Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will serve as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention until President Trump appoints a permanent director.
AI Summary: Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, currently NIH director, has been appointed acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stepping into leadership amid recent departures. He will oversee CDC operations until a permanent nominee is confirmed, inheriting immediate pandemic and preparedness responsibilities — because who doesn’t love an unexpected federal acting role?
F.D.A. Reverses Decision and Agrees to Review Moderna’s Flu Vaccine
Christina Jewett and Rebecca Robbins / nytimes - Moderna said it had held further discussions with regulators and announced that the agency would accept the company’s application for approval of its flu vaccine that uses mRNA technology.
AI Summary: After renewed discussions with the company, the FDA reversed its earlier stance and agreed to accept Moderna’s amended application for an mRNA seasonal influenza vaccine. Regulators will now evaluate the submitted safety and efficacy data to determine whether the shot meets approval standards — a regulatory about-face that will keep flu-watchers and investors awake.
Ama launches independent vaccine review after CDC criticism
medicalxpress - Two major medical groups will begin reviewing vaccine safety and effectiveness after major changes at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have raised alarms among experts.
AI Summary: The American Medical Association announced an independent review of vaccine safety and effectiveness in response to recent CDC changes and criticism, partnering with external researchers to evaluate evidence and restore public trust. The panel aims to provide transparent, expert analysis free of political noise.
Public Health Department confirms first 2026 measles case in Los Angeles County
medicalxpress - The Department of Public Health has confirmed the first measles case this year in Los Angeles County. Officials say the person who tested positive for measles had recently traveled outside the country. The department is now working to identify people who …
AI Summary: Los Angeles County health officials confirmed the first measles case of 2026 even as nationwide data reveal that only one month into the year, case numbers have already reached 25% of 2025’s total. Experts warn that if vaccination rates do not improve promptly, an early outbreak could expand and stress public health systems.
US reports 168 new measles cases with outbreak in South Carolina
medicalxpress - The U.S. measles outbreak that drove cases to a 34-year high in 2025 shows no signs of slowing, as 168 more people have become infected since the start of the new year.
AI Summary: Multiple reports indicate a concerning surge in measles cases in South Carolina. One update cites 168 new cases, another confirms 124 new cases, while further news describes the outbreak spreading into neighboring states such as North Carolina and Ohio. Health officials are urging prompt vaccination and coordinated public health interventions to curb the outbreak.
RFK Jr.'s CDC whacks 6 vaccines from childhood recommendation list after opaque monthlong review
fiercehealthcare - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has upended the immunization schedule for children in the United States, eliminating six of the 17 vaccines that were previously recommended to protect them from disease.
AI Summary: In an unexpected twist to the longstanding immunization program, the CDC has eliminated six previously universal childhood vaccines following a monthlong review—sparking debates and eyebrow raises among healthcare officials. The policy change now tailors recommendations to higher-risk groups while shifting away from a one‐size‐fits‐all approach.
Sanofi buys hepatitis B vaccine maker Dynavax for $2.2B; gets CRL for MS drug
Elizabeth Cairns / endpoints - Sanofi is set to supplement its vaccine offering with the acquisition of Dynavax Technologies for $2.2 billion in cash, the companies said Wednesday. Separately, Sanofi said the ...
AI Summary: Two separate reports confirm that Sanofi has completed a $2.2 billion deal to acquire Dynavax Technologies. This strategic move strengthens Sanofi’s vaccine lineup by adding a commercially proven hepatitis B vaccine and a clinical‐stage shingles candidate, positioning the company for enhanced market competitiveness amid global pressures.
Pakistan begins last anti-polio vaccination drive of the year after surge in new cases
medicalxpress - Pakistani authorities on Monday launched the final nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign of the year, aiming to protect 45 million children after more than two dozen cases of the potentially paralyzing disease were reported, officials said.
AI Summary: Pakistani authorities have launched the final nationwide anti‐polio vaccination campaign of 2025, aiming to protect 45 million children after a recent surge in cases. Despite longstanding debates about booster efforts, officials insist it’s high time to stamp out the poliovirus once and for all.
CDC Ends Universal Hepatitis B Newborn Vaccination
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially rescinded its long‐standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth. The change reflects new evidence and a shift toward individualized risk‐based immunization protocols, prompting hospitals and pediatricians nationwide to adjust their preventive strategies accordingly.
Ronan Kelly: Christine Handy’s Award-Winning Breast Cancer Film Premieres in Dallas
oncodaily - Ronan Kelly, Director of Precision Medicine and Scientific Discovery at Baylor University Medical Center, shared a post on LinkedIn: “It was a privilege to meet Christine Handy, executive producer of […]
AI Summary: A recent CDC analysis has reinforced the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in pediatric care, demonstrating a significant reduction in emergency department and urgent care visits among vaccinated children during the first six months post-vaccination. These findings underscore the critical role of vaccines in safeguarding child health and supporting public health policy.
A single shot of HPV vaccine may be enough to fight cervical cancer, study finds
go - A new study suggests a single HPV vaccination appears just as effective as two doses at preventing the viral infection that causes cervical cancer
AI Summary: A new study finds that a single dose of the HPV vaccine offers comparable protection against cervical cancer as the traditional two‐dose regimen, potentially simplifying vaccine delivery and increasing immunization rates in public health initiatives.