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University students have a unique perspective on vaccination because of their recent or perhaps newly acquired autonomy and ability to make health-related decisions. The development of the COVID-19 vaccine in 2020 and its implementation over the past few years was accompanied by much information and communication about vaccination requirements and safety, which may have affected students’ perspectives on vaccination and vaccine requirements more broadly. This analysis describes current vaccine policies at several universities and evaluates student respondents’ perceptions of and agreement with university vaccine requirements. A 32-question survey was administered to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students attending four Pennsylvania universities in March-May 2023; 2,223 students responded to the survey. The survey included questions about vaccine requirements, agreement with vaccine requirements, and knowledge of selected vaccines. These responses were compared with the actual vaccine requirements and recommendations of the four universities. Most respondents agreed with university vaccine requirements, though knowledge of those requirements varied, with many unaware of which were required. University requirement of the COVID-19 vaccine was not associated with being vaccinated for COVID-19. However, while the requirement itself was not related to vaccine uptake, respondents’ perception of a requirement was. Respondents were more likely to report COVID-19 vaccination and influenza vaccination if they believed their university required those vaccines. Respondents were more likely to approve of a vaccine requirement if their perception was that their university required that vaccine. Overall, student respondents were supportive of their institution’s vaccine requirements, but many lacked information about those requirements. Clear messaging using multiple modes of communication about vaccines and vaccine requirements may improve students’ knowledge of vaccines and result in a corresponding increase in vaccine uptake.

Since 1964, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has shaped US vaccine policy but recently underwent significant structural and procedural changes affecting recommendation quality. This paper presents analyses of the September 2025 ACIP meeting by former ACIP voting members. We examined ACIP policymaking maturity using a standardized tool for assessing national vaccine advisory groups' development and functionality. We also analyzed evidence presented, processes, and vaccine recommendations. Between April and September 2025, ACIP's policymaking maturity rating fell from an overall score of 100 % to 58 %. The September meeting had multiple transparency violations, including the exclusion of liaison organizations with medical expertise in vaccine implementation before the meeting. Poorly framed policy questions were followed by a lack of systematic application of standard protocols (e.g., GRADE methodology and Evidence to Recommendations framework). The committee voted to recommend shared clinical decision making for COVID-19 vaccines, to limit access to combined first dose MMRV vaccines, and to postpone voting on removing the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine. Discussions reflected poor understanding of process, inadequate grasp of science, and a focus on low-quality safety data, excluding well-recognized components and standards for vaccine policy making. Four concerns have emerged that limit ACIP's ability to make effective vaccine policy recommendations for the US: 1) removal of choice for previously recommended vaccines, thereby limiting opportunities to improve health, 2) focus on theoretical vaccine harms using low-quality data, 3) loss of vaccine science and clinical practice expertise, and 4) reduced transparency and independence.

The former members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices consider paths forward for U.S. vaccine policy in the wake of their dismissal by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in June 2025.

Recently, efforts have been made to fill a so-called “vaccine gap” between Japan and other countries; however, more work remains. Concerns about adverse events following immunization (AEFI) resulted in an historically passive approach to policy making in the National Immunization Program (NIP). For example, reports of AEFI following human papillomavirus vaccine (HPVV) in 2013 led the Japanese government to withdraw its proactive recommendations, resulting in a sharp drop in HPVV coverage rate to less than 1.0%. In this report, we review key historical incidents that led to the current immunization system in Japan, compare it to that in the United States, and discuss strategies for improving the Japanese immunization system. By strengthening existing policies and programs, such as National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups and AEFI reporting, compensation laws, and immunization education, the remaining vaccine gap in Japan could be filled.

Paul A. Offit and Charlotte A. Moser answer questions about the science and safety of modern vaccines. In straightforward prose, they explain how vaccines work, how they are made, and how they are tested. Most important, they separate the real risks of vaccines from feared but unfounded risks. Offit and Moser address parental fears that children may receive too many vaccines too early, that the HPV vaccine may cause chronic fatigue or other dangerous side effects, that additives and preservatives in vaccines cause autism, and that vaccines might do more harm than good. There couldn't be a better moment or more pressing need for this book, which offers honesty-instead of hype-in the quest to protect children's health.

At its October 2024 meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices* (ACIP) approved the Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Ages 19 Years or Older, United States, 2025. The schedule supports health care providers, as well as public health and other professionals, by providing a consolidated summary of current ACIP recommendations for adult vaccination. The 2025 schedule includes several updates to the cover page, tables, notes, and appendix. The addendum remains part of the schedule and will be used to summarize new or updated ACIP recommendations that occur before the next annual schedule update. Health care providers are strongly encouraged to use all parts of the schedule (the cover page, tables, notes, appendix, and addendum) together when making recommendations for individual patients. The 2025 adult immunization schedule can be found on the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/index.html).

Two meningococcal serogroup B vaccines are licensed for use in the United States. In August 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changed the label for the meningococcal serogroup B MenB-4C vaccine (Bexsero) from a 2-dose schedule (intervals of 0 and ≥1 month) to a 2-dose schedule (0 and 6 months) and added a 3-dose schedule (0, 1-2, and 6 months), based on new immunogenicity data. On October 24, 2024, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to update its recommendations for the MenB-4C dosing interval and schedule to align with the new FDA label. ACIP recommends extending the interval for the 2-dose series of MenB-4C from 0 and ≥1 month to 0 and 6 months for healthy adolescents and young adults aged 16-23 years based on shared clinical decision-making and has added a recommendation for a 3-dose series with doses administered at 0, 1-2, and 6 months for persons aged ≥10 years at increased risk. The updated ACIP recommendations for MenB-4C align with existing ACIP recommendations for the other FDA-licensed meningococcal serogroup B vaccine, MenB-FHbp (Trumenba).

At its October 2024 meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices* (ACIP) approved the Recommended Immunization Schedule for Child and Adolescent Ages 18 Years or Younger, United States, 2025. The schedule supports health care providers, as well as public health and other professionals, by providing a consolidated summary of current ACIP recommendations for vaccinating children and adolescents. The 2025 schedule includes several updates to the cover page, tables, notes, and appendix. The addendum remains part of the schedule and will be used to summarize new or updated ACIP recommendations that occur before the next annual schedule update. Health care providers are strongly encouraged to use all parts of the schedule (the cover page, tables, notes, appendix, and addendum) together when making recommendations for individual patients. The 2025 child and adolescent immunization schedule can be found on the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/index.html).