I’ve been honored to write a quarterly column, “Vaccine News You Can Use” for the Colorado Family Physician  (CSP) journal for a number of years. Below is part of the Winter 2025 edition of the CFP .

FIND THE ARTICLES BELOW HERE

My Winter 2025 column has not yet been published, but it turns out that there was so much news about vaccines in the last quarter of 2024, that the second half of my column was posted online here, and I though some of you might enjoy perusing it. As soon as the first half of the column is published online, I’ll post it for you.

This respiratory illness season is a busy one for immunization recommendations and guidelines. In addition to his frequent contributions and regular column in Colorado FP, Dr. Walt Larimore has compiled even more information and CME questions to support your learning and patient care. Keep an eye out for his article in the forthcoming winter issue of the magazine.

Childhood vaccines prevented over one million deaths and for every $1 spent, saved $11

The CDC reported that based upon VFC program data from 1994 through 2023 (tinyurl.com/4mc4w5wp) over the past 30 years, routine childhood vaccinations in the US prevented hundreds of millions of illnesses and more than a million deaths, while saving over $500 billion in direct costs. In addition, net cost savings amounted to $540 billion in direct costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs. The total number of illnesses prevented ranged from 5,000 for tetanus to about 100 million for measles and varicella. The measles vaccine alone prevented 13.2 million hospitalizations, and the diphtheria vaccine prevented nearly 753,000 deaths.

CDC expands COVID vaccine recommendations for elderly and immunocompromised

The CDC expanded its COVID vaccine advice to now recommend a second dose of the 2024-2025 COVID vaccine for two groups: those (1) 65 years and older and (2) 6 months and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. The second dose should be administered no earlier than six months after the first shot. Under the CDC’s new guidelines, people with compromised immune systems also have the flexibility to get three or more doses of the updated vaccine, in consultation with their health care professional (tinyurl.com/3zwuu2p8).

CME Question:

The CDC recommendations those who are 65 and older and those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised receive a second dose of the 2024-2025 vaccine three months after their first shot.

1. True
2. False

CDC backs wider pneumococcal vaccine use for adults 50+

The CDC has expanded the recommendation for PCV to include all adults aged 50 and older, as well as younger adults with certain risk factors. The expanded recommendation is expected to boost vaccination rates due to its age-based approach, which is seen as more effective than risk-based criteria (tinyurl.com/4xxhzbs6).

50 and older IRRESPECTIVE OF RISK FACTORS: Review of data revealed that more than half of those in the 50- to 64-year-old age group already had a risk indication to receive a PCV dose. For example, the rate of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) among Black adults aged 50 or older exceeds the average rate of IPD for all adults aged 65 or older.

19–49-year-olds with RISK FACTORS: This applies to those with certain medical conditions, including diabetes; chronic heart, lung, liver, or kidney disease; and also, for those with immunocompromising conditions.

CME Question:

The CDC recommendation that the PCV now be offered to those that are 50 and older, but only those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

1. True
2. False

RSV vaccine between 75% and 90% effective in preventing hospitalizations

According to the results from an observational, real-world study (tinyurl.com/yr7rjn2z), an RSV vaccine had a 90% effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations and ED visits in older adults, even in those with comorbidities and immunocompromising conditions, which highlighted the vaccine’s efficacy in a more diverse population than was in the clinical trials. Also, a CDC study published in JAMA (tinyurl.com/2st6wafy) reported that RSV vaccines were 75% effective in preventing hospitalization among adults ages 60 and older during the 2023-2024 season. The CDC recommends a single dose of RSV vaccine for all adults aged 75 and older, as well as for those ages 60 to 74 years at increased risk for severe RSV disease. There are three RSV vaccines approved for older adults. Familydoctor.org has more information on RSV in adults over 60 that we FPs can share with their patients at tinyurl.com/4rcb5s28.

CME Question:

RSV vaccine in older adults is no more than 50% effective in preventing hospitalizations.

1. True
2. False

One in 20 adults with RSV hospitalized

Among adults with documented outpatient RSV infections across six RSV seasons, roughly one in 20 were hospitalized within 28 days, according to a large cohort study of over 67,000 patients. Although there are three available vaccines against RSV, there are few approved treatments for it. Patients most at risk were age 65 and older and those with asthma, COPD, and CHF (story at tinyurl.com/4c2825rd and study at tinyurl.com/yc7bpjfs).

VACCINE NEWS HEADLINES FOR YOUR REFERENCE:

GENERAL VACCINE NEWS

• Familydoctor.org has information on immunizations that family physicians can share with their patients (tinyurl.com/35jv83t9)
• US kindergarten vaccination rates fall as proportion of children with exemptions rises to all-time high, data (tinyurl.com/2svy732w)
• Poll shows decline in US adults who say it’s important to get children vaccinated (tinyurl.com/2sm2bvbj)

COVID

• Bookmark the AAFP COVID-19 vaccine page to stay up to date on vaccine options and recommendations, clinical considerations, and boosters (tinyurl.com/296jzj9y)
• Highlighting COVID risks may reduce vaccine hesitancy (tinyurl.com/4er99u5j)
• Nearly 90% of babies hospitalized for COVID had mothers who did not get vaccine during pregnancy (tinyurl.com/yk4s4mzw)
• COVID vaccines found safe for patients with MS (tinyurl.com/272kpnvp)
• Health board halts COVID vaccines in 6 Idaho counties (tinyurl.com/rbnm9fd8)
• How to manage the exceedingly rare allergic reactions to COVID vaccines (tinyurl.com/4auk5zku)
• Women with endometriosis don’t have worsen symptoms after mRNA vaccinations (tinyurl.com/4auk5zku)
• Tips to avoid inflammatory flares of rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases after COVID vaccination (tinyurl.com/4bcxk9s9)

COVID AND INFLUENZA

• The race to develop a COVID-influenza combination vaccine is heating up (tinyurl.com/2kc5bw7p)
• FDA authorizes first OTC combination COVID and flu test outside of emergency use (tinyurl.com/43mppbyv)
• CDC campaign aims to boost flu vaccination rates (tinyurl.com/2kfuh7xw)
• FDA approves first at-home flu vaccine (tinyurl.com/48bd6tvs)
• Getting flu shots during successive pregnancies does not increase risk for adverse perinatal outcomes (tinyurl.com/3xhknmnm)
• Letter raises influenza vaccination rates with patients ages 18-64 years (tinyurl.com/338wzjjn)
• Maternal flu linked to seizure risk but not epilepsy in offspring (tinyurl.com/38fjsn7z)

H5N1 (BIRD FLU)

• US officials to double stockpile of emergency Bird Flu vaccines (tinyurl.com/4dkawuuk)

HPV

• No cases of invasive cervical cancer were reported among women who received at least one dose of bivalent HPV vaccine at 12 or 13 years of age (tinyurl.com/3yr8bn8k)
• HPV immunization rates stagnate among US teens (tinyurl.com/5n72drm5)

MPOX

• Familydoctor.org has information on mpox that FPs can share with patients (tinyurl.com/4f8mvbpz)
• Mpox vaccines out of reach for many people who need them in US (tinyurl.com/5de2u937)
• WHO declares mpox an international health emergency as outbreak in Africa grows (tinyurl.com/3f97w2vp)
• Mpox vaccine immunity fades in 6-12 months, study finds (tinyurl.com/2e4wzmup)
• Tecovirimat-resistant Mpox cases reported in five states but not yet in Colorado (tinyurl.com/3hb88da9)

mRNA VACCINES FOR CANCERS

• Glioblastoma – The efficacy and safety of the mRNA vaccine for glioblastoma (tinyurl.com/y95cmx5d)
• Lung and pancreatic cancers – mRNA vaccines now in trials (tinyurl.com/33a2fte7)
• Malignant melanoma – mRNA melanoma vaccine shows promise (tinyurl.com/2jnpm63d)

NOROVIRUS

• Are Norovirus vaccines on the horizon? Two candidates leverage unique technologies (tinyurl.com/5bnzhwbs)

RSV

• CDC study reports RSV infects 53% of US children with 44% having LRTI and 3% being hospitalized (tinyurl.com/49pshs6p)
• Public concern about RSV is falling to concerning levels (tinyurl.com/58xzaud3)
• Increased use of RSV vaccines in children may reduce PICU usage (tinyurl.com/5cbnbhzc)
• RSV surge in 2021 may have been tied to higher infant deaths (tinyurl.com/4e6h5v4w)
• FDA (but not the CDC) approves RSV vaccine for those ages 18-59 at increased risk (tinyurl.com/2ned7aat)

SHINGLES

• Familydoctor.org has information on shingles FPs can share with patients at tinyurl.com/267aj8zj
• Less than 20% of the elderly have received the shingles vaccine despite pain linked to disease (tinyurl.com/56s8f92a)

CME Question answer key: 1. B, 2. B, 3. B

Abbreviations used:

• AAFP – American Academy of Family Physicians
• ACIP – Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices
• CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• CDPHE – Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
• CME – Continuing Medical Education
• COVID – COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2
• CPR – Colorado Public Radio
• CV – cardiovascular
• FPM – a magazine formerly know as Family Practice Management
• FPs – family physicians
• H5N1 – HPAI A(H5N1) virus, avian flu, bird flu
• HIV – human immunodeficiency virus
• HPV – human papillomavirus
• JAMA – Journal of the American Medical Association
• flu – influenza
• MMR – measles, mumps, and rubella
• NNT – number needed to treat
• NYC – New York City
• RCT – randomized controlled trial
• RSV – respiratory syncytial virus
• SARS-CoV-2 – severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• UN – United Nations
• UNAIDS – Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
• US – United States

© Copyright WLL, INC. 2025. This blog provides healthcare tips and advice you can trust about a wide variety of general health information only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your regular physician. If you are concerned about your health, take what you learn from this blog and meet with your personal doctor to discuss your concerns.