CDC Data Show Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Reduce Pediatric Emergency Visits
New CDC data highlight the continued public health value of updated COVID-19 vaccines for children. Analysis from the VISION Vaccine Effectiveness Network found that the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines reduced COVID-19–associated emergency department and urgent care visits by 76% among children ages 9 months to 4 years and by 56% among those ages 5–17 during the first six months after vaccination…
American Academy of Pediatrics Releases Updated Vaccine Guidance, Breaking With CDC
The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel has voted to revise its long-standing hepatitis B birth dose recommendation, proposing to delay the first dose until two months of age for infants born to mothers who test negative and to support individualized decision-making with clinicians.
The shift has prompted concern among many experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which warns that remo…
Global Measles Cases Drop 71% in 24 Years on Improved Vaccination Coverage, WHO Says
Global measles cases have declined 71% between 2000 and 2024, falling to 11 million, thanks to expanded vaccination efforts, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports. Over this period, immunization prevented nearly 59 million deaths, with fatalities dropping 88% to 95,000. Despite these gains, 2024 saw an 8% rise in cases compared with pre-pandemic levels, highlighting vulnerabilities in hea…
Shortage of Rural Doctors Won’t End Anytime Soon, Report Says
A new Commonwealth Fund report highlights a persistent shortage of primary care physicians in rural America, where communities currently have only about two-thirds of the doctors they need—a gap expected to continue for at least the next decade. Nearly 92% of rural counties are classified as primary care shortage areas, leaving roughly 43 million residents with limited access to care.
Rural patients are also less likely to use telehealth due to broadband limitations. While physician supply lags demand, rural nurse practitioners are increasingly filling gaps, reflecting broader national gr…
Voices From the Field Podcast: Former NFL Stars and CDC Gear-Up Against Cancer
During the 2025 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media (NCHCMM) in Atlanta, NPHIC conducted a special series of interviews titled Voices from the Field as part of its Public Health Speaks podcast. Over the next several weeks, NPHIC will release one new episode each week in this seven-part series, featuring conversations with public health leaders, communicators, and partners who are driving change across the nation.
The first episode kicks off with a compelling discussion on the partnership between the National Football League Alumni Association (NFL Alumni) and…