CDC’s Interim Clinical Considerations for Flu Vaccination Posted
CDC has posted interim clinical guidance for the 2026–2027 flu season, with updated recommendations for vaccine selection, timing and use. This season’s FDA-licensed influenza vaccines contain three updated components from last season, while annual vaccination remains recommended, ideally by the end of October, with efforts continuing while flu viruses circulate.
People 65 and older, p…
HPV Vaccine Uptake in US Teens Hasn’t Increased in 4 Years
HPV vaccination coverage among U.S. adolescents has stalled for the fourth consecutive year, leaving uptake well below national prevention goals.
In 2025, 63.4% of teens ages 13–17 completed the HPV vaccine series, compared with the Healthy People 2030 target of 80%; 77.7% received at least one dose, down from 78.2% in 2024. HPV coverage also remained lower than Tdap and MenACWY vaccination…
CDC Launches New Tool to Track U.S. Overdose Trends
Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. are declining, while CDC’s new Overdose Prevention Data Channel provides a centralized view of fatal and nonfatal overdose trends.
From April 2025 through March 2026, the predicted provisional number of drug overdose deaths was 67,798—a 12.3% decrease from the previous year. The channel integrates data from the National Vital Statistics System, Nonfatal Drug O…
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Exposes a Weakened U.S. Public Health System
A cyclosporiasis outbreak that sickened more than 11,000 people across 20 states and caused two deaths exposed how limited public health surge capacity can disrupt routine services during a major foodborne illness event.
Cases in Washtenaw County, Michigan, rose from a handful daily in late June to 80 per day by mid-July, forcing public health staff to pause vaccinations and restaurant inspec…
FDA Approves New COVID-19 Shots
COVID-19 infections are increasing or likely increasing in 47 states, as updated vaccines become available for people at higher risk.
The FDA approved new formulations from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, along with a non-mRNA vaccine from Sanofi, designed to better target currently circulating strains. The shots are approved for adults 65 and older and younger people with at least one underlyin…
Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Disease for 7 Years
Shingles vaccination with the recombinant vaccine was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than the discontinued live attenuated vaccine among adults older than 60, with differences persisting for seven years.
Among 72,920 vaccinated adults, recombinant vaccine recipients had 10% lower risk of ischemic heart disease, 12% lower risk of heart failure and 7% lower risk of atria…
Children’s Environmental Health Day Highlights Healthy Environments for Children
Children’s Environmental Health Day is Thursday, October 8, highlighting the importance of healthy, safe environments for children and communities. Observed annually on the second Thursday of October, the awareness day focuses on increasing visibility of children’s environmental health issues and encouraging action to protect children from preventable health risks.
Children’s environmental he…