Looking for info on measles?
As more states report cases of measles, more people are likely to have questions. The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) has compiled links to information about measles on the news page of our website.
Check out the info and get your questions answered.
Didn’t find an answer to your question? Complete our contact form, so we can help.
Wondering about the chance of a bird flu pandemic?
Recently, Dr. Offit, VEC Director, presented a webinar for healthcare professionals to discuss bird flu and the potential for a pandemic. The recording is available for anyone interested in a deeper dive into the science. The webpage also includes files with the slides and answers to questions asked during the event. Healthcare providers can get free continuing education credits (CME, CEU, CPE) after viewing the event and completing the necessary requirements.
Find out more or listen to the webinar.
Will we have a “traditional” (protein-based) COVID-19 vaccine moving forward?
When COVID-19 vaccines were first approved during the pandemic, they were approved under a process known as emergency use authorization (EUA). The EUA process is reserved for products that are developed to respond to an emergent situation, such as a pandemic. To continue offering this vaccine now that the emergency is over, these products need to complete the traditional process, known as a biological license application or BLA.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared over in May 2023, the vaccines needed to transition to BLA approval status. Both the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) completed this process before 2025. The protein-based COVID-19 vaccine (Novavax) was expected to be approved as a licensed vaccine in early April 2025. Officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially missed their decision date related to Novavax and then indicated in late April that they will require a new clinical trial before they consider BLA approval of the Novavax vaccine.
This request is out of the norm, particularly since this process was in its final stages. Because clinical trials are expensive, have been completed for essentially the same product previously, and the request is in variance with how other COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated, only time will tell whether this vaccine will remain an option in the U.S.
February CDC vaccine meeting held in April
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding vaccine recommendations. A previously scheduled meeting for February was held in mid-April. The ACIP heard updates related to vaccines for mpox, Lyme, influenza (flu), COVID-19, pneumococcus, human papillomavirus (HPV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), meningococcus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and chikungunya. They also heard an update on the current measles outbreaks in the U.S. The committee also voted on 1) the use of new meningococcal and chikungunya vaccines for specific groups, 2) an age change for use of RSV vaccine in adults, and 3) adding a precaution for use of an existing live, weakened chikungunya vaccine in adults 65 years and older based on several vaccine recipients requiring hospitalization shortly after receipt of the vaccine.
- To find out more about the topics, see the presentation slides or to listen to the archived event, check out the CDC’s website.
- To learn more about the ACIP’s processes and who is involved in making vaccine recommendations, check out this video series offered by the VEC.
The next ACIP meeting is scheduled for late June 2025.
Looking for info on measles?
As more states report cases of measles, more people are likely to have questions. The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) has compiled links to information about measles on the news page of our website.
Check out the info and get your questions answered.
Didn’t find an answer to your question? Complete our contact form, so we can help.
Wondering about the chance of a bird flu pandemic?
Recently, Dr. Offit, VEC Director, presented a webinar for healthcare professionals to discuss bird flu and the potential for a pandemic. The recording is available for anyone interested in a deeper dive into the science. The webpage also includes files with the slides and answers to questions asked during the event. Healthcare providers can get free continuing education credits (CME, CEU, CPE) after viewing the event and completing the necessary requirements.
Find out more or listen to the webinar.
Will we have a “traditional” (protein-based) COVID-19 vaccine moving forward?
When COVID-19 vaccines were first approved during the pandemic, they were approved under a process known as emergency use authorization (EUA). The EUA process is reserved for products that are developed to respond to an emergent situation, such as a pandemic. To continue offering this vaccine now that the emergency is over, these products need to complete the traditional process, known as a biological license application or BLA.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared over in May 2023, the vaccines needed to transition to BLA approval status. Both the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) completed this process before 2025. The protein-based COVID-19 vaccine (Novavax) was expected to be approved as a licensed vaccine in early April 2025. Officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially missed their decision date related to Novavax and then indicated in late April that they will require a new clinical trial before they consider BLA approval of the Novavax vaccine.
This request is out of the norm, particularly since this process was in its final stages. Because clinical trials are expensive, have been completed for essentially the same product previously, and the request is in variance with how other COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated, only time will tell whether this vaccine will remain an option in the U.S.
February CDC vaccine meeting held in April
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding vaccine recommendations. A previously scheduled meeting for February was held in mid-April. The ACIP heard updates related to vaccines for mpox, Lyme, influenza (flu), COVID-19, pneumococcus, human papillomavirus (HPV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), meningococcus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and chikungunya. They also heard an update on the current measles outbreaks in the U.S. The committee also voted on 1) the use of new meningococcal and chikungunya vaccines for specific groups, 2) an age change for use of RSV vaccine in adults, and 3) adding a precaution for use of an existing live, weakened chikungunya vaccine in adults 65 years and older based on several vaccine recipients requiring hospitalization shortly after receipt of the vaccine.
- To find out more about the topics, see the presentation slides or to listen to the archived event, check out the CDC’s website.
- To learn more about the ACIP’s processes and who is involved in making vaccine recommendations, check out this video series offered by the VEC.
The next ACIP meeting is scheduled for late June 2025.