Are you familiar with IDWeek? This is the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP). It is a large gathering of providers who spend their days researching, treating and discussing infectious diseases. IDWeek 2025 was held in Atlanta from Oct. 19-22. Thousands gathered to share new discoveries. The emotional tenor this year differed notably from prior meetings. While a sense of collective sadness and frustration over ongoing attacks on science was evident, it was balanced by a renewed, palpable determination to reduce the burden of infectious diseases — despite these challenges.
There were standing ovations for anyone who had served in the federal government during their career, calls from scientists to amplify accurate information on social media, and stories from advocates who have successfully brought bipartisan bills to Congress to draw priority and attention to pathogens that continue to plague our nation’s children. Beyond the science, it was inspiring to see the passion behind the work. Given the long reach of the struggles around infectious diseases science and policy, we wanted to share some highlights for the broader immunization community. Hopefully, you will find some hope and inspiration even if you weren’t in attendance.
News from the Vaccine Integrity Project
Dr. Mike Osterholm of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) took the stage during the opening plenary with updates from the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP). He acknowledged that while organizations like VIP cannot fully replicate the former strengths of federal agencies, such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they can play an important role in addressing today’s public health challenges.
Two VIP highlights stood out:
- Data Visualization Tool — The Interactive Immunization Data Visualization Tool allows users to explore immunization data and analyses in real time. For example, interested in the data supporting recommendations for RSV vaccines for infants? Click on “Studies,” indicate the pathogen and population of interest, and see the studies and data quality that inform current vaccine recommendations from leading medical societies.
- Coming soon! “Public Health Alerts” — Watch for this new journal in the next two months. This joint effort between CIDRAP and The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) will provide a platform for rapid publication of critical public health and clinical information, similar in function to CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The journal will feature a joint editorial team and will not be behind a paywall.
Where do we stand with RSV vaccination recommendations for transplant patients?
Dr. William Werbel presented “The Current Benefits and Unmet Needs of Respiratory Vaccines in Transplant Patients,” addressing the challenges of vaccinating transplant recipients against respiratory infections, such as RSV. He emphasized that transplant recipients are a heterogeneous group with varying levels of risk, requiring individualized recommendations based on their degree of immune suppression.
Research has focused on identifying the appropriate immune response and optimal dosing regimens for these patients, exploring whether additional or high-dose vaccines, different platforms, or temporary reductions in immune suppression might improve protection. Specifically, RSV studies have shown that transplant patients produce lower antibody responses — only about 60% mount an adequate response compared with 100% in clinical trials. Likewise, vaccine effectiveness appears to be shorter lived with data indicating negligible responses the following RSV season.
Early findings suggest that adjuvanted vaccines may be preferred in this population, but head-to-head comparisons are lacking. There may be a role for a second dose, though results vary by level of immune suppression, and optimal second-dose timing for subgroups of patients, such as those who had bone marrow transplants, remains uncertain.
While the FDA has approved two RSV vaccines — Pfizer’s Abrysvo and Moderna’s mResvia — for adults between 18 and 49 years of age who are at increased risk for RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD), there is still no clear guidance on how or when to administer these vaccines to transplant patients. However, guidance is expected soon. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recently published new guidelines for COVID-19 vaccines, with RSV and influenza recommendations anticipated to follow. To inform their recommendations, IDSA used VIP’s systematic literature review and applied the GRADE analysis process.
New vaccine data!
New vaccine data are emerging! Pharmaceutical companies presented findings on:
- The effectiveness of the COVID-19 JN.1 vaccine in older adults and those with chronic medical conditions
- The frequency of asymptomatic myocarditis in teens and young adults
- Immune responses in infants following MenB vaccination
- Responses to high-dose influenza vaccine among adults ages 50-64 compared with the standard-dose flu vaccine
- Early results from a new adjuvant for zoster vaccines
These results are considered preliminary, pending peer-reviewed publication and FDA review, before any labeling changes or broader use. However, the data appear promising, so stay tuned for updates as trials progress.
The future of vaccines for congenital CMV
Multiple sessions highlighted the urgent need for a cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine to prevent congenital CMV (cCMV) and the scientific challenges that remain. Congenital CMV is the most common infectious cause of developmental disabilities in children.
Dr. Mark Schleiss of the University of Minnesota discussed ongoing CMV vaccine development, noting that despite 50 years of research, uncertainty remains around the necessary level of immunity in a woman of childbearing age to protect her unborn baby. CMV is a virus that continues to live in our bodies after infection. This means that unborn babies can become infected in two ways: either from reactivation of the latent virus or from infection by a different strain during pregnancy. Researchers continue to investigate whether reinfection or reactivation during pregnancy plays a greater role in congenital transmission as this will impact vaccination strategies.
Scientists have been working to determine the best way to protect against cCMV for more than 50 years, yet questions remain regarding whether a whole-virus, subunit or mRNA platform will be most effective. Despite several candidates in trials, the vaccine platform furthest along was an mRNA-based vaccine being developed by Moderna that failed to meet the predefined protection endpoints in a recent phase 3 trial. As a result of these findings, Moderna announced on Oct. 22 that it will end their trial.
Dr. Megan Pesch of the National CMV Foundation emphasized the importance of advocacy to ensure ongoing funding for research on cCMV screening and prevention, including vaccination. Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to improve early detection and research for cCMV. To learn more about their efforts, visit the foundation.
The role of communication
Many speakers emphasized the urgent need for effective communication. As people get health information from a wider array of places, including social media, we must ensure that what they are finding is accurate and evidence based. The diversity of platforms means that we have options for how to contribute. Ideas included:
- Realizing and valuing the role of trusted messenger that primary healthcare providers have in the current environment
- Engaging directly on one or more social media platforms
- Partnering with existing science communicators to amplify their voices, whether through traditional media, podcasts, newsletters or other formats
- Identifying and partnering with trusted messengers in the local community, such as community-based organizations and local faith leaders
- Ensuring all providers in the healthcare setting have accurate information and resources to share with patients and families
In closing
The meeting covered more than we can detail here — from travel vaccines to maternal immunization and beyond. We’ll share more in future Vaccine Update issues as final trial results become available.
Are you familiar with IDWeek? This is the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP). It is a large gathering of providers who spend their days researching, treating and discussing infectious diseases. IDWeek 2025 was held in Atlanta from Oct. 19-22. Thousands gathered to share new discoveries. The emotional tenor this year differed notably from prior meetings. While a sense of collective sadness and frustration over ongoing attacks on science was evident, it was balanced by a renewed, palpable determination to reduce the burden of infectious diseases — despite these challenges.
There were standing ovations for anyone who had served in the federal government during their career, calls from scientists to amplify accurate information on social media, and stories from advocates who have successfully brought bipartisan bills to Congress to draw priority and attention to pathogens that continue to plague our nation’s children. Beyond the science, it was inspiring to see the passion behind the work. Given the long reach of the struggles around infectious diseases science and policy, we wanted to share some highlights for the broader immunization community. Hopefully, you will find some hope and inspiration even if you weren’t in attendance.
News from the Vaccine Integrity Project
Dr. Mike Osterholm of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) took the stage during the opening plenary with updates from the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP). He acknowledged that while organizations like VIP cannot fully replicate the former strengths of federal agencies, such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they can play an important role in addressing today’s public health challenges.
Two VIP highlights stood out:
- Data Visualization Tool — The Interactive Immunization Data Visualization Tool allows users to explore immunization data and analyses in real time. For example, interested in the data supporting recommendations for RSV vaccines for infants? Click on “Studies,” indicate the pathogen and population of interest, and see the studies and data quality that inform current vaccine recommendations from leading medical societies.
- Coming soon! “Public Health Alerts” — Watch for this new journal in the next two months. This joint effort between CIDRAP and The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) will provide a platform for rapid publication of critical public health and clinical information, similar in function to CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The journal will feature a joint editorial team and will not be behind a paywall.
Where do we stand with RSV vaccination recommendations for transplant patients?
Dr. William Werbel presented “The Current Benefits and Unmet Needs of Respiratory Vaccines in Transplant Patients,” addressing the challenges of vaccinating transplant recipients against respiratory infections, such as RSV. He emphasized that transplant recipients are a heterogeneous group with varying levels of risk, requiring individualized recommendations based on their degree of immune suppression.
Research has focused on identifying the appropriate immune response and optimal dosing regimens for these patients, exploring whether additional or high-dose vaccines, different platforms, or temporary reductions in immune suppression might improve protection. Specifically, RSV studies have shown that transplant patients produce lower antibody responses — only about 60% mount an adequate response compared with 100% in clinical trials. Likewise, vaccine effectiveness appears to be shorter lived with data indicating negligible responses the following RSV season.
Early findings suggest that adjuvanted vaccines may be preferred in this population, but head-to-head comparisons are lacking. There may be a role for a second dose, though results vary by level of immune suppression, and optimal second-dose timing for subgroups of patients, such as those who had bone marrow transplants, remains uncertain.
While the FDA has approved two RSV vaccines — Pfizer’s Abrysvo and Moderna’s mResvia — for adults between 18 and 49 years of age who are at increased risk for RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD), there is still no clear guidance on how or when to administer these vaccines to transplant patients. However, guidance is expected soon. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recently published new guidelines for COVID-19 vaccines, with RSV and influenza recommendations anticipated to follow. To inform their recommendations, IDSA used VIP’s systematic literature review and applied the GRADE analysis process.
New vaccine data!
New vaccine data are emerging! Pharmaceutical companies presented findings on:
- The effectiveness of the COVID-19 JN.1 vaccine in older adults and those with chronic medical conditions
- The frequency of asymptomatic myocarditis in teens and young adults
- Immune responses in infants following MenB vaccination
- Responses to high-dose influenza vaccine among adults ages 50-64 compared with the standard-dose flu vaccine
- Early results from a new adjuvant for zoster vaccines
These results are considered preliminary, pending peer-reviewed publication and FDA review, before any labeling changes or broader use. However, the data appear promising, so stay tuned for updates as trials progress.
The future of vaccines for congenital CMV
Multiple sessions highlighted the urgent need for a cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine to prevent congenital CMV (cCMV) and the scientific challenges that remain. Congenital CMV is the most common infectious cause of developmental disabilities in children.
Dr. Mark Schleiss of the University of Minnesota discussed ongoing CMV vaccine development, noting that despite 50 years of research, uncertainty remains around the necessary level of immunity in a woman of childbearing age to protect her unborn baby. CMV is a virus that continues to live in our bodies after infection. This means that unborn babies can become infected in two ways: either from reactivation of the latent virus or from infection by a different strain during pregnancy. Researchers continue to investigate whether reinfection or reactivation during pregnancy plays a greater role in congenital transmission as this will impact vaccination strategies.
Scientists have been working to determine the best way to protect against cCMV for more than 50 years, yet questions remain regarding whether a whole-virus, subunit or mRNA platform will be most effective. Despite several candidates in trials, the vaccine platform furthest along was an mRNA-based vaccine being developed by Moderna that failed to meet the predefined protection endpoints in a recent phase 3 trial. As a result of these findings, Moderna announced on Oct. 22 that it will end their trial.
Dr. Megan Pesch of the National CMV Foundation emphasized the importance of advocacy to ensure ongoing funding for research on cCMV screening and prevention, including vaccination. Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to improve early detection and research for cCMV. To learn more about their efforts, visit the foundation.
The role of communication
Many speakers emphasized the urgent need for effective communication. As people get health information from a wider array of places, including social media, we must ensure that what they are finding is accurate and evidence based. The diversity of platforms means that we have options for how to contribute. Ideas included:
- Realizing and valuing the role of trusted messenger that primary healthcare providers have in the current environment
- Engaging directly on one or more social media platforms
- Partnering with existing science communicators to amplify their voices, whether through traditional media, podcasts, newsletters or other formats
- Identifying and partnering with trusted messengers in the local community, such as community-based organizations and local faith leaders
- Ensuring all providers in the healthcare setting have accurate information and resources to share with patients and families
In closing
The meeting covered more than we can detail here — from travel vaccines to maternal immunization and beyond. We’ll share more in future Vaccine Update issues as final trial results become available.