Network News — January 22, 2026

Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

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In the News

Announcements

Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions highlights Unity Consortium

Unity Consortium (Unity) is a nonprofit coalition that mobilizes diverse stakeholders in the adolescent health ecosystem to accelerate the implementation of evidence-based strategies to improve vaccination. It is the only coalition that unites academia, public and private sectors, industry, and advocacy groups specifically to overcome barriers to adolescent and young adult vaccination.

Unity leverages the voices of adolescents and parents through its Teen Advisory Council and Mom Advisory Council, as well as through market research projects, which help ensure that communication strategies meet young people and families where they are and reflect what is truly on their minds.

Unity hosts meetings, webinars, and other events year-round to help communities stay informed about and act to encourage adolescent vaccination and preventive care. Its newest initiative, Trusted Teen CommUNITY, equips and empowers young people to become culturally aware vaccine ambassadors in their communities. The program aims to engage thousands of young people, pairing them with mentors and giving them tools to share accurate vaccine information with peers and families, building trust and confidence at the community level. Launched as a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action at the 2025 CGI Annual Meeting in New York, this work reflects Unity’s commitment to stopping vaccine-preventable diseases by empowering youth and promoting trusted communication.


Unity Board and Team

Unity is the organization behind Adolescent Immunization Action Week (AIAW). This annual campaign informs and reminds parents, caregivers, and adolescents, and enlists healthcare providers to keep adolescents up to date on recommended vaccines. AIAW takes place during the first week of April and activates partners nationwide to amplify messages about wellness visits, immunization, and preventive care for teens. In 2025, AIAW reached more than 240 million nationwide. AIAW26 will take place April 6–10.


A young adult panel

Unity offers webinars throughout the year that focus on adolescent vaccination issues and emerging topics in preventive health.

Recordings from previous webinars and AIAW events are available on its website in the Resources Section and on its YouTube channel, giving coalitions on-demand access to high-quality, shareable content.

Unity engages with communities by elevating youth voices, partnering with coalitions, and providing adaptable tools and campaigns that local organizations can use in their own outreach.​ Through digital content, educational resources, and collaborations with schools, providers, and community-based organizations, Unity supports trusted messengers who talk with adolescents and families about vaccination and preventive health.


Amy Middleman, MD, MSEd, a Unity board member, and a young adult presenting a poster at Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM).

Unity continually develops and curates resources for coalitions to use in their own communities, including conversation guides, social media materials, and youth-focused campaigns. Coalitions are encouraged to connect with Unity to explore partnership opportunities, share success stories, and co-create efforts that strengthen adolescent and young adult vaccination.

Follow Unity on social media for new resources, campaign updates, teen perspectives, and opportunities for coalitions to engage and collaborate that are shared regularly:

For more, visit the Unity Consortium website at www.unity4teenvax.org.

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HHS and CDC release 2026 childhood immunization schedule; what it means today for frontline providers (as reported in Immunize​.org's IZ Express newsletter on January 14)

On January 5, HHS and CDC announced changes to the childhood immunization schedule, following a Presidential directive to align U.S. recommendations with those of “peer, developed countries.” This resulted in the acting CDC director’s decision to retain, as routinely recommended, the vaccines routinely recommended by other countries selected by HHS for evaluation. Other vaccines on the previous CDC schedule were shifted to categories of recommendation called “high-risk” or “shared clinical decision-making” (SCDM). No vaccines were removed from the schedule. Scientific evidence affirming the effectiveness, safety, and value of childhood immunizations remains unchanged.

The updated Childhood Immunization Schedule by Recommendation Group lays out these new categories.

Important information for nurses, pharmacists, and physicians who vaccinate:

  • Science Remains Unchanged: The balance of risks and benefits are unchanged for vaccines shifted from routine to SCDM. If you recommended these vaccines strongly to your patients before, the classification of SCDM does not require changing your strong recommendation. The routine practice of informing parents of risks and benefits before their decision to vaccinate should continue.
  • Out-of-Pocket Costs Remain Unchanged: HHS affirmed in its announcement that all childhood vaccines, including those moved to SCDM, remain covered with no out-of-pocket cost by private insurance plans regulated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or federal insurance programs such as Medicaid. Clinicians, hospitals, and states may continue to offer and be paid for administering these vaccines with no out-of-pocket cost to beneficiaries.
  • Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program Remains Unchanged: There has been no change to vaccines approved for use through the VFC Program, which covers all vaccines on the schedule, including SCDM.
  • HepB Vaccination of Newborns Is Permitted: Providing HepB vaccination at birth for optimal protection from hepatitis B remains a choice for mothers who are test-negative for hepatitis B. The schedule change does not require mothers to delay vaccination.
  • SCDM Does NOT Require a Medical Appointment or a Doctor: SCDM simply involves a conversation with a healthcare provider (defined by CDC as a nurse, pharmacist, or physician) about the risks and benefits of receiving a vaccine, which is routine in any vaccination conversation. In the absence of a state regulation specifically limiting the scope of practice of a nurse or pharmacist to provide vaccines classified as SCDM, a child whose parent desires an SCDM vaccine may still be vaccinated by a nurse or in a pharmacy; they do not need to be referred to a medical clinic.
  • SCDM Does NOT Require a Parent to Ask for Vaccination: You may recommend vaccines as usual. The decision to vaccinate has always been made by an informed parent and shifting from “routine” to “SCDM” does not change that.
  • Healthcare Professional Organization Recommended Childhood Schedules Are Unchanged: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) have not changed their childhood vaccine recommendations.
  • Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) Unchanged: There have been no changes to the existing liability protection and patient compensation for vaccine injuries through the VICP, including vaccines shifted to SCDM. Changes to VICP would require a substantial period of time and would require public notice and the opportunity for public comment.

What we don’t know:

  • CDC Schedule Details: For example, we await more information about the HPV schedule change to one dose and whether two doses or three doses remain recommended for certain subsets of children, including those with immunocompromise or those who initiate vaccination at older ages. Detailed schedule footnotes for all vaccines previously provided in CDC schedules to cover special cases and the definition of high-risk groups for specific vaccines are unavailable at this time.
  • Future Changes: Immunize​.org will keep our readers alerted to any changes in our understanding of vaccine injury compensation, insurance coverage, VFC program coverage, state, school, or childcare requirements, and announcements from HHS or CDC.

Related Links

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Immunize Kansas Coalition shares flu resources as cases surge across the United States

Now more than ever, immunization coalitions and partners can help raise awareness on flu prevention and the important role flu vaccination has in keeping everyone in our communities safe. Immunize Kansas Coalition offers flu resources on its Kansas Fights Flu web page, including:

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Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

Virtual: Unity Consortium hosts communications briefing for Adolescent Immunization Action Week on January 27 at 12:30 p.m. (ET)

Unity Consortium (Unity) will host its first briefing for Adolescent Immunization Action Week 2026 (AIAW26), 12:30–1:00 p.m. (ET) on January 27. During the briefing, Unity will discuss AIAW26 messages, resources, and events so you can start planning your communications and events.

This year, AIAW26 will take place April 6–10. Join this national movement to spur conversations among healthcare providers, parents, and adolescents to ensure adolescents are up to date on recommended immunizations.

Please consider sponsoring webinars or events, including AIAW26, in your communications plans leading up to and during April 6–10. Unity welcomes your partnership ideas to increase confidence in vaccines and the importance of vaccinations to lifelong health.

Register for the briefing.

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Virtual: Hepatitis B Foundation hosts two webinars on the hepatitis B birth dose in early February

The Hepatitis B Foundation will host two one-hour webinars this February on the hepatitis B birth dose:

Protecting Infants From Day One: Evidence for HepB Birth Dose Impact and How Clinicians Can Build Parent Confidence at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on February 3, will highlight four decades of evidence showing how universal newborn hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination helped eliminate hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and childhood liver cancer among Alaska Native communities. The session will also provide practical strategies for talking with parents about the HepB birth dose, including explaining the vaccine schedule, addressing common concerns, and fostering confidence in early immunization.

Register for the webinar.

Building Trust at Birth: Improving Hepatitis B Birth Dose and Handling Refusals From HBsAg Positive Mothers at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on February 12, cohosted with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, will highlight the role of hepatitis B immunization in Pennsylvania, focusing on state-specific data and best practices. Participants will learn culturally informed strategies to strengthen communication with families impacted by hepatitis B, and support improved uptake of the birth dose, especially in situations involving HBsAg-positive mothers.

Register for the webinar.

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Virtual: Register for Immunize​.org Website Office Hours. Join a 30-minute discussion about its new Official Guidance: Healthcare Professional Organization Schedules content on February 11 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or February 12 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Recorded sessions archived.

To learn simple tips and tricks for using Immunize​.org websites efficiently, please register for the next set of Website Office Hours on Wednesday, February 11, at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or Thursday, February 12, at 12:00 p.m. (ET). The same content will be covered in both sessions.

Immunize​.org will open each 30-minute session with a short, live demonstration on navigating its new Official Guidance: Healthcare Professional Organization Schedules website section. You can submit questions when you register or live on Zoom during the session.

Register today for Immunize​.org Website Office Hours (content is the same for both):

The archive of previous Website Office Hours content is posted at Immunize​.org’s “Webinars & Videos” page.

Mark your calendar for future Immunize​.org Website Office Hours.

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In-Person: Register for the 2026 National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit meeting on May 19–21 in Atlanta (open to NAIIS members only)

The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) has opened registration for its 2026 National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit in-person meeting to be held May 19–21 at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia in Atlanta, Georgia. This year’s theme is “Adult Vaccination: Confronting Emerging Barriers and Risks.”

The NAIIS has reserved a block of rooms at an excellent rate for this year’s meeting. Following registration, you will have the opportunity to book a hotel at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia. The discounted rate will expire on April 24 and is consistent with the United States government per diem rate.

This meeting is an invitation-only event for NAIIS members and invited speakers. While registration is free, registration will be closed once the meeting registration reaches maximum capacity.

Register for the meeting. The meeting registration password is required. If you are a NAIIS member and do not have it, please contact kayla.ohlde@immunize.org.

View the draft agenda.

The Summit’s Immunization Excellence Awards will be presented at the awards luncheon on May 20. Nominations for the Excellence Awards must be received by February 6. Please continue to submit nominations.

Submit a nomination.

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Resources

Immunize​.org adds vaccine schedules and searchable database of recommendations published by healthcare professional organizations

Some healthcare professional organizations issue evidence-based vaccination guidance for their patient populations. They include the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Family Practitioners (AAFP), and others. To better support vaccination providers and educators who rely on our resources, at the end of December 2025 Immunize​.org launched two new pages to connect with healthcare professional organization guidance in the new Healthcare Professional Organizations section on our website.

In this section, you will find links to:

These new pages are intended to help you make well-informed clinical decisions about vaccination by offering easy access to evidence-based clinical guidance. Visit Immunize​.org’s Healthcare Professional Organizations to view these two new web pages.

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Vaccinate Your Family launches minicourse on effective communication and digital resources about mRNA vaccines for healthcare providers

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Voices for Vaccines shares #askforvax campaign focused on shared clinical decision making

Voices for Vaccines, in partnership with social media influencers, launched #askforvax, a campaign centered around shared clinical decision-making. Please view the hashtag #askforvax on social media, engage with the posts and reels, and leave positive comments. An example of a post from @evidencebasedfamily on Instagram can be found below.

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The American Lung Association shares resources to encourage flu vaccination among adults at increased risk of severe illness

The American Lung Association offers a variety of resources to help encourage flu vaccination within the community, especially as seasonal flu activity continues to increase across the country. Resources are geared toward adults, with a focus on those at increased risk of severe illness. These resources drive audiences to talk to their healthcare provider about available flu vaccination options. Resources include:

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NFID shares on-demand webinar “Pediatric Vaccine Updates,” resources about flu antivirals, and its joint letter on the U.S. childhood immunization schedule

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) offers a recorded webinar, Pediatric Vaccine Updates, that discusses strategies to prevent infectious diseases among children and increase uptake of recommended vaccines. Speakers review current United States vaccine recommendations for children and share effective communication approaches to help increase vaccination rates among children.

View the recorded webinar.

In addition, with flu activity on the rise, NFID offers resources you can use in your communications about treating flu with antivirals.

View the resources.

The NFID also posted a joint letter to the Acting Director of the CDC and the Assistant Secretary for Health in response to the department’s January 5 announcement to align the U.S. childhood immunization schedule with other countries, including Denmark. This letter was endorsed by more than 70 medical and scientific organizations—including national professional associations, disease-focused foundations, local public health departments, and regional and national immunization groups.

Signatories emphasize that the countries have very different populations and patterns of vaccine-preventable disease and warn that changes not supported by evidence could leave U.S. children less protected. Denmark’s universal healthcare system ensures broad access to medical care, including vaccinations. In contrast, many people in the United States lack consistent or affordable healthcare, making prevention—particularly vaccination—especially critical to protecting U.S. children and families.

Read the Joint Letter on U.S. Childhood Immunization Schedule.

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Updated 65+ Flu Defense website offers resources for healthcare professionals serving older adults

Confident healthcare provider recommendations for influenza vaccine are powerfully persuasive. As the nation faces a challenging influenza season, Immunize​.org, in collaboration with CSL Seqirus, updated the 65+ Flu Defense website to help you maximize patient protection.

This helpful site includes information, tools, and tips for communicating with adults age 65 and older about the burden and severity of influenza. Resources include:

A clinician recommendation is the most important reason why a person will get vaccinated.

Check out the updated 65+ Flu Defense website to assist your ongoing efforts in protecting this vulnerable population.

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In the News

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Announcements

Announcements from the National Network of Immunization Coalitions

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions reminds you of the important ways every coalition can plug into the power of our network:

  • Bookmark National Network of Immunization Coalitions’ Calendar of Events on its website, immunizationcoalitions.org, to learn about upcoming national, regional, state, and local conferences; workshops; and virtual educational opportunities.
  • Subscribe to IZ Express, the free weekly e-newsletter produced by Immunize.org, for immunization-related news, new and updated recommendations, educational materials, and educational opportunities.
  • Please visit the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS, the “Summit”) at www.izsummitpartners.org to check out the latest resources on operationalizing, and payment for, adult and influenza vaccines. If you are not a Summit partner, please sign on at: www.izsummitpartners.org/join-the-summit.
  • Urge your coalition members to sign up for IZ Coalitions Network News, the monthly e-newsletter for the National Network of Immunization Coalitions that features news of interest to immunization coalitions and nonprofit organizations. To subscribe, send a request to info@immunizationcoalitions.org and ask to be included.
  • Be sure that your coalition is listed and information is up to date on the National Network of Immunization Coalitions website. To add your coalition or make updates, please email info@immunizationcoalitions.org.
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