California Respiratory Virus Dashboard and Vaccine Availability

Annual flu shots for the 2026–27 season are becoming available at local pharmacies, primary care clinics, and doctor's offices, and updated 2026–27 COVID-19 formulas are anticipated to arrive and become widely accessible later in the fall as federal and state regulatory steps finalize distribution.

Per the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) 2025–26 Respiratory Vaccine Recommendations, all Californians 6 months and older who choose protection are recommended to receive updated COVID-19 vaccines. Influenza vaccine recommendations remain unchanged from last year, and RSV vaccine recommendations for older adults have been expanded to include adults aged 50-59 years with risk factors

In California, we recommend your first stop for information and recommendations be the California Department of Public Health websites.

For additional resources and links, check out the CIC website.

What Latest 'Executive Order' Means to California:

Statements from the West Coast Health Alliance and CIC

A recent executive order from President Donald Trump recommends fewer vaccines in its standardized schedule for babies and children. According to the order, the decision prioritizes "religious liberty and parental authority."

In response, the California Department of Public Health with the West Coast Health Alliance released the following response:

"The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA)​ bases its recommendations for vaccinations on guidelines from trusted professional medical and health organizations representing millions of healthcare providers, reflecting a broad consensus on the safety and benefits of the recommended immunizations.  The Executive Order (EO) issued by the White House regarding childhood vaccine schedule recommendations does not change the WCHA's position on evidenced-based vaccine guidance."

Link to full statement: 

CIC Statement

The California Immunization Coalition stands with our state health department leadership along with the state and national professional medical and advocacy associations in our support for the evidence based recommended vaccine schedules for children, adolescents and adults.

Parents are urged to consult their child's physician or other healthcare provider about questions they have about the vaccines that are recommended for children and required for school and childcare entry.

Labor Day is right around the corner, Monday, September 6, and we’re excited to share the We The People Vax's latest social media campaign:

🇺🇸 America Works Because We Do. Let’s Keep It Moving.

Designed to be shared over Labor Day weekend, this campaign celebrates the people who keep America working and highlights how staying healthy during respiratory virus season can help keep our workforce and communities strong.

New: Editable campaign assets!

For the first time, the Labor Day campaign includes editable Canva templates, so you can add your organization’s logo and customize the graphics for your audience.

If you prefer to keep it simple, the graphics are still available as ready-to-share, downloadable files. The campaign includes:

• Social media graphics
• Links to editable Canva templates
• Sample social media messages
• Instructions for accessing and customizing the assets

The complete Labor Day campaign and instructions are now available to download: 

wethepeoplevax.org/campaigns/

Thank you for being part of We The People Vax!

#WeThePeopleVax 📧 info@wethepeoplevax.org 💻 www.wethepeoplevax.org

Announcing California’s 2026 Immunization Champion: Dr. Daniel R. Brennan 

Honoring Leadership in Vaccine Advocacy 

Ronald P. Bangasser, Immunization Leadership Award

Congratulations to Dr. Jasjit Singh of the Children's Hospital of Orange County, recipient of the 2026 Ronald P. Bangasser, MD Immunization Leadership Award!

Presented at the 2026 CIC Summit, this award recognizes a practicing clinician who demonstrates exceptional leadership, professionalism, and commitment to advancing immunization.

Through her work as a pediatric infectious disease specialist, educator, public health leader, and longtime CIC leader, Dr. Singh has made an incredible impact on immunization efforts across California.

We are proud to recognize her dedication to protecting California’s children, families, and communities.

Natalie J. Smith Immunization Leadership Award

Congratulations to Meg Dorsey, RN, PHN, recipient of the 2026 Natalie J. Smith, MD Immunization Champion Award!

Presented at the 2026 CIC Summit, this award recognizes individuals and organizations making significant contributions to immunization at the state or local level.

As a public health leader, educator, nurse, and longtime CIC Board Member and Education Chair, Meg has dedicated her career to strengthening vaccine education, access, and confidence across California.

We are proud to recognize Meg’s leadership, collaboration, and commitment to improving the health of communities throughout our state. 

Webinars and Trainings

Registration Open for 2026 Clinical Vaccinology Course

Join the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) for the online 2026 Clinical Vaccinology Course on November 16-18, 2026.

Measles cases are climbing, respiratory seasons are hitting harder, and more patients are questioning vaccine safety in the exam room. This course will provide you with the latest evidence-based vaccine recommendations and communication strategies to help you inform your patients.

Register to:

• Communicate more effectively with vaccine-hesitant patients, parents, and caregivers
• Review current evidence-based US immunization recommendations
• Learn about the US vaccine development process
• Improve coverage of US-recommended immunizations

Learn more about registration options: www.nfid.org/cvc and below:

The Science of Vaccine Communication:

Research to Practice 

Register for AIM's upcoming vaccine confidence webinar, The Science of Vaccine Communication: Research to Practice, on Friday, September 18, from 12-1 pm ET.  

Join AIM for an engaging session focused on strategies for building vaccine confidence through evidence-based and effective vaccine communication. Attendees will gain practical insights that can be used to communicate intentionally, build trust, and support vaccine confidence in their communities.  

Learn more and register:

CIC Education Hour: Stages of Vaccine Development: Funding, Accountability, and Transparency

CIC's latest webinar on Stages of Vaccine Development, Funding, Accountability and Transparency, featuring Drs. Pia Pannaraj, Nicola Klein and Mark Sawyer, is now on our YouTube Channel. Check it out and subscribe today!

Summit Wrap-Up

Catching up on our thank yous and announcements from our wonderful 2026 Summit in Sacramento. In addition to our traditional awards highlighted above, we were also thrilled to award our Public Health Leadership Award to Sanjay Patel, Director of Haller Pharmacy in Fremont, and a Lifetime Achievement Award to one of our Coalition founders and long time members, Kathe Gustafson from San Diego.

Read more about all of our award winners on our Instagram and CIC Summit website page.

Notice: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Request for Information (RFI) regarding federal vaccine recommendations

HHS is seeking input on the current categories used for federal vaccine recommendations – routine, risk-based, and shared/individual-based clinical decision-making – and whether these categories should be changed or expanded. The RFI also asks about the evidence used to inform recommendations, shared clinical decision-making, implications for vaccine access and coverage, and approaches to communication and public trust.

Given the potential implications for vaccine policy, access, and public health practice, we encourage PHACT Coalition members and organizations to review the RFI and consider submitting comments. Comments are due September 20, 2026. Commenters may respond to any of the questions most relevant to their expertise and do not need to address the full RFI.



RFI: View the Federal Register notice

Submit comments: Regulations.gov — search for Docket No. HHS–OS–2026–0332

FYI -  Voices for Vaccines has organized a webinar to help draft a statment/ comment. It will take place on Tuesday, September 2nd at noon EST.

Register here!

35 Years: A Legacy of Prevention, A Future of Protection

CIC is proud to support and celebrate an important milestone for one of our dearest partners and the reason CIC and so many of our coalitions in California even exist - Vaccinate Your Family.

This month, Vaccinate Your Family has officially kicked off a year-long celebration to commemorate its 35th anniversary this year, marking three and a half decades of tireless advocacy for immunization and public health. Founded in 1991 as Every Child By Two (ECBT) by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Former First Lady of Arkansas Betty Bumpers, the organization has grown from a childhood immunization initiative into a leading national voice for vaccine-preventable disease across the lifespan. 

With the theme "35 Years: A Legacy of Prevention, A Future of Protection," the anniversary (July 2026–April 2027) will honor the founders’ pioneering vision while setting an ambitious course for the next decade of immunization advocacy. 

Please read the Co-Founders Legacy Statement - linked here. And a special letter from Amy Pisani, MS, CEO of Vaccinate Your Family.