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Immunization Update - February 2026

Upcoming Webinars

2026 Vaccine Education Webinar Series


Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

2026 Immunization Schedule Update

Presenters: 
Angela Fowler, MD, MPH, Associate Medical Director for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Everett Lamm, MD, MHCDS, FAAP, Co-Chair, Immunization Initiative Committee, Massachusetts Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics


Click here for more information and to register for the March 11 webinar.


Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

The Road to Elimination: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Vaccination Across the Lifespan

Presenters: 
Marguerite Beiser, ANP-BC, AAHIVS, Director of HCV Services, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Christy Norton Valle RN, PhD, CNM, Immunization Public Health Nursing Advisor, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health


Click here for more information and to register for the April 1 webinar.


CME-CEU credit to be provided by Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Click here for information about the 2026 Vaccine Education Webinar Series.

31st Annual Massachusetts
Adult Immunization Conference
Thursday, March 26, 2026
DCU Center, Worcester, MA


Registration is ongoing for the 31st Annual Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference. This year's conference will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM, at the DCU Center, Worcester, MA.


Click here for complete conference information.


Questions? Email maic@jsi.com.

2025-2026 Respiratory Illness
Season Update


DPH's Weekly Flu Update for the Week ending February 20 reports that seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationally. Influenza A activity is decreasing while influenza B activity is increasing nationally and in most areas of the country; however, trends vary by region. CDC's in-season severity assessment framework classified the season as moderate across all ages. CDC also assesses severity by three age groups: pediatric (0-17 years), adult (18-64 years), and older adults (≥65 years). At this point in the season, the pediatric age group is classified as having high severity, while both the adult and older adult age groups are classified as having moderate severity. These assessments are conducted each week during the season, and the season's severity assessment can change if activity should increase again.


Six (6) influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported this week (one death occurred during the 2024-2025 season). Seventy-one (71) pediatric deaths have been reported so far for the 2025-2026 season. Among the children eligible for vaccination and with known vaccination status, approximately 90% of the reported pediatric deaths this season occurred in those who were not fully vaccinated against influenza.


DPH's respiratory illness dashboard provides data on Massachusetts hospital admission and emergency department (ED) visits related to acute respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, influenza (the flu), and RSV.


DPH's immunizations for respiratory diseases dashboard includes data on Massachusetts immunizations against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV during the current respiratory season.


Immunizations is recommended as long as respiratory illness virus strains are still circulating.

Hep B Birth Dose Honor Roll
Immunize.org


Congratulations to Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital
for a 7th Year of Recognition!


Launched in 2013, ​​Immunize.org’s Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll recognizes U.S. birthing institutions which have attained a hepatitis B vaccine birth dose coverage rate of 90% or greater. Since 2013, 594 institutions, including 16 Massachusetts institutions, have been named to the Honor Roll.


Criteria for inclusion on the Honor Roll follows:

  • Over a 12-month period, the birthing institution has achieved a coverage rate of 90% or greater for administering hepatitis B vaccine before hospital discharge to all newborns (regardless of weight). This includes newborns whose parents refuse vaccination.
  • The institution has written and implemented birth dose policies, procedures, and protocols to protect all newborns from hepatitis B virus infection prior to hospital discharge.


Congratulations to Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital, Lawrence, MA, for being recognized on the honor roll for a 7th year!


Click here to see a complete list of Massachusetts birthing institutions which have been recognized on the Honor Roll.

Resource Spotlight


2026 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule


Adult Immunization Schedule


Recently Published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)


Newsletters and Reports

Upcoming Educational Activities
and Meetings


Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

2026 Vaccine Education Webinar Series

2026 Immunization Schedule Update

Click here for more information and to register for the webinar.


Thursday, March 12, 2026, 4:00-6:00 PM ET

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Massachusetts Vaccine Program Advisory Council (MVPAC) Meeting

Massachusetts Medical Society, Waltham, MA

MVPAC website


Thursday, March 26, 2026, 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM

Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition/MDPH

31st Annual Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference

DCU Center, Worcester, MA

Conference website


Monday, March 30, 2026, 6:30 PM ET

MCAAP Immunization Initiative

MCAAP Immunization Initiative Meeting

The meeting will be held virtually. If you are interested in attending the meeting, please contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org).


Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

2025 Vaccine Education Webinar Series

The Road to Elimination: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Vaccination Across the Lifespan

Click here for more information and to register for the webinar.

Click here to visit our website!
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