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MCAAP Immunization Initiative Update
July 2025
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Save the Date!
2025 MIAP Conference
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
DCU Center, Worcester, MA
The 30th Annual Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) Pediatric Immunization Skills Building Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The conference will be held at the DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts.
The 2025 MIAP Conference is delighted to announce the Plenary Sessions for this year's conference:
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A Historical Perspective on Pediatric Immunization in Massachusetts – Richard Moriarty, MD, FAAP
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The Current Landscape: Countering Vaccine Misinformation and Disinformation – David Hill, MD, FAAP
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Vaccines of the Future – Dan Barouch, MD, PhD
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State Immunization Update - Pejman Talebian, MA, MPH
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National Immunization Update - Angela Fowler, MD, MPH
Breakout sessions also are planned.
Conference registration will open in August.
If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org).
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2025 MIAP Conference Award
Nomination Deadline: Friday, September 5, 2025
Each year, the Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) recognizes individuals or groups that have made an outstanding contribution to pediatric immunization in Massachusetts. The recipient of this award is an individual who or an organization which has demonstrated leadership, innovation, collaboration, and advocacy.
Click here to read about last year's MIAP Conference Awardee, the Epworth Free Vaccine Clinic of the Worcester Free Care Collaborative.
Do you know an immunization champion? If yes, please nominate them for the 2025 MIAP Conference Award!
Click here to download the award nomination form. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, September 5, 2025. The award will be presented at the 30th Annual MIAP Pediatric Skills Building Conference on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
If you have questions about the award or completing the nomination, please contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org).
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Advocacy Update
Proposed Legislation to Eliminate Non-Medical Exemptions to Immunization for School Entry - Favorably Reported out of the Joint Committee on Public Health!
On July 24, House bill H.2554, An Act relative to routine childhood immunizations, was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Health and discharged to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.
Call to Action!
The Senate version of the bill, S.1557, An act relative to vaccines and preventing future disease outbreaks, is still awaiting action by the Joint Committee on Public Health. Click here to send a message to the Senate members of the Joint Committee on Public Health asking them to favorably discharge S.1557.
Updates on the proposed legislation and how you can advocate for its passage will be circulated as they become available.
AAP Policy Update: Medical vs Nonmedical Immunization Exemptions for Child Care and School Attendance
On July 29, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reaffirmed its support for school vaccine requirements and the elimination of nonmedical exemptions. In an updated AAP policy statement, "Medical vs Nonmedical Immunization Exemptions for Child Care and School Attendance," the AAP emphasizes the proven health benefits of vaccines and outlines the legal and ethical basis for schools’ mandatory vaccination policies. The policy statement notes that states with more lenient exemption rules have significantly higher exemption rates than those with stricter requirements.
MCAAP Joins AAP and Other Organizations Versus HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
On July 23, the Massachusetts Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP), joined the AAP and other organizations versus Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Click here to read a July 23 communication to MCAAP members. The communication includes detailed information about the lawsuit.
Please contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org) if you have any questions.
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MDPH MenACWY Vaccine
Availability Reminder
If you are a public sector provider site (community health centers, local health departments), and are enrolled in the state vaccine program, you can provide uninsured and under-insured adults over the age of 19 with state-supplied vaccines as instructed by the MDPH adult vaccine availability table.
As of July 1, 2025, MenACWY vaccine is listed on the adult availability table for public sector provider sites to be administered to both uninsured and under-insured adult patients aged 19-20 who require the vaccine to meet Massachusetts school requirements.
Click here to access the Vaccine Program Policy Update about administering MenACWY vaccine to 19- and 20-year-olds.
Please contact the Vaccine Program with questions (617-983-6828; dph-vaccine-management@mass.gov).
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National Health Center Week (NHCW) is an annual event celebrating and increasing awareness about America’s 1,400 Community Health Centers. NCHW will be held this year from August 3-9.
Community Health Centers (CHCs) are vital to keeping America healthy. They care for everyone, regardless of insurance status. During hurricanes, floods, fires, pandemics, and job loss, CHCs continue to care for their patients and are one of the first organizations on the scene to help.
Massachusetts CHCs serve more than one million patients for primary care and for dental, vision, mental health, and substance abuse care. CHCs serve 98% of Massachusetts zip codes in more than 285 Massachusetts communities.
During NHCW, the MCAAP Immunization Initiative will join with its partners at the Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project (MVCP) to formally recognize Community Health Center staff for their dedication to ensuring the health and wellbeing of their communities.
Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for resources to promote NHCW.
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National Immunization Awareness Month #NIAM2025
National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an observance held each August to highlight the importance of vaccination across the lifespan.
Voices for Vaccines™, a family-led organization that serves as a catalyst to spark positive peer-to-peer conversations about vaccines and the diseases they prevent, has developed a media toolkit that you can use throughout August to promote NIAM. The toolkit includes weekly post templates, and other tips for social media engagement. A Spanish language toolkit also is available.
Please contact Cynthia McReynolds (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org) if you are looking for specific resources to promote immunization during NIAM.
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Koplik spots. Photo credit: CDC
Measles Update
As of July 30, 2025, a total of 1,333 measles cases in 40 jurisdictions have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There have been 29 outbreaks (defined as 3 or more related cases) reported in 2025, and 87% of confirmed cases (1,156 of 1,333) are outbreak-associated. For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024 and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated.
66% of confirmed cases are in persons 19 years of age and younger. 92% of confirmed cases are in persons who were unvaccinated or for whom vaccination status is unknown.
Please see the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for measles resources.
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Resource Spotlight
National Health Center Week - August 3-9, 2025
Measles
Healthcare Provider
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
CDC
Resources for Families/Patients
- Plan for Travel webpage. CDC
- Preventing Measles Before and After Travel Fact Sheet, CDC
- Measles webpage. MDPH. [Includes resources in multiple languages: Chinese (simplified), Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese.]
Bulletins, Newsletters and Updates
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Upcoming Educational Activities,
Events and Meetings
Thursday, October 9, 2025, 4:00-6:00 PM
Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH)
Massachusetts Vaccine Purchasing Advisory Council (MVPAC) Meeting
Massachusetts Medical Society, Waltham, MA
MVPAC website
October 22-23, 2025
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
ACIP Meeting
ACIP website
Save the Date!
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP)
30th Annual MIAP Pediatric Immunization Skills Building Conference
DCU Center, Worcester, MA
Registration will open in August. Be on the lookout for updated conference information!
On Demand Meetings and Recordings
2025 Vaccine Education Webinar Series
Click here to access recent recordings and presentations.
2025 MDPH Immunization Updates
Click here to access webinar recordings and presentations.
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