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NJIN Monthly Newsletter
May 2025
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In this edition of the NJIN monthly newsletter, we present several
vaccine-related articles and updates related to topics such as Flu, and COVID-19, and Measles.
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New Meeting Link
NJIN General Membership Meeting
Beginning with our next meeting on May 21, 2025, our new meeting series link must be downloaded and added to your calendar to access our General Membership meetings.
Join us next Wednesday, May 21st for a special 90 minute General Membership meeting as we provide a critical update on the resurgence of measles in communities across the United States. Guest speakers Uzma Hasan, MD; Anita Kishen, MD; and Melissa Wallach, MD will discuss current epidemiological trends, evidence-based prevention strategies, and real-world challenges faced by pediatric providers in managing measles cases and mitigating spread.
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As we begin the Spring season, we honor Mother’s. Mothers are nurturers, providers, supporters, and caregivers. Each year on the second Sunday of May, we pause to celebrate the sacrifices and contributions of the mothers in our lives, reflect on the meaning of motherhood, and consider the importance of maternal bonds in our community.
Through our Community Baby Shower initiative, NJIN works to celebrate and support parents-to-be in communities across New Jersey by providing them with essential resources, information, and a supportive network as they prepare for the arrival of their baby. Our showers aim to empower parents, promote health and well-being, foster connections among community members, and create a positive and nurturing environment for parents and their families.
| | Vaccines play a crucial role in protecting mothers and their babies during pregnancy and postpartum. Recommended vaccines include Tdap, flu, RSV, and COVID-19. The CDC recommends certain vaccines before, during, and after pregnancy to ensure both the mother and baby are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. | | Featured Articles and Resources | | |
Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) May 22, 2025 Meeting Announcement:
COVID-19 Strain Selection
FDA
| The committee will meet in open session on May 22 to discuss and make recommendations on the selection of the 2025-2026 Formula for COVID-19 vaccines for use in the United States. |
ACIP Votes to Expand Recommendation for RSV Vaccine to Include Adults Aged 50 to 59 at Increased Risk of Disease
Pfizer
| At their April 15-16 meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to expand its recommendation for the use of RSV vaccines approved for adults 50-59 years of age at increased risk of severe RSV disease. |
Study:
RSV Hospitalizations for Youngest Babies Cut in Half After Immunizations Become Available
AAP News
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Hospitalization rates for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of hospitalization among US infants, decreased by 45%-52% among babies under 3 months this season, the first in which two new immunizations were widely available, a new study showed.
A new study published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report credits two new products approved in the Fall of 2023 for the decrease "— a maternal vaccine RSVpreF (Abrysvo from Pfizer) given during pregnancy and monoclonal antibody nirsevimab (Beyfortus from Sanofi and AstraZeneca) given to infants under 8 months as well as some high-risk children ages 8-19 months."
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US Surpasses 1,000 Measles Cases in 2025
CDC
| As of May 8, a total of 1,001 confirmed measles cases have been reported across 31 jurisdictions. The actual number of cases is likely to be much higher, but the CDC's data does not include reported "probable" cases. |
Fact Checked: Childhood Vaccines Are Carefully Studied—Including with Placebos—to Ensure They’re Safe and Effective
AAP
| "Some have falsely claimed that vaccines are not rigorously reviewed or tested. In fact, vaccines are held to the highest scientific standards because they are given to healthy people. Every vaccine recommended for children has undergone extensive research—including clinical trials that often use placebos or comparison groups—to ensure it is safe and effective. Once approved, vaccines continue to be monitored for safety." |
Upcoming Webinar:
Decoding the Moment: New Rules for Vaccine Approval
University of Pennsylvania LDI and Tradeoffs
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"The Trump administration’s sweeping efforts to reshape federal health policy have created a fast-moving, uncertain landscape for the health care sector and policymakers. In response, Penn LDI and Tradeoffs are launching a virtual event series to provide timely, evidence-based discussions on key federal policy changes. Through conversations with leading experts, this series will explore the implications of recent actions and what they signal for the future."
"'Decoding the Moment' kicks off with a virtual seminar on Friday, May 16 focused on the changes to the vaccine approval processes that were recently announced by the Trump administration requiring that all “new” vaccines be tested against a placebo, which HHS described as a “radical departure from past practices.” Public health experts say the change raises timing, ethics, and cost issues and could affect this year’s COVID-19 vaccine updates."
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Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report
CDC
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Key Points
- Seasonal influenza (flu) activity is low and declining.
- "As of May 6, 2025, we estimate that influenza infections are growing or likely growing in 0 states, declining or likely declining in 37 states, and not changing in 7 states."
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New Jersey: Influenza-Like Illness activity "minimal."
- CDC estimates that there have been at least 47 million illnesses, 610,000 hospitalizations, and 27,000 deaths from flu so far this season.
- An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu and vaccination helps prevent infection and can also prevent serious outcomes in people who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu.
- CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine.
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Flu viruses are among several viruses that contribute to respiratory disease activity. CDC is providing updated, integrated information about COVID-19, flu, and RSV activity on a weekly basis.
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COVID-19
Current Epidemic Growth Status for States and Territories
CDC
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Key Points
- "As of May 6, 2025, we estimate that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 1 state, declining or likely declining in 29 states, and not changing in 13 states."
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New Jersey: Probability the COVID-19 epidemic trend is growing: 2.95% (declining). % of ED visits (COVID-19): 0.51% (low)
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Nationwide: Probability the COVID-19 epidemic trend is growing: 20.60% (likely declining). % of ED visits (COVID-19): 0.37% (very low)
- Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
| | NJIN is now on Bluesky. Our goal is to continue to expand our digital presence in pursuit of our organization's mission to spread the word about vaccine safety and benefits to all individuals through timely, age-appropriate immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases. | | |
Community Baby Showers
In 2025, NJIN is continuing to build upon our new community initiative, “Community Baby Showers.” A community baby shower is to celebrate and support mothers-to-be in underserved communities by providing them with essential resources, information, and a supportive network as they prepare for the arrival of their babies. It aims to empower mothers, promote health and well-being, foster connections among community members, and create a positive and nurturing environment for mothers and their families.
Here is a list of our upcoming showers.
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May 17, 2025 (Sat.)
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Time: 10:00am-1:00pm
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Partner: Virtua Health
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Venue: Children of America, Cinnaminson
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Address: 1105 US-130, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077
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May 21, 2025 (Wed)
NJIN General Membership
12:00pm - 1:30pm
May 28, 2025 (Wed)
NJIN Education and Events Committee
1:00pm - 2:00pm
June 12, 2025 (Thu)
NJIN Steering Committee
9:00am - 10:00am
| | We Want to Hear From You! | | |
The NJIN team encourages input from our readers. Any suggestions on topics, resources, or other ideas that you'd like to see included going forward are welcome!
Please share your feedback with us at NJIN@njaap.org.
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