Vaccine News

Over the last few decades, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued recommendations on vaccine use for the civilian population of the United States.

According to the draft agenda for the ACIP meeting posted on December 1, 2025, this Thursday's topics will include updates from the CDC, specifically regarding the Hepatitis B vaccine.

The ACIP includes up to 19 voting members who make vaccine recommendations selected by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The CDC says, 'The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated.'

Then, on December 5, 2025, presentations of the ACIP Workgroups, CDC Vaccine Risk Monitoring Evaluation, Vaccine Schedule History, Childhood/Adolescent Immunization Schedule Discussion and Considerations.

Previous ACIP meeting agendas and presentations are posted on this CDC webpage.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a Travel Health Notice regarding the expanding health risk of contracting the rabies virus when visiting India. And the CDC reaffirmed the risk of fake rabies vaccinations.

On November 25, 2025, the CDC posted a Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions notice stating a case of Rabies had been reported in the U.S. in a traveler from India. Travelers potentially exposed to Rabies in India should immediately seek local medical care.

This advice is essential as Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. Last year, India's National Centre for Disease Control recorded 54 suspected rabies deaths.

The CDC says upon returning home, travelers should follow up with their health care provider as soon as possible. And in the USA, infected bats are the leading source of infection in people.

To prevent contracting rabies, travelers to India should avoid all contact with dogs, cats, and other wild mammals.

And consider getting vaccinated against Rabies before traveling abroad.

In the United States, rabies vaccines are available at pharmacies and travel clinics.

In India, the circulation of counterfeit ABHAYRAB human rabies vaccine has recently been reported in major cities. Counterfeit vaccines may not be effective in the prevention of Rabies and could contain harmful ingredients, says the CDC.

Launched in early November 2025, the Walgreens Acute Respiratory Index (ARI) for 2025-2026 tracks influenza and COVID-19 hotspots using prescription, testing, and over-the-counter product purchase data from its locations nationwide.

As of November 22, 2025, the District of Columbia, New York, Texas, and Michigan lead Walgreens' ARI index.

Nationwide, the overall ARI score was 2.5 out of 5.0.

Walgreens' unique digital tool offers a more comprehensive view of respiratory illness trends across the U.S., enabling the public, healthcare providers, and health officials to make more informed decisions throughout the respiratory virus season.

Rick Gates, Walgreens' chief pharmacy officer, commented in a press release, "Vaccination remains the safest and most effective way to prevent highly contagious illnesses like flu, RSV, and COVID-19."

Previously, the U.S. CDC FluView for Week 47 will be posted on November 21, 2025, stating 'seasonal influenza activity in the United States remains low nationally but is increasing.'

Various flu shots are offered throughout the influenza season at most community pharmacies.

The Washington State Department of Health (WDOH) recently confirmed the death of an older adult from Grays Harbor County related to a specific type of 'bird flu.' The individual had underlying health conditions and was receiving treatment for an infection of the H5N5 avian influenza virus.

This report from WDOH, issued on November 21, 2025, marks the first human case of avian influenza A (H5N5) reported worldwide.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson stated in a Facebook post, "My condolences to this individual's family and loved ones. Thank you to the dedicated medical professionals who cared for them, and to the public health experts working to monitor the situation and educate the public."

This person had a backyard flock of mixed domestic birds. DOH sampling identified avian influenza virus in the environment of the flock, making exposure to the domestic poultry, their environment, or wild birds the most likely source of exposure for this patient. People who had exposure to the backyard flock and its environment are also being monitored by local health authorities for symptoms.

The WDOG says the risk to the public remains low as no other people involved have tested positive for avian influenza.

Public health officials will continue to monitor anyone who was in close contact with the patient for symptoms to ensure that human-to-human spread has not occurred. There is no evidence of transmission of this virus between people.

From a prevention perspective, at least 20 H5 influenza vaccines are licensed worldwide.

As of November 25, 2025, U.S. FDA-approved avian influenza vaccines are not commercially available in the USA.

The Maine CDC recently announced it was investigating a cluster of seven cases of shigellosis among residents of Cumberland, Kennebec, and Androscoggin counties. So far in 2025, there have been 22 cases, preliminary data as of November 19, 2025.

The Maine CDC says that in the past five years, the median number of annual shigellosis cases was 11.

Shigellosis is an acute enteric infection transmitted through the fecal-oral route, directly through person-to-person contact, including sexual contact, and indirectly through contaminated food, water, and other routes.

The World Health Organization says it is evaluating the role of vaccines against Shigella on antibiotic use. Although several candidate Shigella vaccines are being evaluated at different stages of preclinical and clinical development, currently, no licensed vaccines against Shigella diarrhoea are widely available.  

The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has been circulating in the Region of the Americas for decades, causing large epidemics throughout the tropics and subtropics.

In the Federative Republic of Brazil, the co-circulation of arboviruses such as Dengue and Zika, and overlapping disease symptoms, CHIKV infection may be underdiagnosed, according to a recent study's findings.

Current data indicate that over 238,000 CHIKV cases and 115 related fatalities have been reported in Brazil this year.

In November 2025, the European CDC Situation Update reported CHIKV cases across all regions (Centro-Oeste, Nordeste, Norte, Sudeste, and Sul) and in most federal units of the country.

The Centro-Oeste and Sudeste regions account for the highest number of cases in recent weeks, where Mato Grosso Do Sul, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo are the most affected federal units in 2025.

The ECDC writes that cases are expected to increase from November onwards, based on observed trends in 2024 and 2023.

As of November 19, 2025, the U.S. CDC reports an elevated chikungunya risk in Brazil.

These health agency analyses are of interest to international travelers planning to attend Carnival 2026 in cities such as Rio de Janeiro.

The CDC says chikungunya vaccination may be considered for people traveling to or moving to this location if they plan to stay for an extended period. In the United States, approved chikungunya vaccination services are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies. 

 The U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, recently issued an alert stating that Hurricane Melissa caused significant damage to the city of Montego Bay. Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025, causing widespread damage.

The Black River community was also heavily damaged.

As of November 14, 2025, the building that houses the U.S. Consular Agency in Montego Bay, Jamaica, sustained storm damage and power outages, and is closed until the building and office are determined to be safe for public access and utilities have been restored.

However, the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica's capital city, and the U.S. Consular Agency in The Cayman Islands are open for routine and emergency consular services for U.S. citizens.

The current Level 3 Travel Advisory recommends considering rescheduling planned travel to Jamaica. If you plan to travel, confirm availability with your transportation provider and at your destination before you leave.

From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC writes that Healthcare professionals should ensure international travelers are up to date on travel vaccines and medications, as well as prepared to manage their health before visiting Jamaica.

And local media reported in November 2025 that various cities are offering free vaccine clinics providing free vaccines for flu, COVID, and routine childhood vaccines, accessible from local pharmacies.