ICLAC Newsletter – November 2025

National and LA County Vaccine, Covid-19 News, Updates & More

Outbreak Outlook – Vaccinate Your Family Vaccine Intelligence Report

Rising Measles Activity Underscores Growing Gaps in Vaccine Awareness

• The US has reported 1,659 measles cases so far this year, as of October 31.

• • Children and adolescents account for 56% of these cases, and 94% of all cases involve people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

• As outbreaks continue to occur across the country, a new University of Pennsylvania poll highlights growing uncertainty about measles and the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

• • While 82% of US adults surveyed still say they would recommend the MMR vaccine for children, this figure is down from 90% in November 2024.
  • Nearly half of the survey respondents were unsure whether HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recommends children be vaccinated against measles, and many were not informed on key facts about measles risks and MMR vaccine safety.

• • • Only 30% knew that getting measles can lead to serious illnesses later in life, and just 22% reported being aware that the disease can cause encephalitis (brain swelling).
    • Nearly one-third said they believed the vaccine increases risk of child mortality, and half said they were unsure.

No deaths have been linked to the MMR vaccine in healthy people.

Alternative Sources Show Overall Respiratory Disease Activity Remains Low as CDC Disease Reporting Remains Paused

• CDC’s respiratory surveillance dashboard updates remain paused as the government shutdown enters its fifth week.
• According to nationwide data from WastewaterSCAN viral activity for Covid, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and flu remain low.
• That said, analyses of state health department reports and updates suggest respiratory illnesses are already rising in some states, for example:

• • While flu activity remains low overall, states like Indiana and Michigan are reporting increased flu-related emergency department visits among children.
  • Emergency department visits for RSV are beginning to increase in children under five across multiple regions, including Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
  • Covid activity remains low across nearly all regions, accounting for less than 1% of emergency department visits, though rates are expected to rise as colder months approach.

New Research Underscores Safety and Efficacy of Vaccination, Danger of Infectious Disease

• A meta-analysis from the Vaccine Integrity Project—a University of Minnesota initiative monitoring vaccine safety, misinformation, and disease prevention—supports the safety and efficacy of vaccination against Covid, flu, and RSV during the 2025-2026 season. The research, which included more than 500 studies in its analysis, found that:

• • The updated Covid vaccines provide an additional reduction of the risk of hospitalization by about 50%.
  • RSV vaccines demonstrated 75-80% effectiveness against hospitalization in adults 60 and older. Additionally, maternal and infant immunization achieved 68-85% effectiveness against infant hospitalization.
  • Flu vaccines effectiveness against hospitalization varied by age group: 67% in children, 48% in working-age adults, and 42-53% in older adults.
  • Additionally, the safety analysis of millions of vaccine recipients found that the benefit-risk balance continues to be strongly in favor of vaccination.

A meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found flu and Covid infections raised the risk of heart attack or stroke up to five-fold in the weeks following the initial infection. Additionally, viruses such as HIV, hepatitis C, and shingles can lead to long-term increased risk of heart disease and stroke.  

(Source: vaccinateyourfamily.org)