AMA Update

Podcast Recap | AMA Update: ACIP news: Measles cases, new meningococcal vaccine, chikungunya and RSV vaccine recommendations

May 2, 2025

In this episode, AMA’s liaison to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Sandra Fryhofer, MD, joined host Todd Unger to discuss the latest ACIP developments, specifically the new meningococcal vaccine, chikungunya and RSV vaccine recommendations, and offered an update on the measles outbreak.

Length: 16 minutes

Key takeaways

1. ACIP meeting rescheduling, changes, and upcoming meeting preview: CDC's ACIP meeting, initially scheduled for February, was postponed to April. This rescheduling led to confusion and concern within the scientific community, particularly because it was the first ACIP meeting under the new administration and HHS director. The meeting duration was reduced from three days to two, with only three votes conducted, and a previously planned vote on flu vaccination was omitted. Additionally, there was apprehension about the potential elimination of public comments due to a proposal by HHS to end public commentary on agency actions. However, public comments were ultimately permitted, preserving a practice that has been in place since 1971. Looking ahead, the June meeting is expected to address potential changes to COVID, HPV, RSV, and mpox vaccine recommendations, introduce a new monoclonal antibody for RSV in infants, and provide updates on Lyme disease and CMV vaccines. The hope is that the June meeting will proceed as scheduled.
2. Vaccine votes and recommendations: During the meeting, votes were conducted on three vaccine categories: meningococcal disease, RSV vaccines for adults, and chikungunya vaccines. GSK's new pentavalent MenABCWY vaccine, Penmenvy, was introduced and added to the Vaccine for Children's Program. The age range for high-risk individuals eligible for the RSV vaccine was lowered from 60 to 50 years, with ongoing studies examining booster doses. Additionally, a second type of chikungunya vaccine, Chik-VLP, was approved for travelers and laboratory workers, with new precautions recommended for older adults.
3. Measles update: ACIP’s discussion highlighted numerous maps showing outbreaks and vaccine coverage comparisons. Achieving 95% vaccination coverage is necessary to provide herd immunity. In Gaines County, Texas, where the most recent measles outbreak originated and is most concentrated, the coverage for two doses of the MMR vaccine is only 82%. This outbreak is spreading, with half of the states now reporting measles cases. Two children in Texas without underlying medical conditions and one adult in New Mexico have died, none of whom were vaccinated. CDC representatives have been deployed to Texas to address the outbreak. As of April 17, 2025, CDC’s website reports a total of 800 confirmed measles cases, surpassing last year's total of 285 cases. HHS Secretary Kennedy initially downplayed the outbreak, suggesting vitamin A and cod liver oil as preventive measures, which are ineffective against measles. Vaccination remains the only effective prevention method. Although this wasn't discussed at ACIP, organized medicine has actively promoted vaccination to combat the outbreak.

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast recap are solely that of the hosts and guest and do not reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of epocrates and athenahealth.

Unger, T. (Host). (2025, April 14). AMA Update. Measles news, new COVID study findings, plus Life in Media Survey on kids' mental health and phones [Podcast]. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/measles-news-new-covid-study-findings-plus-life-media-survey-kids-0