Infectious Diseases

XOCOVA gives pediatricians a new oral option to help prevent COVID-19 after exposure in adolescents aged 12 years and older.

Five rapid developments — new mRNA flu vaccine, CDC director, ACIP/NVAC charters, a vaccine order, and an HHS RFI — roil the 2026 schedule.

Court fight over CDC 2026 childhood vaccine schedule shifts shots to shared decision-making; experts warn lower uptake for Hep A, B, flu, COVID.

CDC's 2025 NIS-Teen data show HPV vaccine coverage flat for a fourth year, with rural adolescents 12 points behind urban peers in receiving ≥1 dose.

The AAP's 2026-2027 policy recommends universal vaccination for infants 6-23 months and a risk-based single dose for children 2-18 years.

Independent review of hundreds of studies finds flu vaccine 80% effective against pediatric death; RSV and maternal immunization cut infant hospitalizations.

AAP guidance expands RSV immunization eligibility for children aged 8 through 19 months at high risk of severe disease.

CDC has declared the Nara Organics infant botulism outbreak over; genetic testing ties it to the 2025 ByHeart outbreak.

Nine societies outline 6 domains of hospital-level sepsis strategies, from rapid blood culture diagnostics to daily toothbrushing protocols.

The AAP recommends annual flu vaccination for all children aged 6 months and older and updates antiviral guidance for the 2026–2027 season.

Infliximab or steroids may be more effective than anakinra as adjunctive therapy for children with MIS-C who do not respond to IVIG.

Starting antiviral therapy within 48 hours of influenza symptom onset was associated with an 81% lower hospitalization risk in children.

Navigate back-to-school vaccine requirements, evidence, and FAQs—plus the latest measles data and new pneumococcal options for pediatric practice.

Executive order seeks to trim routine childhood vaccines, split combination shots, and push parent-doctor decisions—sparking debate as measles surges.

Phase 3 SMART trial found clesrovimab was well tolerated in high-risk infants through 2 RSV seasons, with safety comparable to palivizumab.

FDA accepted Merck's sBLA extending ENFLONSIA (clesrovimab-cfor) to high-risk children under 2 in their second RSV season.

Ensitrelvir adds an FDA-approved COVID-19 postexposure prophylaxis option for adults and adolescents aged 12 years or older.

US measles cases have climbed to 2,318 in 2026, already exceeding all of 2025 and marking the country's highest annual total since 1991, as CDC data show falling MMR coverage continuing to fuel outbreaks.

The PECOS study found 20 post-COVID symptoms in children; Roberta L. DeBiasi, MD, discusses evaluation and follow-up.

Alesia McKeown, PhD, of Roche Diagnostics discusses why pertussis is missed in children and adolescents and how PCR testing can help.

With a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak underway this summer, pediatric providers should maintain a low threshold to consider Cyclospora cayetanensis in children with protracted or relapsing watery diarrhea.

A 10-year King County study found MMRV was the first vaccine for 15% of children who were disproportionately Hispanic, Black, or VFC eligible.

A matched cohort study found no meaningful difference in serious or outpatient infection risk between infliximab and adalimumab in pediatric IBD.

FDA approved the first generic rifapentine for active and latent tuberculosis, expanding treatment options for eligible pediatric patients.

Baloxavir marboxil is a first-in-class cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor that functions as a prodrug.