Infectious Diseases

Get caught up with Contemporary Pediatrics! This list helps you navigate our top stories from the week, all in one place.

Lori Handy, MD, MSCE, highlights how pediatricians can better prepare families and systems for missed vaccines during the back-to-school rush.

This week, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr signed the ACIP's recommendation to remove the mercury-based preservative from all influenza vaccines.

Nirsevimab reduced RSV-related illness by up to 98% and lowered hospitalizations and health care use among healthy term infants in a real-world study.

Early antibiotic exposure disrupts infant immune development by altering gut microbiota, highlighting inosine's potential as a therapeutic target for immune restoration.

A newly-published study identified specific groups of higher-risk children that could benefit most from monoclonal antibodies.

A week into July 2025, the total reported cases in the United States have surpassed the peak of 1274 cases recorded for all 2019.

Six medical societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, are suing the HHS and its Secretary to "defend vaccine policy."

Mycoplasma pneumoniae caused 1 in 2 pediatric pneumonia hospitalizations in 2024, with sharp increases seen across all age groups, according to a recent CDC MMWR report.

The final recommendation sign off decision will go to HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The American Academy of Pediatrics will continue to hold its own childhood vaccine schedule, as it has since the 1930s.

Donna Hallas, PhD, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN, shares her thoughts on how PNPs can implement evidence-based strategies to encourage parents to vaccinate their children.

Get caught up with Contemporary Pediatrics! This list helps you navigate our top stories from the week, all in one place.

Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir was a "highly efficacious treatment for people with acute HCV," with 96.2% of patients analyzed having sustained virological response 12 weeks post-treatment.

The BLA for clesrovimab was based on results demonstrated in the phase 2b/3 CLEVER trial among healthy pre-term and full-term infants.

Six-month results from the phase 2 VLA1553-221 trial aligned with initial data and demonstrated immune response at day 180 among patients aged 1 to 11 years.

The data found complements state- and national-level CDC data, confirming widespread declines in MMR vaccination rates.

In this article, we recap a timeline of recent federal agency changes to routine COVID-19 vaccination intended for the pediatric population.

Federal health agencies have adjusted COVID vaccine guidance, potentially changing eligibility and access for pediatric patients. Experts respond in this article.

New phase 3b durability data revealed nirsevimab reduced RSV hospitalizations in infants by 82.7% through 180 days vs no intervention.

Infants and toddlers with infection history were more likely to have trouble sleeping, while preschool-aged children experienced daytime tiredness.

"These younger individuals are at much higher risk of getting disease and having complications," said Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP.

The approved indication now includes children down to 6 weeks of age to protect against invasive meningococcal disease via serogroups A, C, W, and Y.

Get caught up with Contemporary Pediatrics! This list helps you navigate our top stories from the week, all in one place.

Our editor-in-chief Tina Tan, MD, reacts to a new FDA COVID-19 framework that will limit eligibility for seasonal vaccination in pediatrics.

These findings come as many health care professionals still report limited confidence and inconsistent practices regarding RSV immunization discussions.

NVX-CoV2705 is indicated for individuals aged 12 to 64 years with an underlying condition that poses high risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Severe RSV disease in 2022–2023 was most likely to occur in infants under 6 months and older children with pulmonary or neurologic conditions.

The nearly 4000 cases in 2023 were the highest number reported in over 30 years, the Task Force stated.

"These findings support Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendations for maternal vaccination or nirsevimab to protect against severe RSV disease in infants," wrote the MMWR study investigators.