Welcome to another edition of our Countdown to 2026! In this article, we take you through some of the top infectious disease headlines, articles, and video interviews from 2025.

For any videos below, click play on the video to watch.

2025: A year of fewer vaccines and increasing distrust

This year in pediatric medicine, vaccines have been the headline. From major shake-ups at the CDC, to updated recommendations related to the COVID-19 vaccine for pediatric patients,² and more recently, the updated recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine, as well as the measles outbreaks observed this year, there is a fear among the health care community that such changes will continue to sow distrust in vaccines and misinformation among patients. Experts we spoke with stated, in 2025, we saw some ramifications.

Click here to read more about how 2025 changed several aspects of pediatric vaccines, from schedules to recommendations to pediatrician advice heading into 2026.

Potential downstream benefits of RSV preventive measures, with Octavio Ramilo, MD

In June, Octavio Ramilo, MD, joined us to discuss the potential benefits of RSV vaccination beyond disease prevention and to explain how to speak with patients about vaccines and uptake.

American Academy of Pediatrics releases immunization schedule

The American Academy of Pediatrics continued its long-standing tradition of releasing its own vaccine and immunization schedule. In the 2025 edition, the AAP recommended that all children aged 6 months to 23 months receive a COVID-19 vaccine, as this group has the highest risk for severe infection.

A leading voice in vaccine recommendations across the pediatric population, the AAP comprises over 67,000 pediatric health care providers and, according to its immunization schedule announcement, has been working with other professional societies, payers, and organizations to develop evidence-based clinical guidance on COVID-19, flu, and RSV.

Click here to review the vaccine schedule related to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, as well as a direct link to the AAP's full vaccine schedule.

FDA approves clesrovimab to protect infants during first RSV season

In June, the FDA approved another monoclonal antibody in Merck's clesrovimab, adding to the expanded toolbox for RSV preventive measures, which has grown significantly since 2023.

Click here for more on the FDA approval of clesrovimab, including approval data and commentary from Octavio Ramilo, MD, chair, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.

FDA approves GSK's meningococcal ABCWY vaccine

On February 14, 2025, the FDA approved meningococcal ABCWY (MenABCWY, Penmenvy; GSK) vaccine for use in individuals aged 10 to 25 years, targeting 5 groups of the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (A,B,C,W, AND Y) that cause the most invasive meningococcal disease cases (IMD) globally.

Click here for more on the FDA approval of MenABCWY.