Top 5 pediatric health headlines you missed in July 2025

Top 5 pediatric health headlines you missed in July 2025 | Image Credit: © sebra - stock.adobe.com.

July 2025 brought new insights and policy shifts with direct implications for pediatric prevention, infectious disease management, and early risk assessment.

Key updates include the federal removal of thimerosal from influenza vaccines, strong real-world data supporting nirsevimab’s effectiveness against respiratory syncytial virus, and the American Academy of Pediatrics' formal guidance on flu vaccination ahead of the school year. Experts also emphasized the importance of routine vaccine catch-up during back-to-school visits while new research highlighted the potential of genetic screening to identify children at higher risk for obesity.

In this monthly recap, Contemporary Pediatrics reviews the most significant developments shaping pediatric practice and public health. Click each title below for full coverage.

1. HHS to remove thimerosal from all influenza vaccines in the US

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has adopted CDC recommendations to remove thimerosal from all influenza vaccines for children and pregnant individuals. Only single-dose, mercury-free formulations will be used moving forward, with manufacturers confirming sufficient supply to avoid disruptions.

The update comes amid broader vaccine policy changes, including the CDC’s reaffirmation of annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older and a new recommendation for clesrovimab (Enflonsia) in infants. The announcement follows a lawsuit filed by major medical societies against the HHS and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, citing concerns over recent immunization policy decisions.

2. Nirsevimab demonstrates high effectiveness against RSV in healthy-term infants

A large real-world study from Kaiser Permanente Northern California found that nirsevimab was highly effective in preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)–associated lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in healthy-term infants during the 2023–2024 season. Among nearly 32,000 infants, those who received nirsevimab had an 87.2% reduced risk of RSV LRTD and a 98.0% reduction in RSV-related hospitalizations compared with nonimmunized infants.

Nirsevimab also significantly reduced RSV-related emergency department visits and overall health care utilization. The findings support current recommendations for routine nirsevimab use in healthy-term infants and highlight its effectiveness across a large, diverse population.

3. AAP recommends all healthy children 6 months, older receive influenza vaccine

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released its influenza vaccine recommendations for the 2025–2026 season, advising vaccination for all individuals 6 months and older. The guidance, published in Pediatrics, includes updates for first-time vaccine recipients, pregnant individuals, and children requiring 2 doses, with an emphasis on timely vaccination by the end of October.

The AAP supports the use of any age-appropriate licensed influenza vaccine and does not recommend delaying vaccination to obtain a specific product, including thimerosal-free options. Pediatric experts stress the importance of vaccination ahead of the school year to protect children from illness and reduce the risk of serious outcomes, including flu-related pediatric deaths.

4. Lori Handy, MD, on the importance of vaccine catch-up before the school year

As the new school year approaches, ensuring children are up to date on routine vaccinations remains a key public health priority, says Lori Handy, MD, MSCE, of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She emphasized that school entry has long served as both a timely intervention point for disease prevention and a critical checkpoint for identifying missed care.

Handy noted that the back-to-school period offers families and providers a natural opportunity to review vaccination status, especially for children who may have missed appointments. With schools being high-risk environments for disease spread, she stressed the importance of using this time to catch up on immunizations and protect children as they return to classroom settings.

5. New genetic test predicts obesity risk in early childhood

An international research team has developed a new polygenic risk score (PGS) that significantly improves early prediction of obesity risk, particularly among individuals of European ancestry. Using genetic data from over 5 million people, the PGS doubled the predictive power of previous models and identified elevated obesity risk as early as age 2.5 years.

Published in Nature Medicine, the findings show that while genetic risk predicts future obesity, it does not determine outcomes; individuals with high scores still benefited from lifestyle interventions. Researchers emphasized the need for improved predictive tools for non-European populations to support more equitable and effective early prevention strategies.