Excel Pediatrics

08/11/2026

AAP’s vaccine recommendations for U.S. children are built on decades of research, thousands of studies, continuous safety monitoring, and the expertise of physicians and scientists whose sole focus is children's health. AAP’s schedule is based on when children’s immune systems respond best to immunizations, and when they are most vulnerable to preventable diseases.

We don't change recommendations because of political considerations, speculations, or misinformation. Right now, the evidence continues to show that these vaccines are safe, effective, and important for protecting children.

08/02/2026

A recent analysis of population-based mortality data from England demonstrates the profound impact of human papillomavirus vaccination on preventing deaths from cervical cancer among young women.

Researchers examined trends from 2001 to 2024 among females aged 20 to 34 years following the introduction of a national school-based HPV immunization program in 2008 that primarily targeted girls aged 12 to 13 years and achieved high coverage of approximately 88 to 90 percent in the relevant cohorts.

In the period 2020 to 2024, no cervical cancer deaths occurred among women aged 20 to 24 years, a group largely vaccinated in early adolescence, whereas historical rates predicted around 23 deaths in the absence of vaccination. This corresponds to a complete reduction in mortality. Parallel substantial declines appeared in the 25 to 29 year age band.

Modeling of the population-level data indicates that individuals vaccinated at ages 12 to 13 face essentially zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before age 30. Overall, the program is estimated to have averted nearly 200 such deaths in England through the end of 2024.

These observational findings supply the first robust national evidence linking high adolescent HPV vaccine uptake directly to lower cervical cancer mortality and underscore the potential to eliminate the disease as a public health problem when coverage remains high.

Continued efforts to sustain and expand vaccination are essential to realize further gains as immunized generations age.

Source: Sasieni P, Falcaro M. Cervical cancer mortality trends following HPV vaccination in England, 2001–24: an analysis of population-based mortality data. The Lancet. 2026.

07/21/2026

Measles spreads easily and can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a red rash.

Recent outbreaks have primarily affected people who were not vaccinated, underscoring the importance of staying up to date on immunizations. The MMR vaccine provides strong protection against measles and helps keep children and communities healthy.

Talk with your pediatrician if you have questions about measles or the MMR vaccine. https://bit.ly/40n4mqa

05/14/2026

A new Pediatrics study finds that maternal RSV vaccination and infant immunization are safe and result in high levels of neutralizing antibodies whether they are given alone or in combination.

Both the infant immunization and maternal vaccination were thoroughly tested in separate clinical trials, and most infants only need one for protection. However, both are called for in certain high-risk situations as well as when the vaccination status of the pregnant parent is unknown or when the infant is born less than 14 days after their pregnant parent was vaccinated.

Researchers studied 181 mother-infant pairs to compare RSV protection combinations. No serious vaccine-related side effects were reported in mothers or babies.

“RSV remains a primary cause of hospitalizations and early infection may lead to a lifetime of increased morbidity from a respiratory disease,” authors of the commentary wrote. “These products represent tremendous advances in our ability to protect the most vulnerable infants.”

Read about the clinical trial in AAP News: https://bit.ly/42kqPof

05/07/2026

AAP’s new clinical report, “Framework for Approaching Healthy Mental and Emotional Development in Pediatrics,” observes that more children are experiencing mental and emotional health concerns and specialized resources are often difficult to access.

In the report, the AAP recommends incorporating mental and emotional development into every pediatric visit, not just during times of concern. This can be accomplished through anticipatory guidance, surveillance, screening and brief interventions, and done in ways that are trauma-informed, equitable and free of bias. The report also highlights the value of collaboration with integrated health providers, schools and communities.

Learn more about the report in AAP News: https://bit.ly/4urxCsm

05/02/2026

At our yearly classical dance recital with my cute patients. Doctor patients share same stage. So proud and blessed❤️🙏

03/17/2026

A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked key parts of HHS’s childhood vaccine policy after ruling in a case brought by the AAP and other medical organizations.

A stay granted by Judge Brian Murphy halts the implementation of HHS’s reduced childhood immunization schedule released earlier this year and halts the 13 recently appointed members of the ACIP vaccine advisory panel from serving ahead of their planned meeting later this week. The court also invalidated prior votes taken by the panel to change vaccine recommendations.

02/18/2026

02/07/2026

A new review by the Vaccine Integrity Project of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy confirms that there is no benefit of delaying the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose. The report also shows significant reduction in infections for those vaccinated.

Researchers state that recent changes to U.S. vaccine policies were not supported by any analysis on the possible risks of delaying hepatitis B vaccination. Decades of evidence have shown the hepatitis B vaccine is critical for helping to protect children from developing chronic hepatitis B.

02/07/2026

🔗: https://0wppP0.short.gy/0CeJcV

Doctors are sticking with the previous U.S. policy, asserting that decades of data show the established vaccine schedule is safe and effective, and the immunizations themselves have not changed.

Photo: AP