Issue 1801: February 26, 2025

Tuesday, March 4, is International HPV Awareness Day, a great time to spread the word about how HPV vaccine can reduce the risk of cancers caused by certain types of this common virus. HPV vaccination should be completed routinely before age 13 years, and as soon as feasible for all unvaccinated adolescents and young adults through age 26. Adults age 27 through 45 who want protection may be vaccinated after a discussion with their healthcare provider.

Vaccination before sexual contact is the most effective way to protect against HPV-related cancers including cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and head and neck cancers. Vaccination prevents almost 90% of cervical cancer cases. HPV is also the most common cause of oral cancers in men. Because everyone is at risk for HPV-related cancers, it's important to receive the HPV vaccine series according to recommended vaccination schedules.



You can raise awareness with International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) campaign resources in 13 languages and by including #OneLessWorry in your social media posts.

Related Links

• International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS): International HPV Awareness Day web page
• International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS): International HPV Awareness Day Campaign Resources main page
• Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: HPV main page
• CDC: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) main page 

For week 7, ending February 15, CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView, showed influenza-like illness activity at high to very high levels in 44 of 49 reporting jurisdictions. CDC classified this season as a high-severity season for people of all ages. During week 7, 6.8% of outpatient visits were for influenza-like illness, well above the epidemic threshold of 3.0% for the twelfth consecutive week. Eighteen pediatric deaths associated with seasonal influenza virus infection were reported during week 7, bringing the 2024–25 season total to 86 pediatric deaths.



RESP-NET
Visit the CDC Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) for weekly reports of hospitalizations due to three vaccine-preventable seasonal respiratory viruses: COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older; RSV vaccination at this point in the season is recommended for certain high-risk adults age 60 through 74 and all adults age 75 years and older. RSV immunization of infants and certain high-risk toddlers with nirsevimab (Beyfortus, Sanofi) is recommended until the end of March.

Influenza Vaccination Dashboard
CDC's Weekly Flu Vaccination Dashboard shows the latest statistics. Coverage level estimates from IIS data submitted to CDC through February 8 appear below.

• For children 6 months–17 years:
  • Among 32 reporting state and city IIS jurisdictions, influenza vaccination coverage ranged from 13.3% to 42.0%.
  • Among 7 reporting U.S. territorial and affiliated island jurisdictions, coverage ranged from 0.0% to 32.3%.
• For adults 18 years and older:
  • Among 32 reporting state and city IIS jurisdictions, influenza vaccination coverage ranged from 9.9% to 39.4%.
  • Among 7 reporting U.S. territorial and affiliated island jurisdictions, coverage ranged from 1.2% to 15.5%.

CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older get annual influenza vaccination. Given the high levels of circulating influenza across the country, vaccination remains important for all eligible, unvaccinated people.

Identify pharmacies in your area that may offer influenza and COVID-19 vaccines by entering a zip code in the VaccineFinder on Vaccines.gov or Vacunas.gov.

Related Links

• CDC: Weekly National Flu Vaccination Dashboard main page
• CDC: FluView main page
• CDC: RESP-NET main page
• Immunize.org: free clinical resources and patient handouts related to influenza
• Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: Influenza main page

Immunize.org's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll recognizes facilities that take a stand for patient safety by implementing policies requiring healthcare personnel influenza vaccination. Immunize.org recently welcomed Saint James Health, Inc., Newark, NJ, to our honor roll.

Eligibility

• Eligible organizations: hospitals, long-term care facilities, medical practices, pharmacies, professional organizations, health departments, and other government entities
• Requirements:
  • Your policy must require influenza vaccination for all staff
  • The application must describe measures to prevent transmission of influenza from unvaccinated personnel to patients (e.g., masking for the entire shift)

• Immunize.org: Honor Roll Honorees: Influenza
• About the Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll

This week, our featured episode from the Ask the Experts Video Series is, Is RSV Vaccine Indicated for a 69-Year-Old with Hypertension? The video describes how RSV vaccination is not recommended for a person younger than age 75 with hypertension and no other risk factors.

The 1-minute video is available on our YouTube channel, along with our full collection of quick video answers to popular Ask the Experts questions.

Like, follow, and share Immunize.org’s social media accounts and encourage colleagues and others interested in vaccination to do likewise.

• Facebook at ImmunizeOrg
• Instagram at ImmunizeOrg
• LinkedIn at ImmunizeOrg
• YouTube at ImmunizeOrg

Journalists seek out Immunize.org experts to help explain vaccines to the public and policy makers. We help the media understand and communicate the complex work vaccinators do. Here is a recent citation.

• Washington Post: Vaccine Safety Panel Long Criticized by RFK Jr. Told to Postpone Meeting (2/20/25)