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A summary of presentations from the weekly Summit partner webinars

September 11, 2025 – The latest Summit Summary

Vaccine Policy Update

Lisa Foster, MA, Erin Abramsohn, DrPH, MPH, and Northe Saunders each gave an update on vaccine policy in the United States, from the federal and state landscapes to local implications, respectively.

Summit Federal Landscape Update – Lisa Foster, MA
An overview of the recent federal landscape noted that the CDC director, the first that was confirmed by the Senate, was removed after less than a month on the job and replaced by Jim O’Neill, Assistant Secretary of HHS. After that removal, several center directors resigned in protest. There has been a hearing and more people raising concerns and going public in support of vaccines.

FY26 Appropriations Update
September 30 is the end of the fiscal year and there are continuing resolutions conversations happening. Depending on the adoption of a continuing resolution, there could be a government shutdown. If extensions for advance premium tax credits are not given or they are not renewed, as democratic leaders are arguing for, consumers may see substantial increases in health insurance premiums.

  • LHHS (Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies) bills:
    • House: $12M increase for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
    • Senate: Level funding
  • Vaccine report language included support for:
    • ACIP collaborating with medical professional organizations
    • Vaccine safety and systems
    • Routine vaccination
    • National Academy of Sciences framework
  • Although there was an increase in funding of about $12M to NCIRD, it came from the elimination of other programs, such as the Office of Smoking and Health.
  • AVAC sent a letter in support of the maximum amount of funding possible.

MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) Report
The report places emphasis on research, from food supply to healthcare. Highlights of the report specific to vaccines include:

  • An initiative, with NIH, to investigate vaccine injuries
  • A vaccine framework, developed by the White House Domestic Policy Council in partnership with HHS, that would focus on the childhood vaccine schedule, with particular focus on vaccine injuries, gold standard science, conflicts of interest and misaligned incentives, and scientific and medical freedom
  • A pending autism study, based on a review of data from within HHS

Congressional Hearings
There have been three hearings of note in September 2025:

  • Senate Finance Committee, with Secretary Kennedy testifying
  • Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Investigations, with a focus on research and where the United States is in the vaccine space
  • Senate HELP Committee Hearing (“Restoring Trust Through Radical Transparency,” on 9/17/2025, the day before the ACIP meeting), chaired by Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana and featuring testimony from former CDC director Monarez and other directors

Member Actions

  • Senator Sanders, ranking member of the Senate Health Committee, held a well-attended press event called “Vaccine to Work” to emphasize support for vaccines.
  • Senator Blunt Rochester had a “Back to School: Navigating Vaccine Uncertainty in Trump’s America” event.

Legislation
There have been bills introduced, although none are slated for action at this time, to ensure that members of ACIP have direct experience in vaccines and understanding of vaccine science. And, on the Republican side, there are bills that have been introduced about making changes to the vaccine injury compensation program.

AVAC Action
AVAC is centered around providing the best information to federal policy makers. New resources have been developed about the network of vaccine programs. Some of the resources, available at the AVAC website (AdultVaccinesNow.org), include:

  • Improving Vaccination Rates Through Strengthening and Sustaining Immunization
  • What Is ACIP?
  • Providers Are Key to Vaccine Access
  • Vaccine Safety Programs

Summit State Landscape Update – Erin Abramsohn, DrPH, MPH

The Infectious Disease Prevention Network (IDPN) was founded to respond to anti-vaccine and anti-public health policies being introduced in state legislatures. IDPN is in eight states, all of which were out of legislative sessions at the time of this meeting. However, activity is ongoing in those states:

  • Montana: New childcare rules would strengthen vaccine recommendations for kids, with the exception of requiring large centers to accept religious exemptions.
  • Florida: There was a declaration to end all vaccine mandates in the state, including requirements for kids to attend school.
    • Three states — Arizona, Tennessee, and Louisiana (all IDPN states) — have signaled they would like to do the same.
    • Florida also announced that it would establish its own MAHA Commission at the state level. Florida’s rule-making process does not automatically include a public comment period, so IDPN has been asking people to send emails requesting a public input process or public comment period.
        • For those in Florida, the information for emailing your request for a public comment period is below.
        • Email template to request a public hearing:
        • Subject: Request for Public Hearing on Proposed Rule Removing Vaccine Mandates
        • To Whom It May Concern,
        • I am writing to formally request a public hearing regarding the proposed rulemaking by the Florida Department of Health to eliminate vaccine mandates, including school-entry immunization requirements.
        • Given the significant public health implications of this proposal, it is essential that Floridians have the opportunity to provide input and express concerns. I urge the Department to allow for a full and transparent public comment process.
        • Sincerely,
        • [Your Full Name]
        • [Your Organization, if applicable]
        • [Your Contact Information]
      • Send your email request for public input to: VaccineRule@flhealth.gov
        • You can CC: the Florida Department of Health Rulemaking contact: flrules@flhealth.gov
        • You can CC: relevant stakeholders, such as local legislators, school boards, and public health organizations.
        • For legal questions, you can reach out to Act for Public Health: https://actforpublichealth.org/.
  • Among Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii: There is a plan to form a health alliance to review data and make vaccine recommendations for their residents.
  • In West Virginia: Lawmakers will come back in October and will have additional interim committee meetings in November and December.
    • IDPN has worked with AFV to sponsor ads and has also taken points from a recent Chamber of Commerce survey, including economic talking points.
    • A judge in West Virginia has ruled that the religious freedom law does not affect vaccine requirements.

IDPN Resources
The resources at the IDPN website (DiseasePreventionNetwork.org) include a monthly bulletin, talking points, fact sheets, and access to the Council of Supporters.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: Has West Virginia AAP been involved in the efforts in West Virginia?
Erin Abramsohn (IDPN): It’s not as strong of a relationship as we have with the AAP in some other states.
Northe Saunders (AFV): We have a specific person from AAP, Dr. Lisa Costello in West Virginia, who has been a great champion.

Federal Vaccine Policy & Local Implications – Northe Saunders

Safe Communities recently re-branded to become American Families for Vaccines (AFV) in order to align with state chapters and highlight their focus on state-based vaccine advocacy. They work with providers and parents to make sure lawmakers know that there is a pro-vaccine majority in every state and across the nation. There are currently 11 state chapters, but AFV is excited to engage with people in any state to meet the goal of good vaccine policy in every state.

 If you have any question regarding this presentation, please email info@izsummitpartners.org.

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Announcements
  • After nearly four decades of extraordinary service, Melinda Wharton, MD, MPH, Associate Director for Vaccine Policy, NCIRD, will retire from CDC this Friday, September 12th. Her vision, expertise, and steady leadership have left an indelible mark not only on CDC, but also on the lives of countless people who have benefited from safer, more effective vaccines and stronger immunization programs. As friends and colleagues who have worked with Melinda over the years, we would love your help in making her sendoff meaningful: Share your well wishes on her Kudoboard: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/BHLCYxAG
  • In states where it’s required to have a prescription for covid vaccination, doctors should write only “Covid vaccine” and not write Moderna or Pfizer or Novavax unless they have a on actual preference for one of those. The reason: each pharmacy has the one product that they are supplied with. If they don’t have the one that’s written on the prescription, they spend a lot of time calling around to others in their chain to see who has it.
  • Save the date for the 2026 National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit in-person meeting: May 19 – 21, 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia in Atlanta, GA.
    • Recommendations for items for the agenda for this meeting are welcome, by email to NAIIS.

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