Jessica Zering, PharmD, BCIDP, BCPS, CAPM

The State of US Vaccine Policy

w/ Unbiased Science

Latest:
-14 states have filed vaccine lawsuits
-CDC lost its 2 most senior officials in rapid succession
-surgeon general nominee can't bring herself to recommend measles vaccine
-and more!

www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...

The outbreak comes as measles cases are rising across the United States, with multiple states reporting increased activity. Remember, the MMR vaccine is safe, effective, and your best protection against measles.

Black background with the text, "Measles will return, if you don't get vaccinated."

doh.wa.gov/measles

Year in Review: New Antibiotics and Antibiotic Use Guidance for UTI, CAP, and Beyond A video from Jessica Zering (as part of Dr. Jessica Zering), posted on Jan 10, 2026.

Such a pleasure to give a Year in Review talk for @vumediid.bsky.social! Check it out here: www.vumedi.com/channel/dr-j... #IDSky

Our #vaccine recommendations remain in place and are based on decades of research and are aligned with the @ameracadpeds.bsky.social. We encourage all families to keep your kids up to date on vaccinations and talk with your health care provider if you have any questions. doh.wa.gov/immunization

A document titled "Statement on Federal Changes to Childhood Vaccine Recommendations" dated January 5, 2026. The statement emphasizes the importance of vaccines in preventing serious health issues and mentions changes in federal recommendations regarding routine childhood immunizations for diseases such as hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, RSV, influenza, and meningococcal disease. The Washington State Department of Health logo is displayed at the bottom.

A statement titled "Statement on Federal Changes to Childhood Vaccine Recommendations" dated January 5, 2026. The document discusses concerns regarding the weakening of routine childhood vaccine recommendations, highlighting potential risks such as lower vaccination rates and increased outbreaks of preventable diseases. It notes that these changes were made without standard scientific review processes involving experts or public input. The bottom features a logo for the Washington State Department of Health.

A digital statement dated January 5, 2026, from the Washington State Department of Health discusses federal changes to childhood vaccine recommendations. The text emphasizes the state's commitment to evidence-based public health, alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics, and highlights the effectiveness of vaccines in protecting children's health. It encourages families to keep vaccinations up to date and consult healthcare providers for concerns.

We will continue to follow evidence-based science to protect the health of children here in Washington state. Questions about #vaccines? Please talk to your health care provider and visit doh.wa.gov/vaccines.

The #WestCoastHealthAlliance continues to strongly recommend vaccines to protect our children, noting that rigorous research of millions of people in multiple countries over decades provides high quality evidence that vaccines are not linked to #autism. (1/

DOH reaffirms that vaccines are a proven, essential tool for protecting people’s health. We join health agencies and associations across the country in confirming there is no credible scientific evidence linking vaccines to #autism.

doh.wa.gov/newsroom/was...

3 Important Things to Know About Antibiotics This Antibiotic Awareness Week, learn when you might need an antibiotic — and when these medications won’t help

Happy #USAAW25 from the antimicrobial stewardship team at @doh.wa.gov! We created a blog post to educate patients and the general public (amongst other fun plans we have for the week!): medium.com/wadepthealth...
#IDXposts #WAAW25 #BeAntibioticsAware

Last year, we featured Year in Review talks from @ameshaa.bsky.social @diegohijano.bsky.social @drjzpharmd.bsky.social @monicagandhi.bsky.social and more. Check them out here! www.vumedi.com/channel/infe... #IDSky

Nearly 1 in 5 urinary tract infections tied to E coli in meat

The researchers also discovered that UTIs in patients from high-poverty neighborhoods were 60% more likely to be caused by animal-to-human strains

-from @cvdall

www.cidrap.umn.edu/a...

I am so excited to announce that my guest speaker episode of the PALTtalk podcast, PALTtalk with JAMDA | September 2025, is now live! Learn more about our new urine PCR consensus statement here: paltmed.org/news-media/p... #IDSky #PALTC

Public health pharmacists identified key publications that advance antimicrobial stewardship (AS) implementation across care settings. This work highlights the role of public health in guiding AS efforts and promoting appropriate antibiotic use.
doi.org/10.1017/ash....

In case you missed it: The Vaccine Integrity Project’s recorded meeting reviewing the data on flu, COVID, and RSV vaccine safety and efficacy is now available:

www.youtube.com/watc...

Our hearts are with the CDC community and the family of the police officer who lost his life in Friday's tragic shooting in Atlanta. Public health work is built on science, compassion, and service to our communities.

While acts of violence can shake us, they will never diminish our commitment to protecting and promoting the health of all Washingtonians. We stand united with public health professionals everywhere who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe and healthy.

PALTmed calls on providers to stop using routine PCR urine tests for UTIs An expert panel convened has recommended against the routine use of PCR tests to diagnose urinary tract infections.

Excited to share this news article highlighting our recent publication! Check it out here: bit.ly/46a1tfU

A Need for a Time-Out: A Consensus Statement From the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed) on the Use of Urine Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing for Urinary Tract Infections Identification and appropriate treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is challenging in post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) settings. Urine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has emerged as a rap...

Thrilled to share that the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed)'s Consensus Statement on Urine PCR Testing is published! It was an honor to collaborate with my fellow Infection Advisory Subcommittee members on this vital work. Check it out here: www.jamda.com/article/S152...