Vaccines and Immunizations – NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters

June 11, 2025June 11, 2025

As Measles Cases Grow, Experts Push for Childhood Vaccination

In February, the first measles death in the United States in a decade was reported. Since then, outbreaks have grown across the country, leading to another death from the infection. As of June 5, cases in the U.S. have grown to nearly 1,200. Behind Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas report the highest incidences. Only 2% of infections have occurred in vaccinated individuals, prompting public health officials to credit vaccine hesitancy for the increase in outbreaks.

May 29, 2025May 29, 2025

Aliya Jabri, Maya McClatchy, and Olivia Morris’s Qualtrics Report on COVID-19 Experiences and Future Public Health Threat Perceptions

People at an outdoor farmers' market wearing masks.

This study aimed to assess individuals’ perceptions of COVID-19 infection, compliance with public health recommendations and vaccination status based on survey responses. The study also examined concerns about future communicable diseases and trust in public health information sources. Key outcome variables included COVID-19 infection history, vaccination status, adherence to public health recommendations, concerns about long COVID, and perceptions of future health threats.

May 15, 2025May 15, 2025

Safa Shuaib, Iman Yusuf, and Savannah Bush’s Emergency Disaster Plan: Polio in Sudan

Introduction: Poliomyelitis (Polio) has been eliminated in many parts of the world; however, it still affects certain areas, such as Sudan. Sudan is currently going through a Polio outbreak, which is a critical public health challenge, especially for rural regions and places
affected by conflict. People have limited access to vaccines and medical care, which
makes it harder to control the spread of diseases in these areas. This Disaster Plan outlines
strategies for an organized response to reduce the spread of Polio quickly.

May 1, 2025May 1, 2025

Safa Shuaib, Diya Mehta, and Kimberly Tang’s Qualtrics Report on Pandemic Threats, Preparedness, and Response

This report aims to assess the perceived preparedness and risk of a small convenience sample of individuals. The conducted survey examined the relationship between the participants’ level of education and their experience with the disease, their attitudes towards vaccination, and their perception of individual and governmental responses to the pandemic. The findings from this study could provide helpful insight for building future public health campaigns and policies.

May 1, 2025May 1, 2025

Mark Alicea, Kylie Dickson, and Maya Moukarzel’s Qualtrics Report on COVID-19 and Community Adherence

This Qualtrics report aims to evaluate public attitudes towards and understanding of the COVID-10 pandemic. Using a cross-sectional survey method, this team analyzed emerging concerns of communicable diseases and vaccinations, confidence in the nation’s ability to combat another pandemic. The report found that there is a high correlation between vaccinated individuals and a lack of confidence in the government’s ability to prepare for future pandemics.

April 23, 2025April 23, 2025

New MERS-CoV Cases Raise Public Health Concerns Amid Ongoing Vaccine Efforts

Between September 6, 2024, and February 28, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported four laboratory-confirmed Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Two of the infections were deadly, which underscores the virus’s elevated mortality rate of 36%.

February 13, 2025February 16, 2025

After the Pandemic, Childhood Vaccination Rates Continue to Decline

On February 7, a child in Kentucky reportedly died from the flu, the state’s first pediatric flu death this season—according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

In January, officials in Gaines County, Texas, reported at least 10 cases of measles—eight of which were among school-aged children—driving worries of an escalating outbreak.

Late last year, Oregon experienced its largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years. The Oregon Health Authority reported 31 cases of measles across the state.

Resoundingly true across all these cases is the lack of vaccinations. These states, along with other countries around the world, experienced the impending consequences of declining childhood vaccination rates following the COVID-19 pandemic. While the United States does not top the list when it comes to the highest percentage of unvaccinated children, the decline of vaccinations despite its easy access and mass quantity has researchers and clinicians alike alarmed.

January 10, 2024January 26, 2024

CDC Issues Health Alert for Increasing Immunization Against Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV in 2023-2024

A Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory was issued by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to combat against low vaccination rates for influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This warning comes as national and international respiratory disease prevalence has increased significantly in recent years in both children and adult populations.