Paola German, a family nurse practitioner at the UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, discussed how respiratory illnesses can quickly turn from mild to serious without the help of vaccines.
Coverage, Access, and ACIP Recommendations: What Consumers Should Know about Respiratory Vaccines Heading into Fall
Last Updated10/15/2025
Recent changes to recommendations for respiratory vaccines have left patients and providers with pressing questions about vaccine access and coverage. Following its most recent meeting in September, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended COVID-19 vaccines for those 6 months and older based on “individual decision-making.” This change in recommendation illuminated the need for stakeholders to have clarity on the impact of ACIP recommendations on respiratory vaccine insurance coverage.
CVEEP hosted a timely discussion on this topic as experts in healthcare coverage, public health, and vaccine policy broke down the relationship between ACIP recommendations and coverage among different types of insurance plans, what to expect at your vaccination appointments this year, and how to advocate for yourself as a patient seeking fall vaccines.
Panelists included:
Chris Regal, MS, Director of Clinical Innovation, AHIP
Margot Savoy, MD, MPH,Chief Medical Officer, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Allison Hill, PharmD, RPh, Director of Professional Affairs, American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
Moderator: Serese Marotta, Deputy CEO, Vaccinate Your Family
The Benefits of Immunization for High-Risk Populations
Older adults, young children and people with certain health conditions are at greater risk for severe respiratory disease. Vaccines provide important protection.
Last Updated03/12/2025
The Benefits of Immunization for High-Risk Populations
Staying up to date with recommended vaccines is your best first line of defense; however, infections may still occur, so it is important to act quickly at the first sign of symptoms or a positive test. If you begin to experience symptoms, there are testing and treatment options available for you.
Nearly all private and public health insurance plans cover all vaccines recommended by the CDC’s ACIP—which includes vaccines that protect against COVID-19, flu, pneumococcal disease, RSV, and pertussis (whooping cough)—free of cost to you.
What to Know About Maternal Vaccines This Respiratory Season
Last Updated08/22/2024
For pregnant people, maternal vaccines are critical to prenatal care and help protect infants during their first few months of life when newborns are vulnerable to infectious respiratory diseases. As we approach the 2024-2025 respiratory illness season, four vaccines are available to help protect infants, including newly available prevention options. Yet, despite the important role of vaccines during pregnancy, rates of maternal vaccine uptake remain suboptimal.
To further this discussion, Champions for Vaccine Education, Equity and Progress (CVEEP) hosted a conversation on current maternal vaccine guidance, including the maternal RSV vaccine, and potential solutions to address barriers that can impact access to recommended vaccines. The discussion featured provider perspectives across the healthcare continuum and addressed what individuals and organizations can do to help promote maternal vaccination.
Panelists included:
Pragna Patel, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Haywood Brown, MD, Vice Dean of Faculty Affairs, Morsani College of Medicine and Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of South Florida; Former President, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP, Chief Medical Officer, Association of Immunization Managers (AIM)
Allison Hill, PharmD, RPh, Director, Practice Implementation & Professional Affairs, American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
Beth Battaglino, RN-C, CEO of HealthyWomen and CVEEP Convener (moderator)
