Communication Resources

RECENT NEWS/ADVISORIES and ANNOUNCEMENTS:

This page is divided into three sections which contains information for the KHF practices, News Advisories, and information that you can share with your parents. Please scroll down to see ineformation relevant to  parents and which can be distributed through your practice.  

SECTION I. 

INFORMATION FOR KHF PRACTICES 

April 15, 2026   ALERT

As of April 2, 2026, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed measles was detected in wastewater in the South Metro Atlanta area.This indicates that at least one individual in the community has or recently had measles, reinforcing the need for heightened awareness and immediate adherence to isolation protocols. View guidance for KHF Mealses Preparedness. 

February 3, 2025

GUIDELINES FOR KHF PRACTICES: MEASLES PREPAREDNESS AND SURVEY 

 While there has been one reported case of measles in Georgia this year and 10 cases in 2025, recent outbreaks in South Carolina and other states are a reminder for practices to remain prepared. Below are considerations for Kids Health First practices as they think about measles exposure prevention and response.

 Routine Vaccination Schedule

• If your practice routinely administers the first dose of MMR at 15 months, consider moving the dose up to 12 months to provide earlier protection.
• Consider offering a dose of MMR at the 6- or 9-month visit (with the understanding that the child will still need two additional doses to be fully protected).
• Consider administering the second dose of MMR earlier than age 4. The second dose is valid as long as it is given at least 28 days after the first dose.

 Identifying Patients Who Are Not Up to Date on Measles Vaccination

• Practices may consider periodically running reports from their EMR or practice management system to identify children 12 months or older who have not received any MMR doses and recalling them for immunization.
• Similarly, reports can be run to identify children who have not received two doses by age 4, with recall as appropriate.
• Consider flagging the charts of patients 12 months and older who are not up to date on measles vaccination:
• Consider scheduling visits for febrile illnesses for these children during times of the day when there are fewer patients in the office.
• Consider mandating masks for these children (age 2 and older) while in common areas of the office.

 Reducing the Risk of Measles Spread Within the Office

• Consider taking the temperature of every child upon arrival and moving any child with a fever to an exam room or isolated area immediately.
• Consider asking screening questions at appointment scheduling and check-in regarding measles exposure or fever.
• Ensure that all staff are up to date on measles immunization.
• When appropriate and available, consider using telemedicine for select visits to reduce the risk of illness spreading within the office.

 Managing a Suspected Case of Measles

Review the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) letter and consider developing a practice-level policy for responding to a child presenting with suspected measles, including:

• Isolation procedures
• Communication with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the county health department
• Cleaning and “resting” the exam room after use

Additional Resources

• Georgia Department of Public Health – Measles Health Alert
• AAP: Measles Prevention and Control
• AAP: Recognizing and Addressing Measles in Pediatric Practice

Thank you for your continued efforts to keep patients, families, and staff safe.

The Corporate Transparency Act-Please Read

"The Corporate Transparency Act (the "CTA")  became effective in 2024. The purpose of this new, sweeping law and it related regulations is to stop illegal financial activities such as money laundering and drug trafficking. To meet these goals, the CTA requires many small companies in the U.S. to report information about those people and entities who own or control the small companies. Given the small nature of entities in the healthcare space, the CTA has significant impact on medical practices." To learn more about what the CTA and to download a copy of the act, please click here. 

SECTION II.

News/Advisories

April 24, 2026

As of this date," the CDC reported 1,792 confirmed* measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026. Among these, 1,782 measles cases were reported by 37 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. A total of 10 measles cases were reported among international visitors to the United States."

This represents 4 new jurisdications within the U.S. reporting confirmed cases of measles since April 14, 2026. 

April 10, 2026

As of April 9, 2026, 1,714 confirmed* measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026. Among these, 1,704 measles cases were reported by 33 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. A total of 10 measles cases were reported among international visitors to the United States.

March 27, 2026

As of March 26, 2026 the CDC reported 1,575 confirmed cases of measles across 32 jurisdictions within the United States. This represents an increase of 88 confirmed cases within the last week with 9 known international cases. 

February 13, 2026

According to the CDC, "As of February 12, 2026, 910 confirmed* measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026. Among these, 904 measles cases were reported by 24 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York City, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. A total of 6 measles cases were reported among international visitors to the United States.

There have been 5 new outbreaks** reported in 2026, and 90% of confirmed cases (822 of 910) are outbreak-associated (62 from outbreaks in 2026 and 760 from outbreaks that started in 2025).

January 31

Measles Update 

According to the CDC "As of January 29, 2026, 588 confirmed* measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026. Among these, 585 measles cases were reported by 17 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. A total of 3 measles cases were reported among international visitors to the United States.

There have been 2 new outbreaks** reported in 2026, and 94% of confirmed cases (550 of 588) are outbreak-associated (8 from outbreaks in 2026 and 542 from outbreaks that started in 2025).

January 30, 2026

Please read: 

The AAP has posted the immunization schedule for 2026. To download the schedule click here. 

January 28, 2026

The American Medical Association supports the AAP's recommendations on vaccine schedules. 

"The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its 2026 immunization schedule, reaffirming the importance of staying on track with recommended childhood and adolescent vaccines. The AMA is among a dozen physician and other health-professional organizations endorsing the AAP’s recommendations. Together, the organizations represent more than 1 million physicians, pharmacists and pediatric health professionals. To learn more please click here. 

December 10, 2025

From NBC News: South Carolina measles outbreak is 'accelerating,' driving hundreds into quarantine

As of Wednesday, 111 measles cases had been reported in what’s known as upstate South Carolina — an area in the northwest of the state that includes Greenville and Spartanburg.

“We are faced with ongoing transmission that we anticipate will go on for many more weeks,” Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist for the South Carolina Department of Public Health, said during a news briefing Wednesday.  To learn more click here. 

November 13, 2025

From KFF:

Medicaid Enrollment & Spending Growth; FY 2025 and 2026

" For Medicaid, states are navigating the new “normal” for their programs following the expiration of pandemic-era policies while contending with shifts in state fiscal conditions and longer-term fiscal uncertainty. The Medicaid provisions in H.R.1 are estimated to reduce federal Medicaid spending by $911 billion (or by 14%) over a decade and increase the number of uninsured people by 7.5 million, though the impacts vary by state with spending cuts ranging from 4% to almost one-fifth of all federal Medicaid spending in some states."  

Read more 

Source:  KFF, a nonprofit health policy, research, polling and news organization 

October 7, 2025

Measles outbreak spreads to South Carolina as cases in US hit record high

According to the Daily Mail, new cases of measles have been reported in South Carolina. The South Carolina Department of Public Health announced on October 2,  that a confirmed outbreak has hit the upper region of the state, bringing the total number of known cases to eight.  All of those cases involved unvaccinated individuals with no immunity from the disease. To learn more click here. 

September 24, 2025

As of September 23, 2025 the CDC updated the number of reported measles cases in the United State; 1,514 cases reported from 42 different jurisdictions. 

NBC News reports a measles outbreak along the Arizona and Utah borders

"One of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. is now centered in bordering areas of southwestern Utah and Arizona.

In Southwest Utah, all but one of the 23 confirmed cases are among unvaccinated, school-age kids, the Southwest Utah Public Health Department reported. In Mohave County, Arizona, which health officials believe is connected to the Utah outbreak, there have been 42 confirmed cases of the highly contagious virus."

An NBC News investigation, done in collaboration with Stanford University, has found that much of the United States doesn’t have the vaccine protection to prevent outbreaks of communicable diseases such as measles.

To learn more, click here. 

September 10, 2025

According to the CDC weekly measles update, "....there have been a total of 1,454 confirmed* measles cases reported in the United States. Among these, 1,433 measles cases were reported by 42 jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. A total of 21 measles cases were reported among international visitors to the U.S.

August 28, 2025

As of August 26, 2025 there have been 1408 confirmed cases of measles in 43 jurisdictions across the United States. To learn more, click here. 

August 21, 2025

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated it policy statement and recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine. Click here to read the statement which differs from the current CDC recommendations. 

July 24, 2025

According to the AAP, pediatricians affirm safety, benefits of fluoride supplements at national meeting. This event which was held by the Reagan-Udall Foundation on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  featured clinicians and researchers debating the merits of fluoride supplements.

David M. Krol, M.D. M.P.H., FAAP, former chair of the AAP Section on Oral Health (SOOH) and lead author of the clinical report Maintaining and Improving the Oral Health of Young Children stated “We need options when our patients don't have access to fluoride (in water) so we can prevent tooth decay,”

To learn more click here. 

July 14, 2025

According to the CDC, as of July 9, a total of 1,288 confirmed measles cases were reported by 39 jurisdictions across the United States. 

July 7, 2025

According to the CDC, "As of July 1, 2025, a total of 1,267 confirmed* measles cases were reported by 38 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington." This represents an increase of 40 new, documented cases of measles over a seven day period with the one additional jurisdiction reporting new cases. To learn more click here. 

June 26, 2025

According to ABC News and other media outlets, the newly installed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended against flu vaccines containing  the preservative thimerosal. To learn more click here. 

They also recommended that all individuals 6 months of age and older receive an annual flu vaccine. 

June 25, 2025

According to the CDC, "as of June 24, 2025, a total of 1,227 confirmed* measles cases were reported by 37 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington." The majority of those documented cases are in unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status at 92%. 

Beginning June 25, 2025 the CDC update for measles will be posted on Wednesdays instead of Fridays. 

June 20, 2o25

According to the CDC, "As of June 19, 2025, a total of 1,1214 confirmed* measles cases were reported by 36  jurisdictions.

To learn more, click here. 

June 13

According to the CDC, "As of June 12, 2025, a total of 1,197 confirmed* measles cases were reported by 35 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

There have been 21 outbreaks** reported in 2025, and 90% of confirmed cases (1,072 of 1,197) are outbreak-associated. For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024 and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated." 

To learn more, click here. 

June 6, 2025

As of today, the CDC reported 1,168 cases of measles in 34 jurisdictions across the United States. This represents an increase of 80 reported new cases since May 29 and an outbreak in an additional jurisdiction in the US. To learn more, click here. 

June 2, 2025

Warning of overseas outbreaks, CDC urges Americans to get the measles vaccine before traveling abroad

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging Americans to make sure they’re protected against measles before traveling to other countries this summer.

Last week, the agency updated its travel guidance for the virus as cases pop up nationwide. Nearly all exposures at airports are linked to international travel."

For more information, click here. 

January 15, 2025

Boosting Health Cybersecurity Measures 

According to an article posted by Medscape News, on January 10, 2025, "A new federal rule could force hospitals and doctors’ groups to boost health cybersecurity measures to better protect patients’ health information and prevent ransomware attacks. Some of the proposed requirements could be expensive for healthcare providers." To learn more click here. 

December  2024-Please review 

All medical practices and their business associates who maintain PHI which includes RHI (Reproductive Health Information), whether created by the medical practice or not, are impacted by the RHI Final Rule, which is a highly-protected subset of PHI. This new subset was created in response to the SCOTUS decision in Dobbs vs Jackson Women's Health Organization. To learn more about the this ruling, please review the document provided by Sterling Seacrest Pritchard. This document provides an overview of the RHI, the guidelines for compliance and additional information. Also attached is a  sample attestation form  which must be completed by December 23, 2024.  For more information or assistance, please contact Barbara Douglas at bdouglas@khfirst.com.

December 2, 2024

November 21, 2024

Telemedicine Prescribing Flexibilities Extended

The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP)  announced that the DEA and HHS have extended telemedicine prescribing abilities( first put into place January 2020) through the end of 2025. This exception allows providers to prescribe schedule II-V controlled medications. This includes “stimulants used to treat ADD/ADHD and narcotics for treatment of opioid use disorder” through telehealth visits. To learn more click here.

October 20, 2024

AHA Advisory warns of Iranian cyber actors compromising health care, other infrastructure 

On October 16, "a  joint advisory issued  by the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Security Agency and international agencies warn of a threat of Iranian cyber actors using brute force and other techniques to compromise organizations in health care and other critical infrastructure sectors."  To learn more click here. 

October 20, 2024

Following the AAP annual conference, Medscape reported on the AAP's first clinical guidelines on opiod prescriptions for children with acute pain. This report outlines 12 evidence-based recommendations " for safely and appropriately treating pain in young patients." To learn more click here. 

*The guidelines have been published alongside a technical report in Pediatrics and presented at the group’s 2024 annual meeting.

Please read and review

April 10, 2024

The Georgia Medical Composite Board has rescinded its decision  from January 2024 to reinstate the previous guidelines which were to go into affect on May 1, 2024. Georgia will continue to follow the DEA guidelines until December 31, 2024. During the next several months, the DEA will be looking at proposed amendments to the rule. Georgia also plans to have a rule in place at that time to clarify what is allowed and what is not allowed in terms of tele-prescribing.  Please read the complete news release from the Board distributed on April 5, 2024. Click here or read below. 

Updated Respiratory Virus Guidelines from the CDC, including COVID-19

Shared from the AAP Section on Practice Management

Today, CDC announced updated respiratory virus guidance, which includes Covid-19.  In brief,  people can return to normal activities if symptoms are improving, and they have been fever-free for 24 hours.  From the website:

1. You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
   1. Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
   2. You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
2. When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional , ,, and/or will be around other people indoors.
   1. Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
   2. If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.
3. Main page: 
4. Background/Rationale:
5. Preventing Spread:
6. Note:  CDC offers separate, specific guidance for healthcare settings  (, , and ).

SECTION III.

COMMUNICATIONS FOR PARENTS ON RELEVANT TOPICS 

Health Alert

April 25, 2025

For New Parents | The Complete Guide to Childhood Vaccinations 

New video series for new parents on vaccines from the American Academy of Pediatrics; Please click here to subscribe.  

August 14, 2024

A highly contagious virus known as “fifth disease” or parvovirus B19 (Erythma infectiosum) has been spreading across the United States recently. As this is a highly contagious virus, particularly for children in school and day care, parents can click here to learn more about the disease, symptoms to look for, and how to manage.

Source: www.healthychildren.org

Q & A for Parents-Please distribute

The Q & A for parents can be located on https://kidshealthfirst.com/questions-answers/

Each Q & A will be listed separately and can be printed out for distribution or posted to your websites. Please let us know if there are any other topics you would like to see addressed. 

• Q & A for parents on the end of the Public Health Emergency and the unwinding of Medicaid.

• Q & A for parents about the COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Boosters from Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna for children 5 years of age and older.

• Q & A for parents on what to know about monkeypox from Kids Health First.

• Q & A for parents on Covid-19 Booster Vaccines for 5-11 years old.

• Q & A for parents on recall of Abbott formula and re-opening of plant.

Social Media Posts for Patients and Families-Please post on your social media platforms:

Social Media Post

January 27, 2025

Flu Season

Flu season in Georgia generally runs from early October to as late as May. The CDC recommends a flu shot for every child six months of age and older. According to the CDC, “Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated across the country and is increasing in most areas.” 

• It’s Not Too Late!

If your child is behind on the annual flu vaccine or any other immunizations, it is not too late to get a vaccination. Please call now to schedule an appointment. We will make every effort to complete all vaccinations at that time, if desired.  If you have any questions about immunizations, your child’s pediatrician will be able to assist you. #Protectourchildren #Name of Practic

• Flu is on the Rise!

The week ending January 18 showed an increase in flu across the U.S. Don’t delay! If your child has not had a flu vaccine yet, it’s not too late. Call now to schedule an appointment or to speak to your child’s healthcare provider. #Protectourchildren #Name of Practice

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2025-week-03.html