Immunization Newsletter, v.48, n.1, April 2026

The April 2026 immunization bulletin contains the latest updates in the field. Notably, the Region of the Americas has lost its measles-free status after the Regional Verification Commission (RVC) confirmed more than 12 months of continuous virus circulation in Canada; regaining measles-free status has now been established as a priority—an achievable goal. Additionally, from April 25 to May 2, 2026, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), together with the countries and territories of the Region, observed the 24th Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) and the 15th World Immunization Week (WIW). Furthermore, Cuba has taken a major step toward the digitalization of public health surveillance by implementing VPD-SMART. This marks a significant milestone in strengthening its health information system, shifting from manual reporting to the use of a modern web-based platform: VPD-SMART (Vaccine-Preventable Diseases—Surveillance, Monitoring, Analysis, Reporting, and Tracking). Peru has also made significant strides—in this case, toward recovering vaccination coverage following the pandemic—by leveraging data, technology, and commitment. The Ministry of Health (MINSA) decided to identify unvaccinated children on an individual basis, leading to the creation of the "nominal reporter" for unvaccinated children—a digital tool that transformed the country's vaccination approach. An update to recommendations for optimizing laboratory responses during outbreaks involving community transmission has also been included, complementing PAHO’s guidelines on measles and rubella testing. Finally, the reader will find resources such as a new platform for tracking immunization in the Region of the Americas and an infographic on key indicators for the 2024 Expanded Program on Immunization.