ANA upholds support for evidence-based immunizations

The American Nurses Association (ANA) reaffirmed its strong support for immunizations as essential to protecting the health of individuals, families, and communities following a December vote by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to discontinue the universal recommendation that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth.

ANA’s Position Statement on Immunizations (2025) (bit.ly/48RsYdQ) states that “effective protection of the public health mandates that all individuals receive immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases according to the best and most current evidence.” The universal birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine has been a cornerstone of this protection for more than 30 years. The hepatitis B vaccine is highly effective, preventing more than 95 percent of infections when administered as recommended and protecting nearly all newborns from developing chronic hepatitis B, according to data from the World Health Organization.

“The hepatitis B birth dose has long represented one of the great success stories in public health,” said ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “Nurses have witnessed firsthand the power of prevention. As the most trusted profession, we have both an ethical and professional obligation to advocate for evidence-based immunization practices that protect the most vulnerable. Especially newborns, who depend on us to keep them safe.”

ANA emphasizes that immunizations are a critical component of primary disease prevention and a vital public health intervention. Nurses must advocate for, educate, and advise patients to adhere to vaccination schedules recommended by solid research and the patient’s healthcare provider, explaining their need and public health implications.

Any change to existing vaccination recommendations must be guided by robust scientific evidence, transparent review, and broad stakeholder engagement, including nurses and other frontline health professionals who play an essential role in vaccine education and administration.

Magnet® recognition drives excellence in top hospitals

For the first time, Newsweek incorporated Magnet® recognition as a core element of its ranking methodology for its 2026 America’s Best-in-State Hospitals list. Magnet recognition highlights the vital role of nursing excellence in hospital performance and patient outcomes alongside measures like quality metrics, patient experience, and peer reputation.

“As a leading distinction for nursing and organizational excellence, Magnet designation reflects organizations that consistently achieve exceptional results in patient outcomes, safety, and quality care,” said ANCC President Laura Wood, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “This inclusion validates years of evidence linking Magnet recognition to excellence in patient care outcomes and workforce retention and engagement.”

Newsweek’s 2026 ranking identified 800 of the top-performing hospitals nationwide. The 2026 methodology incorporates significant updates: expanded hospital quality metrics, broader accreditation coverage, integration of prior-year expert recommendations, and a stronger emphasis on care quality and patient-reported outcome measures.

The Magnet program is internationally recognized as one of the nursing profession’s highest achievements. The designation is awarded to organizations that consistently demonstrate outstanding patient outcomes, low turnover, high engagement, and continuous improvement. Magnet hospitals represent about 10% of all U.S. hospitals.

Newsweek joins U.S. News & World Report and The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Survey in recognizing Magnet status as a key indicator of organizational excellence. A recent national study further validates Magnet’s impact. The Magnet 3.0 Study, released in October 2025, reaffirms that Magnet designation is associated with favorable nurse, patient, organizational, and economic outcomes.
For more information, visit nursingworld.org/magnet.