Sources and claim audit

Every claim the Vaccine Hawk checklist makes, the source it rests on, and what changed when it was checked. Claims were checked against AAFP, AAP, ACOG and WHO guidance, and wording that did not match was corrected.

Last reviewed April 10, 2026. Guidance changes; your doctor or pharmacist has the final word.

1. Influenza (Flu)

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Annual flu vaccine recommended for everyone 6 months and older	AAFP 2025 Respiratory Vaccine Update
Seasonal influenza causes millions of severe illnesses globally each year	WHO Influenza Fact Sheet: 3-5 million severe cases globally, 290k-650k deaths	Reworded from unsourced U.S. hospitalization claim.
1 dose every year, ideally before flu season starts (September-October)	AAFP Seasonal Influenza Prevention & Control

2. Tdap / Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Everyone needs a Tdap once if they haven't had one, then a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Corrected booster wording.
Recommended for all adults	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule
Pregnancy: 1 dose each pregnancy, preferably weeks 27-36	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule ACOG Tdap in Pregnancy

3. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Measles outbreaks are increasing, vaccination rates have dropped	WHO Measles Fact Sheet
Adults born in 1957 or later without evidence of immunity generally need at least 1 dose	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule
Healthcare workers: 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart if no evidence of immunity	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule
MMR is contraindicated during pregnancy	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule WHO Measles Fact Sheet

4. HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Prevents cancers caused by HPV including cervical, throat, and other cancers	WHO HPV Position Paper
Most effective when given before exposure to HPV	WHO HPV Paper
Ages 18-26: 3 doses at 0, 1-2, and 6 months	AAFP HPV
Under 15: 2 doses, 6-12 months apart	WHO HPV Paper AAP HPV Guidelines
Ages 27-45: shared clinical decision-making	AAFP HPV ACP Guidelines
Can start as early as age 9	AAP HPV

5. Shingles (Shingrix)

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Recommended for adults 50+	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule WHO Zoster Paper
Recommended for immunocompromised adults age 19+	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Clarified adult age floor.
Over 90% effective	WHO Zoster Paper	Exact efficacy figure not yet matched against the paper.
2 doses, 2-6 months apart	AAFP Shingles

6. Pneumococcal (Pneumonia)

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections	WHO Pneumococcal Paper
Routine adult vaccination starts at age 50; younger adults with risk factors may also need it	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Updated to match current AAFP wording.
Depending on vaccine history: PCV20 or PCV21, or PCV15 followed by PPSV23	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Expanded from a PCV20-only simplification.

7. RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Recommended for adults 75+ and adults 50-74 with risk factors	AAFP 2025 Respiratory Vaccine Update AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Updated age/risk wording.
Single dose (Arexvy, Abrysvo, or mResvia); additional doses not recommended	AAFP 2025 Respiratory Vaccine Update	Updated to include mResvia.
Pregnancy: 1 dose Abrysvo during weeks 32-36, September-January	AAFP 2025 Respiratory Vaccine Update

8. COVID-19

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
For this season's vaccine, check AAFP's current adult schedule	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Replaced "Updated seasonal COVID vaccines are available" in October 2026 so the card makes no dated claim. The recommendation itself was not re-reviewed.
AAFP recommends COVID vaccination for adults 18+, with emphasis on older adults, immunocompromised people, and chronic conditions	AAFP 2025 Respiratory Vaccine Update	Updated source framing away from WHO-only language.
65+: 2 doses of the current season's vaccine	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule
Source cited: AAFP seasonal COVID guidance	AAFP 2025 Respiratory Vaccine Update

9. Hepatitis B

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Can cause chronic liver disease and liver cancer	WHO Hep B Fact Sheet
Recommended for all adults through age 59; adults 60+ may also receive it based on risk or preference	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule
2-dose series (Heplisav-B, 4 weeks apart) or 3-dose series (Engerix-B at 0, 1, 6 months)	AAFP Hep B

10. Hepatitis A

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Spread through contaminated food/water	WHO Hep A Fact Sheet
2 doses, 6-18 months apart	AAFP Hep A

11. Varicella (Chickenpox)

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Chickenpox in adults can be severe	WHO Varicella Paper
2 doses, 4-8 weeks apart, if no evidence of immunity	AAFP Varicella
Usually surfaced for younger adults because most U.S.-born adults before 1980 are presumed immune; exceptions still apply	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Reframed from a hard age cutoff.

12. Meningococcal (MenACWY)

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Can cause meningitis and blood infections	WHO Meningococcal Paper
Important for college students living in dorms	AAFP Meningococcal
Immunocompromised: 2-dose primary series, boosted every 5 years	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule
Non-immunocompromised adults: consider if first-year college student in a dorm, military recruit, traveler, or another high-risk group	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Corrected overly broad 18-26 claim.

13. Childhood Schedule (0-17)

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Lists: DTaP, IPV (polio), Hep B, Hib, PCV, rotavirus, varicella, MMR, Hep A, HPV, meningococcal, flu	WHO Routine Immunization Tables AAP Immunizations
HPV recommended starting at age 11-12	AAP HPV

14. Logic / Targeting Accuracy

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
MMR now includes a birth-year/immunity note instead of being suppressed for all 50+	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Logic corrected.
HPV not shown for 50+ (correct per guidelines)	AAFP and ACP: HPV shared decision-making up to age 45 only
Shingles shown for immunocompromised adults age 19+	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule
Pneumococcal shown for 50-64	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Current AAFP guidance starts routine adult vaccination at 50.
RSV now appears for 50-64 when risk factors are selected; the 65+ card explains the 75+/risk-based split	AAFP 2025 Respiratory Vaccine Update	Logic corrected.
Hep B copy now notes that routine recommendation ends at 59 and adults 60+ may still receive it	AAFP Adult Immunization Schedule	Copy corrected.

15. Site-Level Claims

Claim on the site	Source	Notes
Disclaimer says sources are "AAFP, AAP, ACOG, WHO"	Site copy	Updated to match actual source set.
"Not medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider"	Site copy	Shown at the end of every checklist.
History: "checked 5,000+ ZIP codes against Walgreens' booking system during the 2021 rollout"	Project record: the 2021 scraper checked a list of 5,151 ZIP codes (scraper code has since been removed from the repo)	Updated from unsupported "locations" wording.
Removed dead ClearHealthCosts feature link	Old URL returned HTTP 404 on April 10, 2026	Unsupported claim removed from footer.

What the April 2026 review changed

Source set: Updated to AAFP/AAP/ACOG/WHO only.
RSV: Corrected the adult logic to reflect AAFP's 75+ universal recommendation and 50-74 risk-based recommendation, and added mResvia to the product list.
Pneumococcal: Expanded the schedule text beyond PCV20-only wording to include PCV21 and PCV15 followed by PPSV23.
MMR / meningococcal logic: Removed overly broad age-only shortcuts and replaced them with birth-year/immunity or risk-based wording.
Footer history: Replaced unsupported "5,000+ Walgreens locations" and removed the dead ClearHealthCosts link.