Today, April 6th, marks the first day of Adolescent Immunization Action Week (AIAW) 2026, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of vaccines for adolescents and young adults. Since its launch in 2022, AIAW has grown into a powerful platform for education, advocacy, and action. Now in its fifth year, AIAW continues to bring together trusted voices, youth advocates, and healthcare leaders to support informed decision-making and build confidence in immunizations.
Throughout the week, Unity Consortium is hosting a series of events and resources designed to engage families, empower young people, and promote accurate, accessible vaccine information. Here is a schedule of our events:
Monday, April 6: Kickoff Day
We’re officially kicking off AIAW 2026! Follow along all week as we share resources, host events, and spotlight voices working to improve adolescent health.
Tuesday, April 7: LIVE Clinton Webinar
As vaccine policies and recommendations continue to evolve, families are navigating complex and sometimes confusing information. Join Unity for a live webinar, titled “Who Influences Young People’s Health Choices? The New Conversations About Vaccines” moderated by Dr. Chelsea Clinton. This webinar is focused on building trust, validating parent and adolescent perspectives, and supporting informed, confident decision-making. Featuring:
- Elisabeth Marnik, PhD – Executive Director, The Evidence Collective
- Margot Savoy, MD, MPH, FAAFP – Chief Medical Officer, American Academy of Family Physicians
- Jessica Steier, DrPH, PMP – Founder & CEO, Unbiased Science
Wednesday, April 8: On-Demand Youth Panel
Available starting April 7 on Unity’s YouTube channel, this on-demand panel is moderated by Todd Wolynn, MD, MMM, and features youth advocates from organizations including Families Fighting Flu and Teens for Vaccines. The panel is titled “Speak Up for Your Health: A Conversation with Youth Vaccine Advocates”, and will include personal experiences from panelists as well as guidance on how young people can advocate for themselves and communicate with healthcare providers about their health. Featured panelists include:
- Hope Durlofsky, Unity Consortium Intern and MPH Candidate
- Maxwell Palance, Teens for Vaccines
- Zach Lang, Families Fighting Flu
- Irelynd McCarthy, Families Fighting Flu
Thursday, April 9th: FACTSinnated Podcast Episode
In this special AIAW FACTSinnated episode, epidemiologist and science communicator Dr. Katelyn Jetelina breaks down how to navigate health information in today’s landscape. The episode “Real Talk About Vaccines with Dr. Katelyn Jetelina (Your Local Epidemiologist)” highlights the importance of consulting trusted healthcare providers, offers practical tips for identifying reliable information, and supports families in making confident decisions about adolescent health.
Friday, April 10: Take Action!
As AIAW comes to a close, take a moment to make sure you and your family are up to date on recommended vaccinations.
Get Involved All Week Long
Don’t forget to explore our partner toolkit (password: unity), filled with ready-to-use resources to help you spread the word about AIAW 2026. Whether you’re a parent, provider, or advocate, your voice plays a role in building healthier communities for all!
