09/03/2026
It's that time of year. I plan on getting my influenza and Covid vaccines in the next two weeks.
This week the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America jointly released their respiratory vaccine recommendations for the fall. That guidance normally comes from CDC's vaccine advisory committee, which has been in legal limbo since a federal judge ruled in March that the health secretary likely acted unlawfully in altering vaccine policy, so the societies stepped in.
Behind it is an independent evidence review from the Vaccine Integrity Project, conducted with the American Medical Association. Reviewers screened more than 5,800 studies and identified 69 published between August 2025 and June 2026. They found no new safety concerns.
For flu, everyone 6 months and older should be vaccinated. October is a good target for most people, and later is much better than skipping it. Adults 65 and older should preferentially receive an enhanced vaccine (high dose, adjuvanted, recombinant or mRNA) when one is available, but should not delay vaccination to get one.
For COVID, AAFP recommends an updated 2026-2027 vaccine for all adults 19 and older, with adults 65 and older getting a second dose six months after the first. AAP recommends it for all children 6 through 23 months, and for older children based on risk or parental preference. ACOG recommends it during pregnancy and lactation, in any trimester.
For RSV, adults 75 and older, and adults 50 through 74 at increased risk, should get a single dose, and for most adults it isn't an annual vaccine. Infants are protected a different way, through maternal vaccination at 32-36 weeks or an antibody immunization after birth. AAP recommends the antibody for babies under 8 months entering their first RSV season if the mother wasn't vaccinated, and for certain high-risk children 8 through 19 months entering their second season.
All three vaccines can safely be given at the same visit, including during pregnancy, without reducing how well they work. Talk with your clinician or pharmacist about which of these apply to you.
Great summary by WaPo: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/09/02/fall-vaccine-guide-what-know-about-covid-flu-rsv-shots-this-year/
