As cooler weather settles in and schools reopen, the United States is entering the annual respiratory virus season. Vaccines for influenza, COVID‑19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are now being distributed through most major pharmacies and the federal Vaccines for Children program, offering protection for a range of high‑risk populations.
Current virus activity and public health guidance
National data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that seasonal influenza activity remains low overall, yet certain metrics are beginning to rise in the western United States. Health officials in King County, Washington, have reported an uptick in emergency‑department visits for flu‑like illness since mid‑August.
Despite sweeping changes to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices during the second Trump administration and ongoing litigation, the agency has posted online guidance that mirrors last year’s recommendations for flu and COVID‑19 vaccination. The American Medical Association and the University of Minnesota’s Vaccine Integrity Project conducted independent reviews of the fall vaccine lineup, publishing their findings in September in the journal JAMA. Those reviews helped shape the 2026‑27 immunization recommendations issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Who should receive each vaccine and when
RSV immunization. The RSV vaccine is advised for adults 50 years and older who have high‑risk conditions, as well as everyone over 75 years. The dose is not required annually; a single injection is intended to protect the recipient throughout the season. Pregnant people should receive the vaccine in the third trimester, between weeks 32 and 36. Infants younger than eight months are eligible for a monoclonal antibody, unless their mother received the RSV vaccine during pregnancy. Adults with weakened immune systems are also recommended a single dose. Timing for older adults is typically late summer to early fall, while the monoclonal antibody for infants is usually administered between October and March.
Seasonal flu shot. All individuals six months of age and older are encouraged to receive an annual influenza vaccine. On average, flu shots lower the likelihood of a doctor visit by 30 % to 60 %. Adults 65 years and older should opt for an enhanced formulation—high‑dose, adjuvanted or recombinant—when it is available; an mRNA‑based flu vaccine is also offered to adults 50 years and older. October is cited as the optimal month for vaccination because protection can wane later in the season. Some providers use the slogan “flu before boo” to remind people to get vaccinated before Halloween.
Updated COVID‑19 vaccine. The updated COVID‑19 formulation is recommended for all adults, with particular emphasis on those 65 years and older and individuals who have never been vaccinated. For seniors, a second dose six months after the initial seasonal dose is advised to maintain immunity. The vaccine is also approved for infants aged six to 23 months and for children in high‑risk categories or whose families request it. Health officials suggest receiving the vaccine now, but advise a four‑ to six‑month wait after a recent COVID‑19 infection. The updated product targets the most recent circulating strain.
Coverage, access and expert commentary
Dr. Sarah Nosal, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, noted that major insurers have confirmed coverage for all three respiratory vaccines, reducing financial barriers for patients. The Vaccines for Children program, a federal initiative that supplies routine immunizations at no cost to uninsured or under‑insured children, has already begun distributing the new doses. Approximately half of U.S. children qualify for the program.
Dr. Bruce Gellin, board chair of the Vaccine Integrity Project and professor of medicine at Georgetown University, warned that the federal government is no longer performing its historic role of evaluating vaccine evidence through the ACIP, creating a “vacuum in evidence‑based vaccine guidance.” He emphasized that influenza, SARS‑CoV‑2 and RSV will circulate again this fall and winter, and that clinicians, parents, older adults, pregnant people and those with underlying conditions will need clear recommendations.
Overall, the availability of flu, COVID‑19 and RSV vaccines this season aligns with long‑standing public‑health goals: preventing serious illness, reducing hospitalizations and saving lives. As the virus season progresses, health officials encourage timely vaccination, especially for groups at elevated risk.
Helene Elliott is the Lead Science & Space Reporter at News Raise. She reports on aerospace missions, astrophysics discoveries, quantum research, and environmental technology.
