The quick guide to fall vaccines and when you should get them

“As we head into another respiratory virus season, state and territorial health agencies are doing what we do best: preparing early, watching the data closely, and working with our healthcare and community partners to keep people safe,” Manisha Juthani, president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, said. “Vaccination remains one of the most effective tools we have to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death from flu, COVID-19, and RSV.”

As we saw last year, leading medical organizations have stepped in to fill the void of the CDC’s advisory committee and produced their own evidence-based vaccine recommendations, complete with a transparent scientific review explaining the basis for the recommendations.

The 2026–27 respiratory virus immunization recommendations and the evidence base behind them were released last week in a collaborative effort by the American Medical Association, the Vaccine Integrity Project, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

Overall, little has changed in the evidence-based recommendations from last year. But here’s the breakdown.

Recommendations

For flu

This year’s trivalent flu vaccines are recommended by the medical groups for all children (6 months and up) and all adults. There’s also a nasal spray for people ages 2 to 49, but it’s not recommended for people who are pregnant or immunocompromised. People age 65 and older are recommended to get a high-dose vaccine.

The biggest uncertainty this season will likely be with the new mRNA flu vaccine, approved for adults 50 and up in early August. The vaccine, Moderna’s mFlusiva, was found to be 27 percent more effective than a standard shot in trials but may have more mild side effects, like fatigue and injection-site soreness. It’s unclear how available this vaccine will be this year, given its late approval in the year. It’s also unclear what insurance coverage will look like, given its lack of a previous recommendation from the CDC’s advisory committee. Medicare is expected to cover mFlusiva, and some state Medicaid programs may cover it as well. But other federal programs, like Vaccines for Adults, may not cover it, and commercial insurance coverage is also uncertain.