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Medical societies say most people aged 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine, with October a good time to do so before influenza spreads widely. Updated COVID-19 vaccines and RSV protection are also available for some groups, but federal guidance has not been updated this year and recommendations differ by organization and eligibility.
Medical organizations are urging people aged 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine in October, before influenza begins spreading widely, while updated vaccines for COVID-19 and RSV are available for eligible groups. The advice comes as the federal advisory process is caught up in a court battle and the CDC has not updated its recommendations, leaving doctors’ groups to publish guidance for their patients.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Infectious Diseases Society of America have each posted vaccine guidance and supporting evidence for the populations they serve. Their recommendations generally support flu vaccination from 6 months of age. Flu poses higher risks for adults 65 and older, pregnant people, young children, and people with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or weakened immune systems.
Flu vaccination does not prevent every infection, but it can reduce the risk of serious illness. A Vaccine Integrity Project analysis cited in the report found that flu vaccines decreased hospitalizations among older adults by 31% last year. The report also notes unusually high numbers of child flu deaths in the previous two seasons, with most of those children unvaccinated. The figures do not mean vaccination eliminates risk.
Three enhanced flu vaccines are designed for older adults, and the AAFP advises seniors to choose one if available without delaying vaccination if it is not. A new Moderna mRNA flu vaccine, mFlusiva, is approved for people 50 and older. One study found it was 27% more effective against symptomatic illness than a standard shot among adults aged 50 to 64. People aged 2 to 49 who meet health criteria may be able to choose the FluMist nasal spray.
Protection Before Flu Season Peaks
Getting vaccinated in October allows time for protection to develop before influenza spreads more widely. Flu experts say it takes about two weeks for a vaccine to take effect, although shots remain available later in the fall. Seasonal flu causes hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths in the United States each year, according to the source report.
Vaccination is aimed especially at reducing severe outcomes, not guaranteeing that a person will avoid infection. Ryan Stanton, an emergency physician and American College of Emergency Physicians representative, compared vaccination with a seat belt: it decreases the risk of the worst outcomes, but does not promise that illness will be prevented.
Fall planning also involves more than flu. COVID-19 cases rose in late summer and commonly rise again around the winter holidays, while RSV can be severe for infants and older adults. Recommendations and eligibility differ among the three vaccines, so people may need to check guidance for their age, health circumstances, and location.
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Guidance Outside the CDC Process
In most years, federal recommendations come from the CDC and its independent advisory panel. The source report says the panel is involved in a court battle and that the CDC has not updated its advice this year. The AAP, AAFP, ACOG, and IDSA have responded by publishing their own recommendations for the patient groups they represent. These are professional-society guidelines, not a new CDC recommendation.
COVID-19 advice is narrower at the federal level than it was earlier in the pandemic: the FDA has formally approved updated shots for people 65 and older and younger people with at least one condition that raises their risk. The AAFP recommends vaccination for all adults, particularly people at higher risk. The AAP recommends a shot for children aged 6 months to 23 months and older children with high-risk conditions, and supports vaccination for any child whose parent wants it.
RSV vaccination is recommended by family physicians as a one-time dose for adults 75 and older, people aged 50 to 74 at increased risk, and some younger people with weakened immune systems, according to the report. The supplied source excerpt ends while describing RSV protection during pregnancy, so it does not provide the full recommendation for that group.
“Vaccination isn’t “a guarantee that we’re going to prevent illness. But just like the seat belt in your car, it decreases risk” of the worst outcomes.”
— Ryan Stanton, MD, of the American College of Emergency Physicians
Federal Advice and Access Differ
The CDC has not updated its recommendations, and the source report does not specify when the advisory panel’s court dispute will be resolved or when federal guidance may change. The medical societies’ recommendations do not remove differences between their advice and FDA approvals, particularly for COVID-19 vaccination. Eligibility and pharmacy rules also vary by state, especially for COVID-19 shots and children.
The report does not provide a complete account of RSV recommendations: its supplied text cuts off during the discussion of vaccination in pregnancy. It also does not name the study behind the mFlusiva comparison or provide further details on the methods used to estimate vaccine effectiveness. The reported percentages should be read with their stated populations and outcomes, not as guarantees for an individual.
Check Eligibility and Book a Dose
People considering fall vaccination can check with a health professional or local pharmacy about which products are available and recommended for their age and health circumstances. The source report says pharmacies are a common place to get flu and COVID-19 shots, though COVID-19 rules vary by state. Medicare covers fall shots, and most private insurers said they planned to continue coverage through 2027; people may want to confirm coverage for the new mFlusiva vaccine.
Flu vaccination can continue through the fall, but experts cited in the report recommend October because protection takes about two weeks to develop. Adults 65 and older may also be advised to receive a second COVID-19 dose six months after the fall dose, according to the AAFP representative quoted in the report. Federal guidance and local access rules may change, so readers should check current instructions before arranging vaccination.
Key Questions
Who should get a flu vaccine?
The medical societies cited in the report recommend flu vaccination for nearly everyone aged 6 months and older. Flu can be especially dangerous for older adults, pregnant people, young children, and people with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems.
Why get vaccinated in October?
Experts say October is a good time to get a flu shot before wider spread begins. It takes about two weeks for protection to develop, though vaccination remains available later in the fall.
Does a flu shot prevent all flu infections?
No. The report says flu vaccines do not block every infection, but they can help reduce severe outcomes. The cited estimate of a 31% reduction applies to hospitalizations among older adults last year, not to every age group or season.
Can flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines be obtained in the same place?
Some pediatricians and clinics offer both flu and COVID-19 shots, and pharmacies commonly offer them. Availability, age limits, and rules for COVID-19 vaccination vary by state. The source material does not specify whether all three vaccines are available together at every location.
Who should ask about an RSV vaccine?
The report says family physicians recommend a one-time RSV vaccine for adults 75 and older, people aged 50 to 74 at increased risk, and some younger people with weakened immune systems. Ask a qualified health professional about eligibility; the supplied source excerpt does not include the complete pregnancy guidance.
Source: rss
