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Medical societies say nearly everyone age 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine, with October a good time because protection takes about two weeks to develop. Updated COVID-19 and RSV guidance is also available, while federal vaccine advice has not been updated this year amid a court battle involving the CDC advisory panel.
Medical societies are urging people to get a flu vaccine in October, before influenza spreads widely and about two weeks before protection takes effect. Their guidance comes as updated COVID-19 shots are available and federal vaccine advice has not been updated this year, with the CDC’s advisory panel caught in a court battle.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Infectious Diseases Society of America have published recommendations for their patient groups, along with scientific evidence. The groups agree that nearly everyone age 6 months and older should receive flu vaccination. Flu poses particular risks to adults 65 and older, pregnant people, young children, and people with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or weakened immunity.
People have several flu vaccine options. Three enhanced vaccines are designed to offer better protection for older adults. The family physicians’ group recommends that seniors choose one of those options when available, while Sarah Nosal, MD, said people should not delay vaccination if their preferred option is unavailable. The FDA has also approved Moderna’s mFlusiva, an mRNA flu vaccine for people 50 and older. One study found it was 27% more effective than a standard shot against symptomatic illness among adults ages 50 to 64. People ages 2 to 49 who meet health criteria may be able to choose the FluMist nasal spray.
COVID-19 recommendations vary by organization and age. 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 family physicians’ group recommends vaccination for all adults, especially those at higher risk. The pediatricians’ group recommends shots for children ages 6 months to 23 months and older children with high-risk conditions, and supports vaccination for any child whose parent wants it. The obstetricians’ group supports vaccination during pregnancy. COVID-19 vaccines are available from Moderna, Pfizer and, depending on age, Novavax and Sanofi.
Vaccines Target Severe Outcomes
Flu vaccination does not prevent every infection, but experts say it can reduce the chance of serious illness. The United States sees hundreds of thousands of flu hospitalizations and tens of thousands of flu deaths each year, according to the source report. The Vaccine Integrity Project, a public health group based at the University of Minnesota, reported that flu vaccines reduced older adults’ hospitalizations by 31% last year. The report also cited an estimate that last fall’s COVID-19 shots reduced hospitalization risk by 53% among seniors and cut emergency department visits for very young children.
Those figures refer to specific outcomes and groups; they do not mean vaccination prevents all infections or guarantees protection for an individual. Emergency physician Ryan Stanton compared vaccination with wearing a seat belt: it decreases the risk of the worst outcomes. This distinction matters for people deciding whether to get vaccinated, particularly those at greater risk of severe disease.
RSV is usually a cold-like illness, but it can become severe or life-threatening for infants and older adults. The family physicians’ group recommends a one-time RSV vaccination for adults 75 and older, people ages 50 to 74 at increased risk, and some younger people with weakened immune systems. The supplied report ends before giving the full RSV guidance for pregnancy and infants, so those details cannot be confirmed here.
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Guidance Shifts Beyond CDC
Fall vaccine advice has typically come from the CDC and its independent advisory panel, whose recommendations can influence state and insurance policies. This year, the panel is involved in a court battle, and the CDC has not updated its advice, according to the report. In response, four medical societies have issued guidance for the patient populations they serve. Their recommendations are professional guidance and should not be mistaken for a newly updated CDC recommendation.
Vaccines work better against severe disease than against mild illness, according to the report. Common side effects from flu and COVID-19 shots include a sore arm, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and mild fever. The report says these effects are temporary and occurred somewhat more often with mFlusiva than with standard flu shots. Pharmacies are common places to get flu and COVID-19 vaccines, though rules for COVID-19 shots differ by state, especially for children. Medicare covers fall shots, and most private insurers say they plan to continue coverage through 2027; people may want to check whether their plan covers mFlusiva.
“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, American College of Emergency Physicians
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Federal Advice Remains Unchanged
The CDC has not updated its fall vaccine advice, and the report does not give a timeline for when it might do so. The court battle involving its advisory panel, which helps shape state and insurance policies, is ongoing, but the available material does not describe the case or its likely outcome. The recommendations from medical societies provide guidance for their patient groups during this gap.
Individual eligibility can depend on age, health conditions, vaccine product and state rules. The report does not provide a complete state-by-state account of pharmacy access. It also does not include the full RSV advice for infants and pregnancy, so readers should check current recommendations from a clinician or public health authority for those groups.
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Fall Vaccination Continues
Flu vaccination remains available through the fall, and October is considered a good time to get it because protection takes about two weeks to develop. COVID-19 cases rose in late summer and commonly rise again around the winter holidays, according to the report. Some experts say people may time a COVID-19 shot a few weeks before an important trip or gathering, while considering their own health risks and clinician guidance.
People can check with a pharmacy, pediatrician or clinic about available vaccines, age limits and insurance coverage. Older adults considering a second COVID-19 dose should note that Nosal recommended another dose six months after the fall dose for people 65 and older, citing waning immunity. The report does not specify whether federal guidance will change or when the advisory panel’s court matter may be resolved.
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Key Questions
Who should get a flu vaccine?
The medical societies cited in the report recommend flu vaccination for nearly everyone age 6 months and older. Flu can be especially dangerous for older adults, pregnant people, young children and people with chronic health conditions.
Why get vaccinated in October?
Flu experts say October is a good time because it allows roughly two weeks for protection to develop before wider spread. Vaccination remains available through the fall.
Does a flu vaccine prevent every infection?
No. Stanton said vaccination is not a guarantee against illness. The report describes vaccines as better at preventing severe outcomes than every infection, and cites reduced hospitalization risk for older adults.
Who can get the new mRNA flu vaccine?
The FDA-approved Moderna vaccine mFlusiva is for people ages 50 and older. One study cited in the report found it was 27% more effective than a standard shot against symptomatic illness among adults ages 50 to 64.
Where can people get flu and COVID-19 shots?
Pharmacies are common providers, and some pediatricians and clinics offer both. COVID-19 pharmacy rules vary by state, including rules about children’s ages, so people should check local availability and insurance coverage.
Source: rss
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