In the face of federal legal disputes, leading medical groups have issued their own recommendations for influenza, Covid-19, and RSV vaccinations for the coming respiratory season, emphasising the importance of continued immunisation amid ongoing uncertainties.
Parents, older adults and pregnant women are heading into the respiratory season with more uncertainty than usual after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moved to overhaul the CDC’s vaccine advisory process. A federal judge has already ruled that Kennedy acted unlawfully in replacing the 17-member expert panel, a step that has fuelled concern about how influenza, Covid-19 and RSV guidance will be set this year.
In the absence of clear federal direction, a coalition of major medical groups has issued its own 2026-27 recommendations. The guidance was developed after the Vaccine Integrity Project at the University of Minnesota, working with the American Medical Association, reviewed the latest evidence on flu, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines. According to the organisations behind the review, the evidence still shows these immunisations lower the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and death, with no new safety concerns identified in comparative studies.
The groups behind the recommendations , the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Infectious Diseases Society of America , say annual flu vaccination remains advisable for all children from six months old, adults up to 64, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, people who are immunocompromised and healthcare workers. They also recommend Covid-19 vaccination for young children in certain age bands or risk groups, most adults, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems and healthcare workers. For RSV, the guidance calls for one-time vaccination for older adults at higher risk, adults 75 and above, some younger immunocompromised adults and pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy during the September-to-March season.
The push for independent advice comes as the burden of respiratory viruses remains substantial. CDC data cited by the Philadelphia Voice showed that last autumn and winter flu was linked to 390,000 hospitalisations and 24,000 deaths, while Covid-19 caused an estimated 140,000 to 240,000 hospitalisations and 15,000 to 42,000 deaths. RSV accounted for another 170,000 to 340,000 hospitalisations and about 25,000 deaths, underscoring why paediatricians, family doctors and infectious disease specialists are urging Americans not to wait for federal uncertainty to settle before making vaccination plans.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
