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Medical groups recommend flu vaccination for nearly everyone age 6 months and older, with October offering time for protection to develop before flu spreads widely. Updated COVID-19 vaccines and RSV protection are also available for eligible groups, but recommendations and access vary by age, health status and state.
Medical groups are urging people to get vaccinated against flu in October, before the virus spreads widely, and to check whether they are due for updated COVID-19 or RSV protection. The timing matters because flu vaccination can take about two weeks to build protection, while influenza causes hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths in the United States each year, according to the source report.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Infectious Diseases Society of America have issued vaccine guidance for their patient groups. The groups are providing recommendations while the CDC has not updated its advice and its independent advisory panel is involved in a court dispute. The societies generally recommend flu vaccination for nearly everyone age 6 months and older.
Flu can be especially dangerous for adults 65 and older, pregnant people, young children and people with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease, or weakened immune systems. Three enhanced flu vaccine options are designed for older adults. The AAFP advises seniors to choose one when available, but Sarah Nosal, MD, of the group said people should not delay vaccination if an enhanced option is unavailable. The FDA has also approved Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine, mFlusiva, for people age 50 and older. A study cited in the report found it was 27% more effective than a standard shot at preventing symptomatic illness among adults ages 50 to 64; that result applies to that age group and outcome.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available, but federal approval is limited to people at higher risk: adults 65 and older and younger people with at least one risk-increasing health condition. The AAFP recommends vaccination for all adults, while the AAP recommends it for children ages 6 months to 23 months and older children at high risk, and supports vaccination for other children if their parent wants it. RSV vaccination is recommended for some older adults and other at-risk groups; the source report says family physicians recommend a one-time dose for adults 75 and older, people ages 50 to 74 at increased risk, and some younger people with weakened immune systems.
Protection Before Winter Virus Spread
Getting vaccinated now gives the body time to develop protection before flu activity may rise. The report says vaccination does not prevent every infection, but it can lower the risk of severe outcomes. The Vaccine Integrity Project, a public health group based at the University of Minnesota, reported that flu vaccines decreased older adults’ hospitalizations by 31% last year. That figure refers to older adults in the reported season; it is not a guarantee of protection for an individual.
COVID-19 and RSV add to the seasonal respiratory virus burden, particularly for people at higher risk of complications. Staying current on recommended vaccines can help reduce the chance of severe illness, though protection against mild infection is not complete. The report also says last fall’s COVID-19 shots reduced hospitalization risk by 53% among seniors, according to the Vaccine Integrity Project. These estimates reflect reported population outcomes, not a prediction for any one person.
Access and eligibility are not identical across vaccines or locations. Pharmacy rules for COVID-19 shots differ by state, and people may need to check whether insurance covers the newer mFlusiva vaccine. Medicare covers the fall shots, while most private insurers say they plan to continue coverage through 2027, according to the report.
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Why Guidance Is Coming From Medical Groups
Seasonal vaccine advice in the United States usually comes from the CDC and its independent advisory panel. This year, the panel is caught in a court battle and the CDC has not updated its recommendations, according to the report. In response, several medical organizations have published guidance for the populations they serve, along with the scientific evidence behind their recommendations.
The advice differs by vaccine and risk group. For flu, the medical societies broadly recommend vaccination from age 6 months. Federal approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines is narrower, while some professional groups recommend broader use. RSV vaccination is aimed at people more likely to face severe illness. The report notes that flu and COVID-19 vaccines are better at preventing severe disease than mild cases, and that common side effects include temporary arm soreness, fatigue, headache, muscle aches or mild fever.
“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
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Eligibility and Access Still Vary
The CDC has not updated its seasonal vaccine advice, and the report does not specify when it might do so or how the court dispute involving the advisory panel will be resolved. Recommendations from medical groups are available, but their advice does not remove state-level differences in access to COVID-19 shots.
People should check eligibility and availability with a clinician, pharmacy or insurer, particularly for COVID-19 vaccination and the newer mFlusiva option. The report says pharmacy age limits vary by state and that insurance coverage for mFlusiva may need confirmation. Vaccine recommendations can also depend on a person’s age, health conditions and prior doses.
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Vaccination Continues Through Fall
Flu experts say October is a good time to get vaccinated, though shots remain available through the fall. Because protection takes about two weeks to develop, people who have not yet received a recommended flu shot can ask a health professional or pharmacy about availability rather than waiting for flu activity to increase.
People considering COVID-19 or RSV protection can check current eligibility and timing with their clinician or local pharmacy. The report says adults 65 and older are advised by family physicians to get a fall COVID-19 dose and another dose six months later, as immunity wanes. Readers should confirm current guidance for their age and health circumstances, since federal advice, professional recommendations and state access rules differ.
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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 more dangerous for older adults, pregnant people, young children and people with certain chronic conditions or weakened immune systems.
Why get vaccinated in October?
Experts say October is a good time because flu can spread later in the season, and vaccination takes about two weeks to build protection. Vaccination remains available through the fall.
Do flu and COVID-19 vaccines prevent every infection?
No. The report says these vaccines do not block all infections and are better at preventing severe disease than mild cases. Ryan Stanton of the American College of Emergency Physicians said vaccination lowers the risk of the worst outcomes, but is not a guarantee against illness.
Who is eligible for an updated COVID-19 vaccine?
The report says the FDA has formally approved updated COVID-19 shots for adults 65 and older and younger people with at least one health condition that increases their risk. Professional recommendations can be broader, and availability rules vary by state, so check with a clinician or pharmacy.
Who should ask about RSV vaccination?
The family physicians’ guidance described in the report recommends a one-time RSV vaccine for adults 75 and older, people ages 50 to 74 at increased risk, and some younger people with weakened immune systems. A clinician can advise whether it applies to an individual’s circumstances.
Source: rss
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