Loading Curie Briefs...
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
With the CDC's vaccine advisory process effectively stalled, four major medical societies have stepped up to fill the gap. The AAFP, AAP, ACOG, and IDSA jointly released evidence-based recommendations for flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines for the 2026–2027 respiratory season. The guidance, backed by independent evidence reviews published in JAMA, aims to give clinicians and patients a credible, science-based alternative amid federal confusion.
With the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) effectively sidelined — disbanded by a federal court order after HHS Secretary RFK Jr. reconstituted it — four major medical societies decided not to wait. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) jointly published respiratory vaccine recommendations for the 2026–2027 season, supported by independent evidence reviews from the Vaccine Integrity Project at the University of Minnesota, published in JAMA.
The guidance covers flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines across all major population groups — children, pregnant women, older adults, and the immunocompromised. Key highlights include annual flu shots for everyone 6 months and older, COVID-19 vaccines for all adults and high-risk children, and RSV immunization for adults 75+, high-risk adults 50–74, pregnant women, and infants. The AMA also launched a centralized digital hub, SpreadTheFacts.org, to make the recommendations accessible to both clinicians and the public.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: With federal vaccine guidance in limbo and public trust in the CDC declining, these physician-led recommendations provide a critical, science-backed lifeline for clinicians and patients navigating an unusually uncertain respiratory virus season.
