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Fall vaccines: Is it time to immunize?

Sept. 10, 2025—Fall is respiratory virus season, when germs that cause illnesses like colds, flu and COVID-19 spread more easily. Fortunately, vaccines for some of these illnesses—namely flu, COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)—can help protect you.

Here's what you need to know about staying up-to-date with fall vaccines.

COVID-19

Vaccine protection decreases with time, so even if you've gotten a COVID-19 shot before, you'll need another one to stay protected. Also, COVID-19 shots are updated each year to protect against the most common strains.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has not yet released their 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, other organizations, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), have published their own. It is unclear exactly what the ACIP will recommend and when, so before you vaccinate, talk to your doctor about updated recommendations and what's right for you and your family. Here's a quick look at current COVID-19 recommendations:

Children. AAP recommends that children ages 6 months to 23 months and children 2 years and older who are at risk of developing severe COVID-19 be vaccinated. FDA has also approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for at-risk children 6 months and older. Each approved vaccine has its own age recommendations, so check with your doctor about which one is right for your child.

Adults 65 and older. FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for people 65 and older. It's crucial that adults in this age group get vaccinated, since they are most at risk for COVID-19 hospitalization.

Pregnant people. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends COVID-19 vaccination when you're planning to become pregnant, at any time during pregnancy, during the postpartum period and while lactating.

At-risk adults. FDA has approved updated vaccines for adults up to age 64 with underlying medical conditions that put them at risk for severe COVID-19 complications.

Flu

With rare exceptions, everyone ages 6 months or older should get a yearly flu vaccine. Flu viruses change yearly, so the vaccine is updated to provide optimal protection.

Flu vaccines are especially important for people at high risk of severe flu complications. This includes:

  • People 65 and older.
  • People with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.
  • Pregnant people.
  • Children younger than 5 years.

Children ages 6 months to 8 years may need two doses of the flu vaccine if they haven't had a flu shot before or if they received only one dose of the vaccine before July 2025. The doses are given four weeks apart.

RSV

For most people, RSV feels like a mild cold. But it can be dangerous for babies, older adults and people with certain health conditions, such as diabetes and heart, lung or kidney diseases.

RSV is not an annual shot. But now is a good time to get it, if it's recommended for you. These people can get the vaccine:

  • Adults 75 and older.
  • Adults ages 50 to 74 who are at higher risk of developing severe RSV.
  • Pregnant people. Pregnant people can get the RSV vaccine during weeks 32 to 36 of their pregnancy. The shot helps your body produce antibodies, which are passed to your baby before birth.

Babies can be protected from RSV if their parent received the vaccine during pregnancy. If not, infants and some older babies ages 8 to 19 months can get an RSV antibody shot to help protect them.

Talk to your doctor

Your doctor can help answer questions about which vaccines for respiratory conditions you and your family may need. They can also help make sure you're caught up on other vaccines. Keeping current on all the recommended vaccines is crucial for your health. Find out which ones you may need.

Sources

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