With children back in school and the looming threat of respiratory viruses like Covid-19, influenza and RSV on the horizon, many people may now be wondering how to stay healthy.
Typically, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launches a fall campaign around this time of year, recommending seasonal immunizations such as the flu shot and Covid-19 vaccines. But under the second Trump administration, the agency has mostly been silent this year.
The CDC hasn’t issued new recommendations for RSV immunization or Covid-19 vaccines for this season. Last year, the agency updated Covid-19 vaccine guidance to shift away from a broad recommendation, instead saying that patients must consult with a healthcare provider to get the vaccine.
On Tuesday, the agency updated its clinical guidance for the flu shot to follow last year’s recommendations, noting on its website that “the CDC states the recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccination from the July 2025 immunization schedule remain in effect for the 2026-2027 influenza season.” The update does not mention the first mRNA flu vaccine, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last month for use in older adults.
To help fill the void, the American Medical Association and the University of Minnesota’s Vaccine Integrity Project launched their own independent reviews of this fall’s vaccines – including those for flu, Covid and RSV – which was published Wednesday in the medical journal JAMA.
