Flu, COVID-19 and RSV shots this fall: what CDC and FDA recommend for the 2026-27 season

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the flu and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations from its July 2025 immunization schedule remain in effect for the 2026-27 respiratory virus season. The agency cited "legal uncertainties and inquiries" in guidance it updated in September. For most people, that means a flu shot this fall, an updated COVID-19 vaccine for adults, and a one-time RSV vaccine for older adults who have not had one.

Federal vaccine policy has shifted repeatedly since June 2025, when the membership of CDC's vaccine advisory committee, known as ACIP, was changed. Federal court orders have halted implementation of votes the committee made after that change, according to Immunize.org, a nonprofit that tracks vaccine recommendations. Because the rules can change and depend on your age and health, check with your doctor or pharmacist before you get vaccinated.

Flu: everyone 6 months and older

"Everyone 6 months and older in the United States, with rare exception, should get a flu vaccine every season," the agency says on its flu vaccine page. September and October are generally good times to get vaccinated, and CDC says that ideally everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October. Vaccination should continue later in the season as long as flu viruses are circulating. It takes about two weeks after a shot for protective antibodies to develop.

All flu vaccines for the 2026-27 season are trivalent, meaning they protect against three viruses: an influenza A(H1N1) virus, an A(H3N2) virus and a B/Victoria virus. Other points from CDC's clinical guidance, dated Sept. 1:

• Adults 65 and older should preferentially receive a high-dose, recombinant or adjuvanted vaccine: Fluzone High-Dose, Flublok or Fluad. If none is available, any other age-appropriate flu vaccine should be given.
• People with egg allergy who are 6 months or older may receive any flu vaccine that is otherwise appropriate for them.
• FluMist nasal spray is approved by FDA for self-administration by people ages 18 through 49, and caregivers 18 or older may give it to children ages 2 through 17.

FDA also approved a new option this season. On Aug. 5, the agency licensed MFLUSIVA, an mRNA flu vaccine from Moderna, for people 50 and older. CDC's Sept. 1 guidance does not address it, so ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it is a fit for you.

COVID-19: CDC and FDA draw different lines

FDA advised manufacturers that 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccines should be monovalent vaccines targeting the XFG variant, part of the JN.1 lineage. Four updated vaccines are approved. Each is approved for everyone 65 and older and, below that age, only for people with at least one condition that raises their risk of severe COVID-19:

CDC's recommendation is broader. According to its COVID-19 vaccine overview, updated Sept. 23, a 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all adults 18 and older. For children 6 months to 17 years, it is recommended for those with moderate to severe immunocompromise, and for all other children it is recommended through shared clinical decision-making, meaning a conversation between the family and a health care provider. CDC notes that its recommendations for younger people without a high-risk condition are based on off-label use.

In practice, a healthy adult under 65 who wants a COVID-19 shot would be getting it off label. Ask your pharmacy or doctor's office in advance whether it will give you the vaccine and whether your insurance will cover it. CDC also says last season's 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccines should not be used once the 2026-27 versions are available.

Where a medical group differs

Some medical organizations have issued their own guidance. On Sept. 2, the American Academy of Pediatrics said it recommends that all infants and children 6 through 23 months receive a 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine, and that children and teens 2 through 18 who are at increased risk of severe disease receive a single dose. That is more expansive for young children than CDC's shared decision-making approach. Parents weighing these differences should talk with their child's pediatrician.

RSV: one dose for older adults, protection for babies

CDC recommends an RSV vaccine for everyone 75 and older and for adults 50 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV illness. The vaccine is given as a single dose and is not currently an annual vaccine, so people who were vaccinated in an earlier season generally do not need another shot. CDC says the best time to get vaccinated is late summer and early fall.

For infants, CDC recommends that all babies be protected from severe RSV by one of two options:

• A maternal RSV vaccine given during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy, recommended September through January in most of the country. Protection for the baby lasts about six months after birth.
• A long-acting RSV antibody given to the baby, recommended for infants younger than 8 months whose mothers did not get the maternal vaccine. Some children ages 8 to 19 months at increased risk may also be eligible.

Most babies do not need both. The AAP also recommends RSV immunization for all infants under 8 months, unless they are protected through maternal vaccination.

Getting more than one shot at a visit

You do not have to space the vaccines out. CDC says flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines may be given at the same visit for people who are eligible for them.

What to do now

• Plan your flu shot for October if you have not had it yet.
• If you are 65 or older, ask for one of the three preferentially recommended flu vaccines.
• If you are under 65 and want a COVID-19 vaccine, call ahead to confirm the pharmacy or clinic will give it to you and how it will be billed.
• If you are 50 or older, ask whether you have already had an RSV vaccine and whether you qualify for one.
• Bring a list of your health conditions and medicines so your pharmacist or doctor can check which vaccines are right for you.

This article summarizes official guidance as of Oct. 12 and is not medical advice. Recommendations may change as court cases and agency reviews continue, so check CDC's pages or ask your health care provider before you go.