Medical Associations Issue New Vaccine Guidance Amid Federal Inaction
Major U.S. medical groups released updated recommendations for COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccinations, citing independent safety analyses, as federal agencies have not issued new guidance.
Independent analyses released Wednesday confirmed that the latest COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccines remain safe and effective at preventing severe illness. In response, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America jointly issued guidance urging broader immunization, including routine COVID-19 shots for healthy younger adults, children and pregnant people.
The move seeks to address a gap left by the federal government, which has not updated its vaccine recommendations this year. Dr. Bruce Gellin of the Vaccine Integrity Project said, "Unfortunately today, the federal government is not fulfilling that responsibility in the way that it historically has. But the need for that work has not disappeared. We cannot allow the breakdown of the federal process to create a vacuum in evidence-based vaccine guidance."
The CDC’s usual guideline-issuing process has been stalled by litigation that halted the administration’s effort to reduce the number of routine childhood vaccines. While the agency extended its 2025 flu-vaccine recommendations to the current season, it has not issued new advice on COVID-19 or RSV vaccines. The lack of federal direction has raised concerns among public-health officials about potential declines in vaccination rates.
Experts emphasized that most people should still be able to obtain the shots at no cost, as private insurers, Medicare and the Vaccines for Children program continue coverage. State pharmacists, many of whom now rely on the medical societies’ recommendations rather than federal rules, are expected to maintain access to the vaccines.
The updated recommendations, based on a review of thousands of studies published in JAMA, call for COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant people, those planning pregnancy and breastfeeding individuals, as well as broader coverage for children and adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics also expanded RSV guidance to include older infants and children with certain risk factors, and reaffirmed annual flu vaccination starting at six months of age.
"The bottom line is that vaccines are one of the country's greatest success stories," said Dr. Sarah Nosal, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "Making sure families get recommended vaccines during respiratory illness season not only keeps individuals healthy, but also helps protect entire communities."
Despite the new guidance, officials warned that the absence of federal recommendations could still cause confusion and lead some individuals to forgo vaccination.