Medical Groups Step In to Fill Federal Vaccine Guidance Void
With fall approaching and respiratory virus season looming, a coalition of major U.S. medical organizations has released updated recommendations for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines for the 2026-27 season. The guidance, published jointly on September 2, aims to provide clear, science-based direction to patients and healthcare providers at a time when the federal vaccine recommendation process is disrupted.
The recommendations come from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). These groups convened after the Trump administration's health officials began dismantling long-standing vaccine guidance last year, leaving many Americans uncertain about who should get which shots and when.
The evidence review underpinning these recommendations was conducted by the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) at the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) in collaboration with the American Medical Association (AMA). The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
"We are living in unprecedented times when it comes to modern vaccine review and recommendation," said Dr. Michael Osterholm, CIDRAP director and coauthor of an accompanying commentary. "The VIP program will never replace ACIP [Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices]. In the interim, it's the stopgap measure that allows us to continue recommending these vaccines based on a comprehensive review of both effectiveness and safety."
Key Recommendations at a Glance
The medical groups unanimously recommend that almost everyone aged 6 months and older receive a flu shot. They also advise that high-risk groups—including people over 65, pregnant women, young children, and those with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease—should get vaccinated against COVID-19 and, where eligible, RSV.
The flu vaccine is particularly crucial this year after two consecutive harsh seasons that saw an unusually high number of child deaths, the majority in unvaccinated children. While the vaccine does not block all infections, it does reduce severe outcomes: evidence shows it cuts hospitalizations by 31% in adults over 65.
For COVID-19, the updated shots approved by the FDA last week are now arriving at pharmacies, and the groups advise eligible individuals to get vaccinated, especially those in high-risk categories. For RSV, the recommendations target older adults (typically 75 and older, or 60-74 with underlying conditions) and pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks to protect newborns.
The AMA has consolidated all this guidance on a dedicated website, SpreadTheFacts.org, along with the supporting evidence, to counteract the "confusion and chaos" that Dr. Sandra Fryhofer of the AMA says has surrounded vaccine advice.
The Federal Vacuum: What Happened to the CDC's Advisory Panel?
Normally, vaccine recommendations in the United States come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its independent advisory committee, ACIP. This panel evaluates scientific evidence and votes on vaccination policies, which in turn impact state mandates and insurance coverage.
However, in a controversial move last year, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disbanded ACIP and replaced its members with his own appointees, some of whom had publicly criticized vaccines—including COVID shots. A federal judge later ruled that Kennedy acted unlawfully, but the subsequent court battle has left the committee in limbo, unable to issue new guidance.
The CDC itself has not responded to questions about any new fall recommendations. Instead, its website suggests that healthcare providers follow last year's flu guidelines. This silence, according to medical leaders, has created a dangerous information gap just as the respiratory virus season begins.
"We cannot allow the breakdown of a federal process to create a vacuum in evidence-based vaccine guidance," said Dr. Bruce Gellin, chair of the VIP Board of Advisors, during a press briefing. "Americans are hearing conflicting messages about vaccines right now, and it's understandable that people are asking whom they should trust. I would encourage them to look at the process behind the development of these recommendations."
The medical societies' decision to step in is unprecedented. For the first time, four leading professional organizations—representing primary care physicians, pediatricians, obstetricians, and infectious disease specialists—have issued joint recommendations outside the federal framework. They emphasize that their guidance is based on science, not politics, and that it fills a void without attempting to replace ACIP permanently.
Beyond the Flu Shot: What the Science Shows on COVID and RSV
The VIP evidence review, co-led by Dr. Nicole Basta, examined all FDA-approved or authorized vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. The review focused on safety, effectiveness, and the epidemiology of these viruses, providing the foundation for the medical groups' recommendations.
Influenza: A Severe Threat, But Vaccines Help
Recent flu seasons have been particularly brutal, with high hospitalization rates and a significant number of child deaths—most in unvaccinated children. For older adults (65+), the vaccine cuts the risk of hospitalization by 31%. Vaccination during pregnancy also reduces the likelihood of severe illness in both mother and baby, and it is the only way to protect infants too young to be vaccinated.
A new development this year is the FDA's approval of an mRNA-based flu vaccine from Moderna. This represents the first major advancement in flu vaccine technology in decades, though the medical groups' recommendations apply to all licensed flu vaccines equally.
COVID-19: Updated Shots Now Available
The FDA approved the updated COVID-19 shots last week, and they are arriving at pharmacies across the country. The medical groups advise that everyone aged 6 months and older get the updated vaccine, with special urgency for those at high risk of severe disease, including older adults, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems.
Dr. Osterholm emphasized that the new vaccine targets currently circulating strains and is designed to provide broader protection. "The evidence shows that these vaccines reduce the risk of severe disease," he said.
RSV: New Prevention Options for Vulnerable Populations
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of hospitalization in young children and is dangerous for older adults. The medical groups recommend RSV vaccination for adults aged 75 and older, as well as for those aged 60-74 with chronic conditions. Pregnant women are also encouraged to get vaccinated between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation to protect their newborns during the first months of life.
The VIP review found that current RSV vaccines are safe and effective, though they are not recommended for everyone due to cost and the need to prioritize high-risk groups.
Filling the Gap: How Medical Groups Aim to Restore Trust
Beyond the immediate recommendations, the collaboration between VIP, AMA, and the medical societies represents a larger effort to preserve evidence-based public health decision-making in an era of political interference and misinformation.
The AMA's SpreadTheFacts.org website is central to this effort. It provides transparent access to the evidence behind each recommendation, allowing the public to see the studies reviewed and understand the reasoning. The interactive tool also helps healthcare providers find specific research relevant to their patients.
The four medical societies—AAFP, AAP, ACOG, and IDSA—each tailored the general recommendations to their specific patient populations. This ensures that a pediatrician, family doctor, obstetrician, or infectious disease specialist can give consistent guidance.
Dr. Fryhofer noted that the timing is critical because flu vaccination campaigns have already begun, and COVID shots are arriving. Patients are asking their doctors what they should do, and the medical community must provide clear answers.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Vaccine Policy in the U.S.
The current federal vacuum is not isolated to fall vaccines. Earlier this year, a dispute over state vaccine mandates led to a public spat between Secretary Kennedy and the governor of Pennsylvania regarding national measles cases. These conflicts signal a broader erosion of the CDC's authority and the traditional immunization schedule.
Public health experts worry that without a functioning ACIP, states may set divergent vaccine policies, creating inequality in access to recommended shots. Insurance companies might also hesitate to cover vaccines without federal mandates, potentially leading to out-of-pocket costs for patients.
The medical groups' initiative could serve as a template for future public health crises. If the federal process remains disrupted, we may see more joint recommendations from professional organizations, effectively decentralizing vaccine policy. While this fills an immediate gap, it also raises questions about long-term sustainability and the need for a permanent advisory body.
Dr. Gellin acknowledged this concern, stating that VIP is intended as an "interim" measure. However, with no clear timeline for ACIP's restoration, the current arrangement might become the new norm. For now, the message from leading U.S. doctors is straightforward: get your flu shot, stay up to date on COVID-19, and discuss RSV vaccination with your physician.
As the respiratory virus season begins, patients are advised to consult the recommendations from these trusted medical societies and visit SpreadTheFacts.org for detailed evidence. For those seeking more specific guidance on timing and the new mRNA flu vaccine, our flu shots 2026 guide offers expert tips. In the meantime, the medical community is doing its best to ensure that scientific evidence remains the cornerstone of vaccine policy, despite the ongoing federal disruption.
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