Locating the Latest Science-based Vaccine Recommendations
In June 2025, the composition of the committee that makes vaccine recommendations to the CDC, known as the ACIP, was dramatically changed, as were the processes by which these recommendations were made historically. The result has been recommendations not supported by the body of scientific evidence. The January 2025 immunization schedules are the last schedules available reflecting changes made using the Evidence to Recommendations (EtR) framework, long regarded as a comprehensive and rational methodology for creating immunization recommendations. The result has been a divergence of vaccine recommendations by professional societies composed of clinicians from those made by federal officials and the CDC. To assist clinicians in staying abreast of the latest science-based recommendations, we have developed a one-stop webpage that will be updated as recommendations change or as new statements become available.
On March 16, 2026, a federal court determined that the changes to immunization recommendations did not follow established procedures. Although the case is not over, the court determined that changes since Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was named Secretary of Health and Human Services must be stayed, meaning they should not be followed until the court case is decided. This included changes to COVID-19 recommendations and the childhood immunization schedule as well as all votes made by Mr. Kennedy’s hand-picked ACIP, such as the changes to the hepatitis B vaccine schedule. Dr. Paul Offit discussed this court decision in this video.
As many providers have been following the schedules and recommendations of professional societies during this time, this page continues to offer the latest information and science-based vaccine recommendations.
If you are looking for older information and statements, previously posted on this page, please check our “Science-based Vaccine Recommendations Archive” page.
Birth to 18 years of age
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has been producing immunization schedules based on the recommendations of its Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID) since the 1930s. The recommendations are published in the Red Book. Between 1995 and early 2025, the AAP and CDC schedules were harmonized. However, in August 2025, the AAP published a schedule that diverged from CDC, following a review of the latest science related to fall respiratory viruses in particular COVID-19. In December 2025, they continued to recommend universal hepatitis B vaccination of newborns, regardless of a mother’s hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) status. In January 2026, they continued to support the science-based schedule when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced changes to which vaccines are routinely recommended based on an internal, and nontransparent, review responding to an executive order to evaluate the schedule based on those of peer nations.
- Red Book
- Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule: United States, 2026: Policy Statement
- AAFP 2026 birth to 18-year-old schedule
Seasonal respiratory viruses: Recommendations and statements
- Recommendations for the Prevention of RSV Disease in Infants and Children: Policy Statement
- Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2025–2026: Policy Statement
- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has the same recommendations for children related to COVID-19, influenza and RSV.
- The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has released recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination of individuals who have impaired immune systems either due to their underlying disease (e.g., HIV, malignancy) or due to the medications they must take (e.g., solid organ transplant).
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released recommendations for vaccine use during pregnancy, including for several respiratory viruses.
Hepatitis B birth dose: Recommendations and statements
18 years and older
Recommendations vary for adults based on a variety of factors, such as age, occupation, and health status. The 2025 adult immunization schedule published in January 2025 was changed in July 2025 to reflect a discontinuation of the recommendation for COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, as directed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). These changes circumvented the usual recommendation process and were not supported with the presentation of any existing or new science to support the change. Quite the opposite, pregnancy remains a high-risk condition for severe COVID-19. As a result, many scientists and clinicians, as well as professional societies representing several physician groups, disagreed with the changes. Notably, in October 2025, the CDC schedule was quietly changed to include COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy under shared clinical decision making (SCDM).
Because different groups of clinical specialists care for adults with various health-related conditions, several professional societies represent these clinicians. In this section, you will find links to recommendations or statements from these groups, organized by vaccine. If you do not see a vaccine listed, no statements regarding changes to the ACIP’s recommendations originally published in January 2025 on the adult immunization schedule have been made. The originally approved and published 2025 adult schedule is available on the American College of Physicians (ACP) website.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has posted a 2026 version of the adult immunization schedule, along with a statement that they no longer endorse the CDC’s adult schedule. See the AAFP’s online schedule.
In February 2026, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released recommendations for providers caring for pregnant patients. See ACOG’s “Maternal Immunizations” recommendations.
COVID-19
| Source of guidance, date published | Population impacted | Summary recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnant and lactating individuals | Recommends use of COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant and lactating individuals. Reconfirmed in February 2026 “Maternal Immunizations” recommendations. | |
| ACC, August 2025 | Individuals with heart disease | Primary series and 2024-2025 vaccine for persons 6 months of age and older. |
| AAFP, September 2025 | All adults | Recommends use of COVID-19 vaccine for all adults, particularly those 65 years and older, those with conditions that increase their risk of severe disease, and those who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine. They also recommend use anytime during pregnancy and during lactation. |
| IDSA, October 2025 | These recommendations address patients who have a hematologic malignancy, primary immunodeficiency, autoimmune disease treated with immunosuppressants or biologics, or HIV with severe immunosuppression (CD4 <15% or <200/mm³), as well as patients who are recipients of solid organ transplants (SOT), hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T), or solid-tumor chemotherapy. | Strongly recommends administering age-appropriate 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine to these patients. Refer to table 1 of the recommendations for timing based on risk group. |
Abbreviations: ACOG, American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians; ACC, American College of Cardiology; AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; IDSA, Infectious Diseases Society of America
Influenza
| Source of guidance, date published | Population impacted | Summary recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnant and lactating individuals | Recommends use of influenza vaccine among all individuals who will be pregnant during influenza season. Nasal spray vaccine is not approved for use during pregnancy. Reconfirmed in February 2026 “Maternal Immunizations” recommendations. | |
| ACC, August 2025 | Individuals with heart disease | Annual for persons aged >6 months; nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for patients aged 50 years of age and older. Specific vaccines are recommended for those aged 65 years of age and older. |
| AAFP, September 2025 | Everyone 6 months and older | Recommends use of age-appropriate version of influenza vaccine for everyone 6 months and older who does not have medical contraindications. |
| IDSA, November 2025 | Adults and children with compromised immunity, including solid organ transplant, hematologic malignancy, HCT/CART-T, solid tumor chemotherapy, primary immunodeficiency, autoimmune immunosuppression, and HIV | Strongly recommends administering age-appropriate 2025-2026 Influenza vaccinations. Refer to table 3 of the recommendations for timing based on risk group. |
Abbreviations: ACOG, American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians; ACC, American College of Cardiology; AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; IDSA, Infectious Diseases Society of America
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
| Source of guidance, date published | Population impacted | Summary recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnant and lactating individuals | Provides guidance for the use of RSV vaccine during pregnancy for the prevention of severe RSV disease in young infants. Reconfirmed in February 2026 “Maternal Immunizations” recommendations. | |
| ACC, August 2025 | Individuals with heart disease | One-time vaccination for adults 50 years of age and older. |
| AAFP, September 2025 | Certain adults | One dose of RSV vaccine is recommended for adults 75 years and older, those 50-74 years of age at increased risk. During pregnancy: One dose of Abrysvo if 32-36 weeks of gestation occurs between September and January. |
| IDSA, November 2025 | Adults and adolescents with compromised immunity, including solid organ transplant, hematologic malignancy, HCT/CAR-T, solid tumor chemotherapy, primary immunodeficiency, autoimmune immunosuppression, and HIV | Strongly recommends administering age-appropriate 2025-2026 RSV vaccinations. Refer to table 5 of the recommendations for timing based on risk group. |
| ACP, March 2026 | Adults aged 18 years or older who are not pregnant or immunocompromised | Practice point 1: Adults aged 75 years or older should receive a protein subunit RSV vaccine. Practice point 2: Adults aged 60 to 74 years who are at increased risk for severe RSV may consider receiving a protein subunit RSV vaccine. These practice points were informed by a rapid review analysis. |
Abbreviations: ACOG, American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians; ACC, American College of Cardiology; AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; IDSA, Infectious Diseases Society of America; ACP, American College of Physicians
Shared Clinical Decision Making (SCDM) resources
- Shared Clinical Decision Making for Vaccines, Champions for Vaccine Education, Equity and Progress (CVEEP)
- Shared Clinical Decision-Making Guide on Vaccines for Clinicians, Common Health Coalition
- News & Views — Shared Clinical Decision-Making: What It Is and Why It Matters, Vaccine Education Center at CHOP
Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) datasets
The Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) has brought together groups of scientists and clinicians to ensure that the latest science is used to inform vaccine recommendations and guidance in the U.S. They are working with professional societies and insurers, and they have committed to working in a transparent and science-based manner.
VIP Evidence Reviews
VIP has a landing page to easily access their evidence reviews.
2026-2027 influenza vaccine evidence review
Evidence reviews are currently being completed for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV in preparation for the 2026-2027 season. The protocols and a press release describing this work are available on the VIP website.
HPV vaccine effectiveness evidence review, released May 5, 2026
Tdap in pregnancy evidence review, released May 13, 2026
About VIP
VIP continues to review relevant vaccine data and provide it for use by professional societies making recommendations and for review by the public.
Additional resources
Many groups are working to ensure that clinicians and families have access to the latest, and seemingly ever-changing, information about vaccines. This section of the webpage includes links to other organizations and resources that you may find helpful. If you know of other resources, please contact us.
- Common Health Coalition is providing “a coordinated response that better serves patients and communities.” Their “Vaccine Response” page includes a variety of resources related to vaccines.
- American Families for Vaccines, formerly SAFE Communities Coalition, tracks state and federal policy changes related to vaccines.
- Infectious Disease Prevention Network (IDPN) is another advocacy organization that is tracking state and local policy changes related to vaccines.
- Navigating Conflicting Vaccination Recommendations: Guidance for Clinicians, JAMA, 2026.
- Association of Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) statement related to covering costs of vaccines, May, 2026.
Reviewed by Paul A. Offit, MD, on May 28, 2026