The consequential changes to the vaccine recommendations process that have occurred since June 2025 have left the public and providers confused over which recommendations to follow. Some federal recommendations are not supported by scientific evidence. Likewise, the process has not followed the historically rigorous approach of using the Evidence to Recommendations (EtR) framework, long regarded as a comprehensive and rational methodology for creating immunization recommendations. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has not met in 2026, and, at this time its future makeup and processes remain unclear.
Professional societies as well as data review committees convened by the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) have responded. VIP committees have completed several extensive evidence reviews with an emphasis on vaccine safety and effectiveness, which have been shared with expert committees in the professional societies to inform evidence-based recommendations. While this collaborative work between VIP and professional societies is critical at this juncture, some clinicians have expressed the challenges of trying to understand which guidance to follow for which patients.
It has taken time for the various groups of stakeholders to develop methods and come together in the absence of historically strong federal leadership, but we are now seeing a synergistic approach.
The Summit Adult Vaccine Recommendations (SAVRR) Council
Because different groups of clinical specialists care for adults with various health-related conditions, several professional societies represent these clinicians. The Summit Adult Vaccine Recommendations (SAVRR) Council has been organized to harmonize adult vaccine recommendations. SAVRR is composed of voting members and observers who meet to discuss differences across adult vaccine recommendations, highlight recommendations gaps, and suggest opportunities for improved alignment, particularly related to implementation of recommendations. While it is composed of over 25 groups, including medical societies, immunization advocacy groups and non-profits, three societies will provide guidance for adults this respiratory season:
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) will release recommendations for the 2026-27 season for pregnant patients.
- The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) provides recommendations for immunocompromised patients, with the most recent guidance already released.
- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) will release recommendations for all other healthy adults for the 2026-27 viral season.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will continue to publish recommendations for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV immunizations for those up to 18 years of age.
Accessing guidance for respiratory viral season
While the immunization schedules are available on each society’s website, the central location for finding all schedules in one place is Immunize.org’s “Healthcare Professional Organizations (HPOs)” page. In addition to having immunization schedules, providers can search for vaccine-specific recommendations for COVID-19, influenza and RSV. Immunize.org will continue to update this page as seasonal respiratory guidance becomes available.
Additional resources
For clinicians looking for more information related to vaccine recommendations, such as position statements and recommendations for other diseases, the Vaccine Education Center will continue to catalogue documents, highlighting key aspects of new information, on our “Locating the Latest Science-Based Vaccine Recommendations” webpage. If you see missing updates or are aware of other resources, please contact us.
Contributed by: Lori Handy, MD, MSCE , Charlotte A. Moser, MS
The consequential changes to the vaccine recommendations process that have occurred since June 2025 have left the public and providers confused over which recommendations to follow. Some federal recommendations are not supported by scientific evidence. Likewise, the process has not followed the historically rigorous approach of using the Evidence to Recommendations (EtR) framework, long regarded as a comprehensive and rational methodology for creating immunization recommendations. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has not met in 2026, and, at this time its future makeup and processes remain unclear.
Professional societies as well as data review committees convened by the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) have responded. VIP committees have completed several extensive evidence reviews with an emphasis on vaccine safety and effectiveness, which have been shared with expert committees in the professional societies to inform evidence-based recommendations. While this collaborative work between VIP and professional societies is critical at this juncture, some clinicians have expressed the challenges of trying to understand which guidance to follow for which patients.
It has taken time for the various groups of stakeholders to develop methods and come together in the absence of historically strong federal leadership, but we are now seeing a synergistic approach.
The Summit Adult Vaccine Recommendations (SAVRR) Council
Because different groups of clinical specialists care for adults with various health-related conditions, several professional societies represent these clinicians. The Summit Adult Vaccine Recommendations (SAVRR) Council has been organized to harmonize adult vaccine recommendations. SAVRR is composed of voting members and observers who meet to discuss differences across adult vaccine recommendations, highlight recommendations gaps, and suggest opportunities for improved alignment, particularly related to implementation of recommendations. While it is composed of over 25 groups, including medical societies, immunization advocacy groups and non-profits, three societies will provide guidance for adults this respiratory season:
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) will release recommendations for the 2026-27 season for pregnant patients.
- The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) provides recommendations for immunocompromised patients, with the most recent guidance already released.
- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) will release recommendations for all other healthy adults for the 2026-27 viral season.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will continue to publish recommendations for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV immunizations for those up to 18 years of age.
Accessing guidance for respiratory viral season
While the immunization schedules are available on each society’s website, the central location for finding all schedules in one place is Immunize.org’s “Healthcare Professional Organizations (HPOs)” page. In addition to having immunization schedules, providers can search for vaccine-specific recommendations for COVID-19, influenza and RSV. Immunize.org will continue to update this page as seasonal respiratory guidance becomes available.
Additional resources
For clinicians looking for more information related to vaccine recommendations, such as position statements and recommendations for other diseases, the Vaccine Education Center will continue to catalogue documents, highlighting key aspects of new information, on our “Locating the Latest Science-Based Vaccine Recommendations” webpage. If you see missing updates or are aware of other resources, please contact us.
Contributed by: Lori Handy, MD, MSCE , Charlotte A. Moser, MS