WASHINGTON — New recommendations for the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines have been issued by U.S. health agencies and organizations as the country prepares for the upcoming respiratory virus season. The guidance offers direction for different age groups and risk levels, though some recommendations differ among the leading health bodies.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that most adults ages 18 and older should receive a 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine. This includes individuals who have been previously vaccinated or have had a prior COVID-19 infection, according to a CDC statement. The updated vaccines, which target the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant, are intended to provide better protection against the strains currently causing most infections and hospitalizations in the United States.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved and authorized updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, which are formulated to target the Omicron KP.2 strain. According to a Pfizer press release, the new formulation is based on FDA guidance for the 2025-2026 fall and winter season. The FDA stated that these updated vaccines “provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.”
While there is broad consensus for vaccination among high-risk groups, some guidance for children has diverged. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released new guidelines that differ from the current CDC recommendations. The AAP strongly recommends COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years, stating that this age group faces the highest risk for severe COVID-19 illness. This contrasts with recent federal guidance, which states that COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children should be determined through “shared clinical decision-making,” as reported by The Associated Press.
Health experts, including Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, recommend getting the vaccine in the mid-to-late fall to ensure protection lasts through the entire winter season, according to an AARP report. It typically takes about two weeks for the vaccine to become effective.
