CDC Publishes ACIP Influenza Vaccination Recommendations for 2025 – 2026 Influenza Season
(Oct. 3, 2025) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' influenza vaccination recommendations for the 2025 – 2026 influenza season. Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged six months and older who do not have a contraindication to vaccination. For most persons who require only one dose of influenza vaccine for the season, vaccination should be offered during September or October. However, vaccination should continue after October and throughout the influenza season. Various influenza vaccines are available for the 2025–26 influenza season. ACIP recommendations for vaccine selection include the following:
- Individuals aged 18 years and children younger than 18 years, pregnant women and all adults should receive single-dose formulations of seasonal influenza vaccination free of thimerosal.
- All persons should receive an influenza vaccination approved for their age, except solid organ transplant recipients aged 18 years through 64 years who are taking immunosuppressive medications, who may receive either the trivalent high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV3) or the trivalent adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV3).
- For adults aged 65 years and older, ACIP recommends high-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccine (HDIIV3, RIV3, or aIIV3). If any of the three recommended formulations is not available at the time of vaccination, ACIP recommends any other available age-approved formulation be used.
- Trivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV3) is not recommended for pregnant women, immunocompromised patients, individuals with certain medical conditions, or individuals who are receiving, are about to receive, or who have recently received influenza antiviral medication.
- LAIV3 should not be used in individuals under the age of two years or over the age of 49 years.
More detailed information regarding influenza vaccine recommendations and dosing can be found in the Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2025–26 Influenza Season in the Aug. 28 MMWR.
--Karen Braman