Immunization Overview for Fall and Winter 2023-2024

For the first time ever, immunizations are available this fall and winter in the United States that can help protect against three major respiratory diseases: COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Immunization against these viruses remains the best protection for reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalizations, long-term health impacts, and death.

CDC’s immunization recommendations are developed based on the best available science after review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the CDC Director. Recommendations may vary based on age, pregnancy status, or medical conditions. These recommendations are summarized below, along with information about how people can get recommended immunizations.

Flu

Which products are available? Updated flu vaccines for 2023-2024 are available, including flu shots and a nasal spray flu vaccine. There are many flu vaccine options available this season.

Who should get a flu vaccine? Everyone aged six months and older should get an updated flu vaccine. People aged 65 and older should get a high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccine if available.

What are the benefits? Flu vaccines reduce the risk of flu illness, severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

Where can people find a flu vaccine? Visit https://www.vaccines.gov/.

More information: Prevent Seasonal Flu.

COVID-19

Which products are available? Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available for 2023-2024.

Who should receive these products? Everyone aged five years and older should get one dose of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date and protect against serious illness from COVID-19. Children aged six months to four years need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date, including at least one dose of the updated vaccine. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

What are the benefits? COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting people from serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19; they also reduce the risk of Long COVID.

Where can people find a COVID-19 vaccine? Visit www.vaccines.gov. There, you can also find providers that are participating in the Bridge Access Program, which provides no-cost COVID-19 vaccines to adults without insurance or whose insurance does not cover all costs.

More information: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

RSV

Which products are available? An RSV vaccine for older adults and pregnant people, and an RSV antibody immunization for babies.

Who should receive these products?

• Adults aged 60 and older should talk to their doctor about whether an RSV vaccine is appropriate for them.
• All babies should receive protection from a serious RSV illness using one of two options:
  • RSV vaccine for people who are 32-36 weeks pregnant, to protect their babies from severe RSV. This vaccine is usually given September through January.
  • RSV antibody immunization for all babies younger than 8 months who are born during or entering their first RSV season. A small number of children ages 8-19 months who have a high risk of severe RSV illness should get an immunization during their second RSV season.

What are the benefits? Immunization against RSV can help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death for infants, toddlers, and older adults – groups who are most at-risk.

Where can people find an RSV vaccine or immunization? Parents, expecting parents, and older adults should talk to their healthcare providers to see which product is appropriate and where they can access it.

More information: Update on RSV and New Vaccine Recommendation