[[link removed]]

A (SCIENTIFICALLY BASED) GUIDE TO FALL 2025 VACCINES  
[[link removed]]


 

Katelyn Jetelina
September 3, 2025
Your Local Epidemiologist
[[link removed]]


*
[[link removed]]
*
[[link removed]]
*
*
[[link removed]]

_ Vaccines are one of the best things you can do this fall and winter
to stay healthy and minimize disruption. Here is the Who, What and
When guide to vaccination against Covid-19, RSV and influenza in the
upcoming "flu season." _

,

 

This fall, we have vaccines for three fall respiratory viruses: flu,
RSV, and Covid-19. But keeping track of them isn’t easy. And for
Covid-19 in particular, the federal process is in disarray, creating a
rapidly shifting landscape that’s already affecting access. The good
news: clarity is the antidote to confusion. So here are the _what,
who_, and _when_ for each, informed by the most up-to-date science
and policy.

There are nuances to consider for those seeking maximum protection,
but ultimately, the best vaccine is the one you receive.

NOTE: Don’t miss the three resources for you at the end of this
email: a PDF summary (I know a lot of you are trusted messengers!
Print this out and share), webinar registration, and a form for you to
report if you’re having trouble finding or accessing vaccines.

SEASONAL INFLUENZA (FLU)

[[link removed]]

_WHAT_: The vaccine covers three strains
[[link removed]] of seasonal flu and
is offered by four
[[link removed]] pharmaceutical companies.
Selecting vaccine strains for rapidly changing viruses, like flu or
Covid-19, is both an art and a science, so the vaccine formula
doesn’t always align perfectly with the circulating virus. But on
average, flu vaccines reduce the risk of needing to go to the doctor
by 30% to 60%.

The vaccines are all very similar, and you won’t gain much from
shopping around. The nasal spray flu vaccine may work a bit better in
children. 
[[link removed]]A study
[[link removed]] suggested
that the adjuvanted flu vaccine (Fluad) might work better in older
adults.

_WHO_: Everyone 6 months and older. Special formulations provide
added protection for older adults. Children under 9 years old should
[[link removed]] receive two
shots, one month apart, for their first flu vaccination.

_WHEN_: Protection wanes throughout the season, so October is the best
time to get vaccinated. The complete list of timing recommendations
for specific populations (pregnant people, older adults, young
children) is available here
[[link removed]].

RSV VACCINE FOR OLDER ADULTS

[[link removed]]

_WHAT_: This season, there are three RSV vaccines: GSK, Pfizer, and
Moderna. There are pros and cons to each:

*
_GSK and Pfizer_ use traditional biotechnology (protein-based), which
was available last year, so we have lots of “real world” data
confirming safety and effectiveness. There is a small (but real) risk
of Guillain-Barre syndrome—the risk is about the same as with flu
vaccines.

*
_Moderna’s_ is an mRNA vaccine expected to become available this
season. It did not have a Guillain-Barre syndrome safety signal, but
protection wanes more quickly.

_WHO_: This is _NOT_ an annual vaccine—if you got one before, you
do not need one this year. Studies have shown that getting a second
dose doesn’t
[[link removed]] meaningfully
enhance protection so far. People ages 50 and older “may” get the
vaccine. Those over 75 years “should.”

_WHEN_: RSV vaccines show
[[link removed]] some
initial waning in the first few weeks after vaccination but then
stabilize at a high level of protection for more than one year, so
getting one now should protect you throughout the entire season (and
then some).

RSV VACCINE FOR PREGNANCY

[[link removed]]

_WHAT_: One vaccine is available: Pfizer’s ABRYSVO. Protection is
passed from the mother to the baby so the baby is protected in the
first 6 months of life, which is the riskiest time for severe RSV.
Thousands of pregnant women got it last year, confirming the safety
and high effectiveness (70-85%).

_WHO_: During 32-36 weeks of pregnancy

_WHEN_: September to January. This vaccine can be given simultaneously
with other routine vaccines for pregnancy (Tdap, Covid-19, and
flu). Some data
[[link removed]] show that
getting an RSV vaccine at the same time as Tdap may reduce the
antibody response to pertussis. So it may be worth considering getting
the Tdap vaccine a few weeks before, but there is no formal
recommendation.

RSV MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY FOR INFANTS

[[link removed]]

_WHAT_: Monoclonal antibodies are not a vaccine (i.e., it doesn’t
teach the body to make an immune response)—they are a preventive
medication (providing antibodies directly and proactively). Last
year’s real-world data showed that severe RSV in infants who
received monoclonal antibodies was drastically reduced; one study
[[link removed]] achieved
90% effectiveness. This is a game changer for babies! This year, there
are two options: nirsevimab or clesrovimab.

_WHO_: All infants under 8 months should get it for their first RSV
season, unless the mother received the RSV vaccine during pregnancy.
High-risk children between 8 months to 19 months should also get it.
If the mother got the RSV vaccine during pregnancy, getting a
monoclonal antibody is not recommended unless the infant is at very
high risk.

_WHEN_: Generally, as close to RSV season as possible, which is
typically between October and March. Protection holds up for at least
5 months.

COVID-19 VACCINE

(Note: This is a rapidly evolving situation. I answered the top 12
questions last week. Go here for more details
[[link removed]].
Below is a more general overview.)

[[link removed]]

_WHAT_: The fall Covid-19 vaccines have an updated formula targeting
JN.1 or LP.8.1, which are Omicron subvariants. We don’t know their
effectiveness in humans yet, but updated vaccines have consistently
provided ~30-60% additional protection against urgent care visits or
being hospitalized compared to people who didn’t get the vaccine in
the fall. We lack comprehensive studies on the prevention of infection
(or transmission), but previous studies estimate it to be around
20-30%.

Three vaccines are on the market:

*
Pfizer’s COMIRNATY Covid-19 vaccine for those 5 years and older

*
Moderna’s SPIKEVAX for those 6 months and older

*
Novavax’s NUVAXOVID for those 12 years and older

_WHO_: Professional organizations recommend the following:

*
KIDS: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends
[[link removed]] that _all_ children
under 2 years old get vaccinated, as well as high-risk children or
those living with someone who is high-risk. Notably, the guidance
includes permissive language that children not in the high-risk groups
“whose parent or guardian desires their protection from Covid-19”
should be offered a vaccine.

*
PREGNANT WOMEN: The American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends
[[link removed]] that
pregnant women receive the vaccine at any point during pregnancy, when
planning to become pregnant, in the postpartum period, or while
lactating.

*
ADULTS: The American College of Physicians (ACP) and the Infectious
Diseases Society of America (IDSA) have yet to provide recommendations
for adults and immunocompromised patients.

The FDA label has been restricted to individuals ages 65 and over and
those between 6 months and 64 years old with at least one condition
that puts them at high risk
[[link removed]] for
severe outcomes from Covid-19. High risk includes
[[link removed]] pregnancy,
those with diabetes, obesity, cancer, disabilities, or mental health
conditions. By some estimates, that covers nearly three-quarters of
U.S. adults. If you don’t fall into this category, you will have to
request a vaccine “off-label.”

_WHEN_: Due to federal disarray, some pharmacies
[[link removed]] have
temporarily stopped giving the vaccine altogether. If this is your
state, I’m hopeful this will be ironed out in a few weeks. Hang
tight. Last night, I was on PBS NewsHour breaking down the situation.

If you’re able to get them, here is ideal timing:

*
If you were _RECENTLY INFECTED,_ wait 4-6 months. It doesn’t hurt
if you get it earlier, but some research shows that waiting
[[link removed]] allows our
antibody factories to update
[[link removed]] more
effectively.

*
If you _WERE NOT RECENTLY INFECTED_, the timing is a tough call.
Either get it now—we are in the middle of a wave—or wait to
increase protection against the winter wave (which may be closer to
November).

BOTTOM LINE

Vaccines are one of the best things you can do this fall and winter to
stay healthy and minimize disruption. As always, for specific
questions or guidance, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider.

Love, YLE

RESOURCES

*
If you have trouble finding a vaccine and want to share your
story, fill out this YLE form.
[[link removed]] We
can’t help you find a store, but we would like to hear your story
and share it with others, if you’re comfortable with it.

*
For paid subscribers, we have two resources for you:

*
A WEBINAR will be held on September 22 at 10am PT to provide more
details and answer your questions on fall vaccines. Register below.

*
A PDF VERSION of the fall vaccine summary. Feel free to download,
print, distribute, or doodle on below! I will update if/when there are
changes (looking at you, Covid-19).

*
Register for the webinar HERE
[[link removed]] entitled: _ALL
ABOUT FALL VACCINES_. There are only 1,000 seats to reserve your spot
now; we consistently hit capacity. And yes, this will be recorded and
shared with paid subscribers afterwards.

*
PDF of Fall Vaccine options download below:

 2025 Fall Vaccines PDF 67KB ∙ PDF file
Download
[[link removed]]

_Your Local Epidemiologist
[[link removed]](YLE) is founded and operated
by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife, and mom of
two little girls. Dr. Jetelina is also a senior scientific consultant
to a number of non-profit organizations. YLE reaches over 340,000
people in over 132 countries with one goal: “Translate” the
ever-evolving public health science so that people will be
well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is
free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE
community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade
[[link removed]]._

 

* vaccinations
[[link removed]]
* vaccines
[[link removed]]
* RSV
[[link removed]]
* influenza
[[link removed]]

*
[[link removed]]
*
[[link removed]]
*
*
[[link removed]]

 

 

 

INTERPRET THE WORLD AND CHANGE IT

 

 

Submit via web
[[link removed]]

Submit via email
Frequently asked questions
[[link removed]]
Manage subscription
[[link removed]]
Visit xxxxxx.org
[[link removed]]

Twitter [[link removed]]

Facebook [[link removed]]

 




[link removed]

To unsubscribe, click the following link:
[link removed]