US Medical Groups Publish Independent Vaccine Guidance Amid Federal Policy Shifts

A coalition of prominent United States medical organizations has published independent vaccination recommendations for major respiratory illnesses to address a guidance void left by federal public health changes. Released on Wednesday, the advice covers immunizations against influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ahead of the upcoming autumn and winter virus season.

Coalition Issues Independent Guidance

The coalition, which includes the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, released recommendations tailored to specific age groups and health conditions, such as pregnancy. The medical groups stated that current scientific evidence demonstrates these immunizations continue to offer “meaningful protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death.”

Under the coalition’s advice, everyone aged six months and older should receive an annual influenza vaccine. The groups also recommend updated COVID-19 vaccines for healthy adults, young children, and pregnant women, as well as RSV protection for older adults, pregnant women, and infants under eight months of age.

Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, president-elect of the AMA, stated during a news conference that patients need advice that is “clear, credible, and based on the best available scientific evidence” to make health decisions. She added that the coalition published its independent review online to ensure the public receives “clear, consistent, science-based guidance even while the federal process is in flux.”

Federal Policy Changes and Legal Disputes

Seasonal immunization advice in the United States has historically been provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) based on recommendations from its independent advisory panel. However, the administration of President Donald Trump initiated significant rollbacks of long-standing vaccine policies starting last year.

These policy shifts included withdrawing recommendations for routine newborn hepatitis B vaccinations and COVID-19 shots for individuals older than six months. The measures, advanced under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., were opposed by major medical organizations that characterized them as contrary to established scientific consensus.

In March, a federal judge suspended many of the administration’s public health orders, ruling that federal officials had disregarded science-based methods. The legal challenge disrupted the work of the CDC’s expert advisory panel. As a result, the federal government issued guidance this year only for influenza, extending its recommendations from the previous year without updating advice for other respiratory diseases.

Impact of Respiratory Illnesses

The guidance follows the 2025–2026 respiratory virus season in the United States, during which influenza caused the highest disease burden among the three conditions. CDC estimates indicate influenza resulted in 32 million to 52 million cases, 390,000 hospitalizations, and 24,000 deaths.

During the same period, COVID-19 accounted for an estimated 4.6 million to 12.9 million cases, between 140,000 and 240,000 hospitalizations, and 15,000 to 42,000 deaths. RSV caused between 2.8 million and 5.8 million outpatient visits, 170,000 to 340,000 hospitalizations, and up to 25,000 deaths.

According to preliminary federal data, the overall disease burden for both influenza and COVID-19 declined during the 2025–2026 season compared to the previous year, while RSV activity remained at similar levels.

Background

In the United States, public health recommendations regarding seasonal and routine immunizations are traditionally established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in consultation with independent expert advisory committees. While federal health guidance is not legally binding on individual citizens, it strongly influences state health regulations, healthcare provider practices, and insurance coverage policies across the country. Major medical associations frequently align their advice with the CDC, making joint independent guidance issued outside federal channels an uncommon response to shifting government policies.