CDC Updates COVID-19, Influenza Vaccine Recommendations for 2024-2025 Respiratory Virus Season

Individuals 6 months and older should receive updated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday.¹

The announcement came after the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously 11-0 for the updated recommendations during their June 26-28, 2024, meeting. The CDC director adopted both sets of recommendations on June 27, 2024.

Per the ACIP vote, the CDC now recommends everyone aged 6 months and older receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, whether they have ever previously been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 or not. Updated vaccines, reflecting the SARS-CoV-2 variants responsible for most infections and hospitalizations, will be available from Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer later this year, which is when the recommendation will take effect, the CDC noted in the press release.¹

The agency also reaffirmed that everyone aged 6 months and older should receive an updated 2024-2025 influenza vaccine, with rare exceptions. All influenza vaccines for the 2024-2025 season will be trivalent, and will protect against an H1N1, H3N2, and a B/Victoria lineage virus. The composition of this season's vaccine compared with last season's has also been updated with a new influenza A(H3N2) virus.¹ In addition, the ACIP voted unanimously to recommend high-dose inactivated (HD-IIV3) and adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccines as options for solid organ transplant recipients 18 to 64 years who are receiving immunosuppressive medication regimens, without a preference over another age-appropriate IIV3 or RIV3.²

September and October are traditionally the best time for the influenza vaccination, the CDC said. For some groups, however, the agency continues to recommend earlier vaccination, in July and August¹:

• Pregnant individuals in the third trimester, to protect infants from flu after birth before they are eligible for vaccination (avoid vaccination in the first and second trimesters)
• Children who require 2 doses should receive a first dose as soon as vaccines become available and the second at least 4 weeks after the first.
• Children who have health care visits scheduled for July and August if another opportunity for vaccination is not likely.

The CDC advised clinicians to begin their influenza vaccination planning efforts now and vaccinate eligible patients as indicated once the updated influenza vaccines are available.¹

References:

1. CDC recommends updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 and flu vaccines for fall/winter virus season. News item. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 27, 2024. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-t0627-vaccine-recommendations.html

2. ACIP recommendations. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice. Updated June 28, 2024. Accessed June 28, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/recommendations.html