Medical Societies Unite on Flu, RSV and COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance
Four medical organizations endorse evidence-based immunization recommendations to help clinicians navigate changing national vaccine guidance and protect high-risk patients
A coalition of four leading medical organizations has endorsed evidence-based influenza, RSV and COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for adults and children, aiming to provide clinicians with consistent guidance amid changes in national immunization policies.
The Vaccine Guidance Review Panel includes the American Thoracic Society (ATS), American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM).
The organizations unanimously endorsed the vaccine development process and recommendations established by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Infectious Diseases Society of America.
The panel’s guidance aligns with Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations issued before June 2025, responding to changes in federal vaccine advisory processes that raised concerns among medical organizations about consistency and evidence-based decision-making.
The effort is intended to help clinicians, particularly those treating patients with chronic or serious respiratory conditions, make informed vaccination decisions ahead of the respiratory virus season.
“Clinicians and their patients with serious lung disease should not have to navigate a labyrinth of confusion,” said ATS President Michelle Ng Gong, MD, ATSF, emphasizing the importance of clear, evidence-based recommendations for patients at higher risk of severe illness.
Leaders from AAAAI, CHEST and SCCM also stressed the importance of scientific evidence, preventive care and equitable access to vaccination.
The organizations said their collaboration will help strengthen clinician education and provide greater consistency in vaccine guidance for patients vulnerable to respiratory infections.
