Creator: Patrick Connole
Here it Comes! CDC Preps for Flu Season
The CDC is prepping for the flu season and is recommending vaccinations take place as early as this month and in October. Find out the details here.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sept. 8 released its Interim Guidance for the 2026-27 Flu Season, which includes a recommendation for people to get their annual flu vaccinations, ideally in September or October.
CDC said the clinical considerations provide guidance for healthcare professionals and public health officials concerning the use of seasonal influenza vaccines in the U.S.
The agency said the recommendations are informed by:
Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and CDC.1
Influenza vaccine licensure by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).2
CDC said there are three types of influenza vaccines licensed and currently available. All vaccine types are designed to promote production of antibodies to influenza virus surface antigen, hemagglutinin (HA):
Inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV3s) contain inactivated influenza viruses. These include:
Standard-dose unadjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccines grown either in eggs or cell culture.
Egg-based vaccines include:Cell-based vaccines include:
High-dose unadjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV3), Fluzone High-Dose, is approved for ages ≥65 years and is egg-based.8
Adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV3), FLUAD, is approved for ages ≥65 years and is egg-based.9
Recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV3), Flublok, contains HA antigens that have been produced using recombinant technology, and is approved for ages ≥9 years.10
Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV3), FluMist, contains live attenuated influenza viruses. It is approved for ages 2 through 49 years and is egg-based.11
The guidance has details on dosage and timing of vaccinations as well.
Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.
