Search
Sign Up
Communication Tools

Communicating About COVID-19 Vaccination in 2026-27

Last Updated: September 11, 2026

Updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2026-27 season are now available in all U.S. states, territories, and freely associated states. Use the key messages below to communicate about who should get these vaccines, how to access them, and why they’re essential for individual and community health. These messages will be updated as new guidance from medical associations becomes available. 

Communicating About COVID-19 Vaccination in 2026-27 references guidance from medical associations, including the  American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) as expert sources.

Table of Contents

  1. Key Messages About the COVID-19 Vaccine 
  2. Vaccine Communication Best Practices 
  3. Sources

Key Messages About the COVID-19 Vaccine

About COVID-19 and the COVID-19 Vaccine 

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It infects the lungs and breathing passages, such as the nose, mouth, and throat. Anyone can get COVID-19, but some people are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 than others, including:  

  • People who are unvaccinated or not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations 
  • People age 65 years or older 
  • People with certain medical conditions 

COVID-19 can cause mild to severe respiratory illness, including dry cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, diarrhea, head and body aches, and loss of taste and/or smell.

A person with COVID-19 can spread the virus when they cough, sneeze, or speak with others from a close distance. Less commonly, you can also catch COVID-19 if you touch a surface contaminated with the virus and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

COVID-19 is more likely to spread in poorly ventilated areas and crowded indoor settings.  

Who Should Get the 2026-27 COVID-19 Vaccine 

New variants of the virus that cause COVID-19 emerge each year, and scientists work to develop a vaccine that offers the best possible protection against these new strains. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four updated 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccines for use against circulating strains of the virus. Getting the updated 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine remains the best way to prevent severe COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization, and death.   

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccination as the best way to protect against severe illness.

COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Specific Groups 

Medical societies recommend that everyone ages 6 months and older should get the annual updated COVID-19 vaccine, with specific recommendations for certain groups:

  • All infants and children ages 6 months and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. AAP recommends the vaccine for all children ages 6 to 23 months and for all children ages 2 to 18 years who are at increased risk for severe illness. Children ages 2 to 18 years who are not at increased risk for severe illness can also receive the COVID-19 vaccine in consultation with a healthcare professional.
  • All pregnant people should get the COVID-19 vaccine. It is safe to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at any point during your pregnancy. 
  • Everyone ages 6 months and older with compromised immune systems should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. An additional dose may provide longer protection for some people. Discuss options with your healthcare professional, based on individual risk and local COVID-19 activity.
  • Adults ages 65 years and older should receive a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after the initial dose to help maintain protection.

Why Getting an Updated COVID-19 Vaccine is Essential to Staying Healthy 

COVID-19 continues to evolve and spread.  

Each year, new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 emerge. Updated vaccines are designed to provide protection against these new strains.  

COVID-19 cases often surge during respiratory virus season, which spans November through April. Getting an updated vaccine helps ensure protection during times of increased spread.

Protection from the vaccine decreases over time.  

Research suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine provides the strongest protection against COVID-19 during the first three months after vaccination and against severe disease for up to six months. Getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine helps provide the strongest protection against the virus over time.  

The vaccine is the best way to prevent severe illness.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide meaningful protection against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Benefits were evident across age groups and were particularly important for people at increased risk of severe disease.

COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness 

COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

Vaccines in the United States are constantly monitored for safety and benefits. Ongoing research studies identified no new safety concerns for COVID-19 vaccines. Since 2020, over 675 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the United States, and over 80% of the U.S. population has had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

As with all vaccines administered to the public, the COVID-19 vaccines have successfully met the following safety and effectiveness measures: 

  • Lab development
  • Three phases of clinical trials
  • Assessment of clinical trial results by the FDA
  • Rigorous review of available research and trial results by U.S. medical associations
  • Development and approval of vaccine recommendations from U.S. medical associations

Since the vaccines were first distributed, many systems continue to monitor and track outcomes from COVID-19 vaccines to ensure their safety and effectiveness. 

COVID-19 vaccines remain the most effective way to protect children, adults, and pregnant people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19. 

Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine: When, Where, and Other Considerations

  • When
    • Public health departments recommend getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes available. Updates to the COVID-19 vaccine are typically made during the respiratory virus season (October to May), but they may also be updated as new variants emerge. 
    • COVID-19 vaccines can be administered at the same time as flu vaccines for convenience. There is no evidence that getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time increases the risk of severe side effects or reduces the efficacy of either. 
  • Where
    • Everyone ages 6 months and older should be able to access the COVID-19 vaccine from a physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. Individuals should check with their pharmacy or healthcare professional before scheduling a vaccine appointment, as policies may vary by state. 
    • Some states may require shared decision-making before a person can receive the vaccine. Shared decision-making, also known as individual decision-making, is a conversation between a patient and a healthcare professional to help inform treatment plans. Healthcare professionals, such as physicians and pharmacists, can answer questions about COVID-19 vaccination. Shared decision-making does not require booking an additional health appointment. These conversations can happen at the vaccine appointment. 
    • The COVID-19 vaccine is available at pharmacies, health clinics, and doctors’ offices. People can typically book a vaccine appointment in advance, or some clinics and pharmacies allow walk-ins without an appointment. 
  • Cost

Vaccine Communication Best Practices

Understand your audience.  

The more you know about your audience, the more effectively you can provide useful, relevant information. When crafting vaccine messaging, start by answering the following: 

  • Which demographics have the highest or lowest vaccination rates? What messages and/or support do these groups need? 
  • What do I know about my community’s feelings about COVID-19 vaccines? How have their perceptions changed in recent years and in relation to other public health issues? 
  • What communications channels does my audience use and where are they most likely to access vaccine information?

    Encourage people to make informed choices.  

    • Support the spread of good information and build trust among your community.
      • Suggest that your community members seek guidance from their local health departments and healthcare professionals if they have questions about vaccination. 
      • When sharing information, think broadly about who among your audience would be considered “trusted messengers” or credible sources.
      • Balance positive, encouraging language with realistic, scientific language to clearly communicate the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing severe illness.   
      • Use consistent and accurate language. For example, vaccine, inoculation, and immunization have similar meanings but are not identical. 
      • Give people more information about the process of getting a vaccine, including if and when they need to make an appointment and details about insurance coverage.

    Showcase the scientific rigor behind vaccines.  

    • In general, concerns about vaccines are often rooted in fear of the unknown and misleading claims about the approval process for vaccines. Discuss the details of vaccine development to debunk myths while addressing FAQs.  

    Highlight vaccines’ ability to reduce disease spread and serious illness. 

    • Share plain language information about the effectiveness of vaccines.
      • Communicate about how COVID-19 vaccines have significantly reduced deaths and severe illness since they became available. 
      • Use social media content that educates followers about the benefits of vaccination.
      • Highlight personal stories of vaccination that have impacted your community’s health.

    Sources

    Related Communication Tools

    Communicating About Vaccination During Pregnancy

    What to Know About Changes to Federal Vaccine Recommendations as of March 2026

    Communicating About Vaccine-Related Side Effects

    Better communication for better health.

    The Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) was developed in response to the urgent need for timely, relevant, and practical tools, messaging, and training to support and enhance the communications capacity of public health professionals across the country.

    About