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Communicating About Flu Vaccination in 2026-27

Last Updated: September 13, 2026

Updated flu 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. 

Communicating About Flu 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 on flu vaccinations.

Table of Contents

  1. Key Messages About the Flu Vaccine 
  2. Vaccine Communication Best Practices 
  3. Sources

Key Messages About the Flu Vaccine

About the Flu and the Flu Vaccine

The flu, also called influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness. It is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Flu symptoms can range from mild to severe and include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, chills, nausea, runny or stuffy nose, and head and body aches. The flu spreads at a high rate between October and May: the time of year often called flu season or respiratory virus season. 

Each year, new flu variants emerge, and scientists work to develop a flu vaccine that offers the best possible protection against these new strains. Getting the flu vaccine remains the best way to prevent severe flu symptoms, hospitalization, and death.  

Some people report mild side effects after receiving a flu vaccine, such as headaches, muscle pain, fever, tiredness, and swelling at the injection site. Even though you might experience side effects, they are typically mild and resolve within 24-48 hours. The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu. 

Who Should Get the 2026-27 Flu Vaccine 

  • The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend that everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccine to protect against severe infection. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recommends a flu vaccine for everyone with a compromised immune system, ages 6 months and older. 
  • While getting vaccinated in early fall is recommended, vaccination at any time during flu season, typically between October and May, can prevent severe flu-related illness. 
  • Children between the ages of 6 months and 8 years should get two doses of the flu vaccine if this is their first time being vaccinated against the flu or if they have only ever received one dose. They should get the second dose four weeks after the first. 
  • People who live with or care for children, especially those younger than 6 months, should get a flu vaccine to help protect this high-risk group.  
  • Pregnant people should get a flu vaccine to protect themselves and their babies from the flu. Pregnant people can get the flu vaccine at any time during their pregnancy, but it is best to get the vaccine early in the flu season, which runs from October through May. People who are pregnant and have a medical condition that increases their risk of flu complications should consider getting vaccinated before flu season begins, typically in September.
    • Pregnancy is an important time to stay protected from respiratory viruses. Flu can lead to serious illness during pregnancy, but vaccination can help protect both pregnant people and their babies.

On August 5, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the United States’ first flu vaccine that uses mRNA technology: mFlusiva, manufactured by Moderna. This vaccine is approved for use for adults ages 50 and older. The vaccine is expected to be available for the 2026-27 respiratory virus season.

Why Getting an Updated Flu Vaccine is Essential to Staying Healthy 

The flu is highly contagious and potentially fatal. 

Seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness studies show that flu vaccination, on average, reduces the risk of serious illness by 40% to 60%.  

Vaccines activate the body’s immune response against the flu virus, which provides protection from severe respiratory illness. Vaccination is especially important in the fall and winter when the number of flu cases spikes.

Flu vaccines can prevent infection, reduce the severity of illness, and save the lives of adults and children.  

Flu Vaccine Research and Development

For generations, flu vaccines have gone through a rigorous scientific process for development and are thoroughly tested for their safety and benefits.  Flu vaccines are constantly monitored, from the early stages of research to their public release, and beyond.

Getting the Flu Vaccine: When, Where, and Other Considerations

  • When
    • Public health departments recommend getting a flu vaccine every fall. While people can get the vaccine at any time during flu season (October to May), it is most effective when received before the flu begins to circulate. Protection may decrease over time, and flu activity typically peaks between December and February.
    • Flu vaccines can be administered at the same time as COVID-19 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
    • The flu 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. 
    • FluMist, a self-administered nasal spray flu vaccine, is available for online order and home delivery. FluMist is FDA-approved for home use by adults ages 18 to 49 years. Caregivers of children can also administer FluMist to children ages 2 to 17 years. It is not recommended for pregnant people, people with compromised immune systems, or people with certain underlying health conditions — such as lung disease, heart disease (except isolated hypertension), kidney or liver disorders, certain neurologic/neuromuscular disorders, or metabolic disorders (like diabetes). Anyone who is interested in this at-home flu vaccination option should talk to a healthcare professional first.  
  • Cost
    • Nearly all public and private insurance plans fully cover the flu vaccine, making it free as part of preventative care. For adults who do not have insurance, free or low-cost flu vaccine options may be available. Talk to a local pharmacist or a healthcare professional, or check with a local health department about free or low-cost options. 

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 flu 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 flu 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 COVID-19 Vaccination in 2026-27

Communicating the Difference Between Vaccines and Immunizations 

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.

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