A thoughtful review of your vaccines is one way to protect your health this fall and winter.
Vaccination is not one-size-fits-all. The right vaccines and the right timing depend on your age, health conditions, previous vaccinations, medications, pregnancy status, travel plans, and other individual factors.
Here are some of the vaccines worth reviewing this fall.
The Seasonal Vaccines
Flu Vaccine
The 2026–2027 flu vaccines have been updated to protect against the influenza viruses expected to circulate this season. All three components of the U.S. seasonal flu vaccines were updated compared with last season.
When is the best time to get your flu shot?
For most adults, September or October is the ideal time to receive the flu vaccine. It is recommended that most people be vaccinated by the end of October.
Why not get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine becomes available in July or August?
Flu season typically begins in the fall and often reaches its highest levels later in the winter. Protection from vaccination can gradually decrease over time, so getting vaccinated too early may mean that immunity has waned somewhat by the time influenza activity is at its highest. This is particularly relevant for adults age 65 and older.
That said, if you haven’t been vaccinated by October, it is not too late. Vaccination later in the fall or winter can still provide important protection, and influenza activity can continue into the spring.
What about the high-dose flu vaccine?
For adults 65 and older, the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices preferentially recommend a higher-dose (Fluzone High-Dose), recombinant (Flublok), or adjuvanted (Fluad) influenza vaccine over a standard-dose vaccine. Studies suggest these vaccines may be more effective than standard-dose, unadjuvanted vaccines in adults 65 and older.
For adults younger than 65, a standard age-appropriate flu vaccine is generally appropriate unless there is another reason to choose a particular formulation.
COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 is still with us, and the virus continues to evolve. The 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccines have been updated to target a JN.1 lineage XFG variant and were approved by the FDA in August 2026.
The potential benefit of vaccination is particularly important for people at higher risk of severe COVID-19, including older adults and people with certain chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems.
As of September 2026, COVID-19 activity is elevated and increasing nationally, although overall hospitalization rates remain low.
COVID-19 has not disappeared, even though its impact on our healthcare system is very different from the earliest years of the pandemic. For many people, staying current with COVID-19 vaccination remains an important part of a thoughtful preventive-care plan.
Vaccines are one part of a larger preventive-care plan. We will discuss this at your Personalized Health Program Annual Physical. Please continue reading further for additional information on vaccines that may be relevant for your preventive healthcare.
Vaccines That Become Especially Important With Age
RSV Vaccine
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause serious respiratory illness, particularly in older adults and people with certain medical conditions.
The CDC currently recommends one dose of RSV vaccine for everyone age 75 and older and for adults ages 50–74 who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease. Risk factors include certain chronic heart or lung conditions, weakened immune systems, and living in a nursing home.
Unlike the flu vaccine, the RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine.
For eligible adults who have not yet received the vaccine, late summer and early fall, generally August through October are the preferred timing in most of the continental United States.
For pregnant women, a maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, is recommended during a specific window of pregnancy to help protect the newborn during the first months of life. Your obstetrician can help determine the appropriate timing.
Shingles Vaccine - Shingrix
Shingles can be extremely painful and can sometimes lead to long-lasting nerve pain and other complications.
Adults age 50 and older should receive the two-dose Shingrix series if they have not already completed it. Shingrix is also recommended for certain younger adults who are immunocompromised.
If you have already received one or both doses, we can review your vaccination history to determine whether you have completed the series.
Pneumococcal Vaccine
Pneumococcal bacteria can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, meningitis, and other serious infections.
A pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for all adults age 50 and older who have not previously received an appropriate pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Adults ages 19–49 with certain medical conditions or risk factors may also need vaccination.
Depending on your previous vaccination history, PCV20 or PCV21 (Capvaxive) may complete your pneumococcal vaccination, while some people may need a different schedule.
Measles: An Important Vaccine to Revisit
Measles is highly contagious, and recent U.S. outbreaks are a reminder that protection should not be assumed simply because measles was once considered uncommon in the United States.
As of September 17, 2026, the CDC had reported 3,471 confirmed measles cases in the United States, including cases in Maryland and Virginia.
The MMR vaccine remains the best protection against measles.
For adults born in 1957 or later, CDC recommendations depend on vaccination history and risk of exposure. Adults without evidence of immunity generally should have at least one documented dose of MMR, while certain groups, including healthcare personnel, international travelers, post-secondary students, close contacts of people who are immunocompromised, and people affected by certain outbreaks are recommended to have two doses at least 28 days apart.
What if you don’t remember whether you received the MMR vaccine?
We can review your vaccination records and other evidence of immunity. If documentation is unavailable, vaccination may be appropriate and in selected circumstances, a blood test for measles IgG can also be used to assess immunity.
MMR is a live vaccine, however, and it is not appropriate during pregnancy or for certain people with significant immune suppression.
Planning international travel?
Measles protection becomes particularly important when traveling internationally because measles continues to circulate widely around the world.
Other Vaccines That Protect Throughout Adulthood
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis - Tdap/Td
Adults should receive one Tdap vaccine if they have not previously received one as an adolescent or adult, followed by a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years.
Tdap is also recommended during every pregnancy to help protect the newborn from pertussis.
HPV Vaccine
HPV vaccination helps prevent several types of cancer.
Routine vaccination is recommended through age 26 for people who were not adequately vaccinated earlier. Adults ages 27–45 may benefit from vaccination based on shared clinical decision-making with their clinician.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Hepatitis B vaccination is routinely recommended for adults ages 19–59 who have not previously been vaccinated.
Adults age 60 and older with risk factors should be vaccinated. Adults 60 and older without known risk factors may also choose to receive Hepatitis B vaccination.
Some People Need a More Individualized Plan
Pregnancy, immune-system conditions, chronic diseases, medications, occupation, previous vaccinations, and international travel can all change which vaccines you need and when you should receive them.
For example, people with weakened immune systems may have specific influenza vaccine recommendations and should generally avoid the live nasal influenza vaccine. Some vaccines, including MMR, are live vaccines and are not appropriate during pregnancy or for certain people with significant immune suppression.
Other vaccines may also be appropriate depending on your individual circumstances, vaccination history, immunity, occupation, or travel plans. These may include hepatitis A, chickenpox (varicella), meningococcal, and polio vaccines.
Vaccine recommendations reviewed September 24, 2026. Recommendations may change as CDC, ACIP, and FDA guidance is updated and as new evidence becomes available. Vaccine decisions should be individualized based on your medical history and discussed with your healthcare clinician.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Adult Immunization Schedule and Vaccine Recommendations. CDC Adult Immunization Schedule
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Influenza (Flu) and RSV Vaccine Guidance. CDC Flu and RSV Guidance
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Measles and MMR Vaccine Recommendations. CDC Measles Vaccine Recommendations
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2026–2027 COVID-19 Vaccine Formula. FDA COVID-19 Vaccine Information
