Experts clarify flu, COVID, RSV vaccine guidance: What to know

• Four of the top medical groups in the United States — the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) — have issued consolidated guidelines on vaccinations for common respiratory infections.
• The guidelines refer to flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines for children and adults ahead of respiratory viral infection season.
• A pediatrician explains what this new resource does for the American public.

On September 2, 2026, four top United States medical groups — the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) — issued consolidated guidelines on vaccinations for common respiratory infections.

They launched SpreadTheFacts, a resource for doctors and patients, listing recommendations for seasonal COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection vaccines for all age groups.

Speaking to Medical News Today, Graham Tse, MD, pediatrician and chief medical officer of MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach, CA, noted that this resource was very timely:

“I think SpreadTheFacts is particularly timely because we are heading into respiratory virus season, when influenza, COVID-19, and RSV can place a significant burden on children, families, and the healthcare system.”

Tse emphasized the need for “clear, trustworthy information about which vaccines and immunizations are recommended and why,” adding that “having a centralized resource that brings together the latest evidence and recommendations from leading medical organizations can help patients and physicians have more informed conversations about prevention.”