IDSA releases RSV and flu vaccine guidelines for people who are immunocompromised

The Infectious Diseases Society of America released new flu and RSV vaccination guidelines for adults and children who are immunocompromised. Experts in infectious diseases recommend that all adults and children who are immunocompromised receive an age-appropriate flu vaccine for the 2025-2026 season. All adults and adolescents who are immunocompromised should receive the RSV vaccine, and for children under the age of 18, parents and/or guardians should consult their children’s health care providers.  

The panel noted that live-attenuated flu vaccines, such as FluMist, are not recommended for people who are immunocompromised or the people living in their household. Patients should discuss vaccination timing and other individual considerations with their health care providers.  

“We are in the midst of respiratory virus season, and vaccines are an effective tool to protect people with compromised immunity,” said Lindsey Robert Baden, MD, FIDSA, vice president of clinical research at Mass General Brigham, and chair of IDSA’s guideline panel. “IDSA’s guidelines for vaccination protect people who are often undergoing treatment for serious health conditions against preventable illness.”  

People who are immunocompromised include individuals with impaired immune systems due to disease (e.g., cancer or HIV) or medications they must take to treat a health condition (e.g., for organ transplantation). The guidelines also provide timing recommendations for vaccines based on if individuals are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, or are about to undergo surgery.    

The recommendations are based on a systematic literature review conducted by the Vaccine Integrity Project and supplementary searches and evidence reviews conducted by a panel of experts in infectious diseases. The panel included scientists with expertise in adult and pediatric infectious diseases, including treating patients who are immunocompromised; vaccines and vaccine research; and transplant medicine.  

In addition to Dr. Baden, guideline authors include Anoma Nellore, MD; Paul Goepfert, MD; Chen (Sabrina) Tan, MD, FIDSA; Kristina Bajema, MD, MSc;  Katherine Belden, MD, FIDSA; Dean Blumberg, MD; Morgan Katz, MD, MHS; Daniel Kaul, MD, FIDSA; Tanvi Sharma, MD, MPH; Shweta Anjan, MD, FIDSA; Ella Ariza-Heredia, MD, FIDSA; Francisco Magana, MD; Timothy Minniear, MD, MSc; Jennifer Loveless, MPH; Dipleen Kaur, MPH; Elizabeth York, MPH; and Yngve Falck-Ytter, MD, AGAF.  

About IDSA  
The Infectious Diseases Society of America is a global community of 13,000 clinicians, scientists and public health experts working together to solve humanity’s smallest and greatest challenges, from tiny microbes to global outbreaks. Rooted in science, committed to health equity and driven by curiosity, our compassionate and knowledgeable members safeguard the health of individuals, our communities and the world by advancing the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Learn more at idsociety.org.