CDC Recommends Updated COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines Amid Summer Cases Uptick

On June 27, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines to protect against the virus this fall and winter. The call for those aged 6 months and older to receive updated shots comes while the U.S. experiences a summer wave of new COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 infections are likely growing in at least 39 states, according to CDC data from June 18. While the amount of respiratory illness causing people to seek healthcare is low nationally, COVID-19 test positivity increased 1.2% from June 9 to June 15. The U.S. recorded 6.6% COVID-19 test positivity for the week ending June 15 compared to 5.4% in the previous week. Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are also increasing nationally, and wastewater viral activity is showing increases in some states, according to CDC data from June 21. Meanwhile, CDC reported seasonal flu activity remains low across the U.S.

Similar to winter COVID-19 peaks, the summer wave of the virus has become a familiar seasonal pattern. Yet, CNN reported healthcare experts caution the virus can still be unpredictable. For example, nationwide sewage surveillance found this summer’s wave started weeks earlier than last summer’s uptick and has already reached levels comparable to last summer’s peak, according to data from WastewaterSCAN. The virus also tends to thrive in warm and moist conditions, and viral levels are elevated in the West and South where these weather conditions are present.

The updated COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated to become available between mid-August and late September, which is in time to offer protection against the winter peak but not against the summer wave. The CDC emphasized that it is safe to receive COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same visit.

CDC data also continue to show the importance of vaccination to protect against severe outcomes of COVID-19 and flu, including hospitalization and death. In 2023, more than 916,300 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19 and more than 75,500 people died from COVID-19. During the 2023-2024 flu season, more than 44,900 people are estimated to have died from flu complications.

On June 26, the CDC also updated its recommendations on who should get the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. For the upcoming respiratory virus season, everyone 75 and older should receive the RSV vaccine, as well as those ages 60 to 74 who are at higher risk of severe illness.