COVID Vaccine: CDC Adopts ACIP Recommendations for 2025/2026 Schedules

Almost three weeks after the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) met and voted on recommendations for the 2025/2026 adult and child vaccine schedules, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on October 6, 2025 officially adopted the ACIP recommendations.

Regarding COVID-19 vaccination, this means that individuals age 6 months and older are recommended to undertake shared decision-making with a clinician when consider whether to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

ACIP also recommended that these informed consent conversations include a discussion about the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of COVID vaccination, and for individuals ages 6 months to 64 years, there is an emphasis during these conversations that the benefits of COVID vaccination are greatest for those who are at risk for severe illness.

The Stay-Up-to-Date page on the CDC website is expected to be updated on October 7.

It is unclear if CDC will release a Quarter 4 definition for Up to Date for National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting or if this definition will be released closer to calendar year 2026 quarter 1 reporting, as surveillance definitions can only be updated on the reporting quarter but no definition was released for Quarter 4.

LeadingAge will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates to providers.