Respiratory Disease Season & Maternal Immunization

2025 - 2026 Updates

SMFM is monitoring the latest on the 2025-2026 respiratory disease season (also commonly referred to as respiratory virus season). Although respiratory diseases can be circulated year-round, there are seasonal increases in infectious respiratory diseases in the fall and winter. In the contiguous United States, that seasonality is typically from September – January. The common illnesses are COVID-19, seasonal influenza virus (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and pertussis (whooping cough). Maternal immunization is proven to protect patients and their infants against severe illness and death from infectious diseases. SMFM recommends COVID-19, influenza, RSV and Tdap vaccinations during pregnancy. Updated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are now available in the U.S.

COVID-19 Vaccination: SMFM recommends the updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.
Influenza Vaccination: SMFM recommends the updated 2025-2026 seasonal Influenza vaccination during pregnancy.
RSV Vaccination: SMFM recommends the maternal RSV vaccine for pregnant patients from 32 0/7 weeks through 36 6/7 weeks of pregnancy, using seasonal administration, as a strategy to protect their infants from severe RSV disease.
- The RSV vaccine, Abrysvo® by Pfizer, is the only approved vaccine for use in pregnancy.
- It is recommended for pregnant patients during RSV season (typically September 1st to January 31st in most parts of the United States) who do not have a plan for delivery in the next two weeks.
- Patients who have received the maternal RSV vaccine during a previous pregnancy are not recommended to receive additional doses during future pregnancies because there are no efficacy data on the use of repeated administration of the maternal RSV vaccine. Infants born to patients that were vaccinated during a previous pregnancy should receive a monclonoal antibody, either nirsevimab or clesrovimab.
- These recommendations may be updated in the future as additional data becomes available.
Tdap Vaccination: SMFM recommends pregnant people receive the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine during each pregnancy.

Respiratory Disease Season Preparedness

As you prepare for respiratory disease season, here are some options to help keep yourself and your patients healthy:

Build vaccine inventory: If you offer the COVID-19, influenza, RSV and Tdap vaccines in your practice, ensure adequate vaccine inventory for the 2025-2026 season.
Nurture pharmacy relationships: If you do not offer these vaccines in your practice, consider connecting with local pharmacies to ensure they stock the recommended vaccines. Confirm that your patients know where to access the vaccine(s).
Co-administer vaccines: The COVID-19, influenza, RSV and Tdap vaccines can be co-administered with each other and with other routine immunizations, as applicable.
- There is no minimum waiting period between vaccines if a patient prefers to receive them at different times.
Be a vaccine champion for yourself, your colleagues, your family, and your friends: Get your updated influenza and COVID-19 vaccines and encourage people in your networks to do the same. Updated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are now available in the U.S.

Spreading the Word About Vaccination During Pregnancy: Patient Resources

Thank you for helping to spread the word about vaccines recommended during pregnancy. Visit the SMFM Patient Education website to find downloadable posters (available in English and Spanish), social media graphics, messaging, videos, animated graphics, and more!

Maternal Immunization Task Force: Call to Action

SMFM is a part of the Maternal Immunization Task Force, a national level multi-organization partnership with the American Academy of Family Physicians; American College of Nurse-Midwives; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; and the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health.

Call to Action: Obstetric Care Professionals Urge Recommended Vaccines During Pregnancy (October 2024)

The Maternal Immunization Task Force has issued a Call to Action urging the importance of the currently recommended vaccines during pregnancy: influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and Tdap. Vaccines are an essential part of prenatal care, offering critical protection to pregnant people and their fetuses against potentially deadly diseases. That is why, collectively, the American Academy of Family Physicians; American College of Nurse-Midwives; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine affirm the importance of recommending and advocating that pregnant people receive all recommended vaccines at the appropriate time during pregnancy. The ongoing decrease in vaccination rates in this population calls for an urgent commitment from all health care professionals to strongly recommend these vaccines to pregnant people.