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2025 - 2026 Respiratory Disease Season

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 in pregnancy. Updated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are expected to be available later this Fall 2025. 

  • COVID-19 Vaccination: SMFM recommends pregnant people receive an updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine. 
  • Influenza Vaccination: SMFM recommends pregnant people receive an updated 2025-2026 seasonal Influenza vaccination. 
  • RSV Vaccination: SMFM recommends pregnant people receive the maternal RSV vaccine if they meet the seasonal qualifications. The RSV vaccine, Abrysvo® by Pfizer, is the only approved vaccine for use in pregnancy and is recommended for pregnant individuals from 32 0/6 weeks through 36 6/7 weeks of pregnancy - without a plan for delivery in the next two weeks - from September 1st through January 31st. 
    • People who have received Abrysvo® during pregnancy are not recommended to receive additional doses during future pregnancies. 
    • Infants born to people vaccinated only during a prior pregnancy should receive 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.
  • 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 expected to be available Fall 2025. 

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!
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. 

Resources from SMFM

SMFM Fellow Lecture
Preparing for Respiratory Virus Season

SMFM Podcast 
Preparing for Annual Respiratory Disease Season

Infectious Disease Resources

SMFM COVID-19

SMFM RSV

SMFM Influenza

SMFM Patient Education Resources

Vaccination During Pregnancy

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