CDC and VA Announce Key Flu Vaccination Updates on August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025 - ATLANTA and ALBANY, N.Y. Today brought two major developments in the U.S. effort to bolster protection against seasonal influenza:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) published its 2025-26 influenza vaccine recommendations in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, outlining significant updates to vaccine composition and administration protocols. Key changes include:

• Revised antigenic composition to match circulating A/H3N2, A/H1N1 and B strains for the upcoming season.
• FDA approval of FluMist (live attenuated influenza vaccine) for self-administration or caregiver administration.
• Lowered age indication for Flublok (recombinant influenza vaccine) from ≥18 years to ≥9 years.
• A new ACIP mandate that all vaccines administered to children ≤18 years, pregnant women, and adults be in single-dose, thimerosal-free formulations to minimize preservative exposure.

Meanwhile, at the Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albany, NY, the VA Vaccine Program announced the opening of its “Flu Vaccine Check-Up” on September 17, 2025. Vaccine Clinic coordinator Karen Vincent Basdeo urged veterans to “protect yourself and your loved ones” by attending the on-site clinic Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM-3:45 PM on floor 3A. Community Based Outpatient Clinic patients can also receive their influenza immunization during routine primary care visits, with questions directed to the Primary Care team or the VA Clinical Contact Center at 1 800 877 6976.