Medical Experts Urge Pregnant Women and Families to Talk with a Trusted Healthcare Professional about Respiratory Disease Prevention

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid evolving and sometimes conflicting respiratory vaccine guidance, families face tough decisions about how best to protect their health. Today, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) kicks off its Respiratory Season News Briefing Series with a session focused on children and pregnant women – two groups especially vulnerable to influenza (flu), COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and pneumococcal disease.

The series is part of the NFID "It's On Us" campaign, which emphasizes the shared responsibility of parents, healthcare professionals, and communities in helping to protect against severe respiratory illness.

"Vaccination saves lives – and it's on all of us to take action," said NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins Jr., MD. "Vaccines are not just about preventing infection. When we get vaccinated, we help protect ourselves and those around us from severe outcomes like hospitalization and death."

At a news briefing today, leading experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and Vaccine Integrity Project will provide clarity and expert insights to bring the science that supports immunization to life.

"Families need clear, consistent, and evidence-based information to make informed decisions about their health," said Bruce G. Gellin, MD, MPH, a senior advisor to the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy's (CIDRAP) Vaccine Integrity Project based at the University of Minnesota. "Vaccine guidance coming from medical societies is grounded in decades of research, clinical experience, and expert consensus, ensuring recommendations reflect the best available data to protect individuals and the health of communities."

What the Science Says: Current Vaccine Recommendations

National medical organizations composed of healthcare professionals who care for patients every day continue to recommend respiratory vaccines for children and pregnant women, based on long-standing evidence and clinical experience.

"Respiratory diseases such as flu, COVID-19, and RSV can be serious for children," said Sean T. O'Leary, MD, MPH, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. "Vaccines offer critical protection – helping to prevent serious complications and keeping kids healthy, active, and learning."

Dr. Hopkins and the other panelists note that vaccination is crucial for protecting both children and pregnant women from serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases. If immunization rates decline, they say, there is a higher risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases, leading to more illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Here are the evidence-based guidelines supported by trusted experts from the medical community for the 2025-2026 respiratory disease season:

• Annual flu vaccination for everyone age 6 months and older
  
  
• COVID-19 vaccination for those at high risk (including young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions), and anyone age 6 months and older who wants to be vaccinated against COVID-19
  
  
• RSV vaccination for pregnant women or RSV immunization (monoclonal antibody) for infants whose mothers did not receive an RSV vaccine during pregnancy; RSV vaccination for certain adults age 50-74 and all adults age 75 and older
  
  
• Pneumococcal vaccination for children younger than age 5 years, adults age 50 years and older, and people with certain chronic health conditions or other risk factors

"Respiratory infections can pose a serious threat not only for pregnant women but also for the health of the baby," said Laura E. Riley, MD, chair of the ACOG Immunization, Infectious Disease and Public Health Preparedness Expert Work Group. "We encourage parents and expecting parents to talk with a trusted healthcare professional about the large and growing body of research and data on the safety and benefits of maternal immunization. These conversations are key to understanding how vaccinations can help protect both mothers and babies – and the entire family."

In addition to expert insights, today's briefing will feature special guests sharing personal stories about navigating vaccine choices for their family – offering powerful reminders of the real-world impact of respiratory illness and the importance of informed decision-making. Michele Stevenson and her son Kaden, a mother-son duo who experienced severe flu complications firsthand, will share their story with Michele Slafkosky, executive director of Families Fighting Flu.

What's Next in the Respiratory Season News Briefing Series

Each month, NFID will tackle a different angle of the 2025-2026 respiratory disease season with expert insights and real-life stories to unpack the latest information shaping public health dialogue.

"It can be confusing to keep up with evolving and sometimes conflicting guidance," said Dr. Hopkins. "These news briefings are designed to meet the moment, offering clarity, compassion, and credible information when it is needed most."

Upcoming sessions include:

• Healthcare Professionals – October 29, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET: How healthcare professionals can help protect against severe illness during respiratory season – by getting vaccinated themselves and encouraging their patients and communities to do the same

• Older Adults – December 3, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET: The risks of delayed or missed vaccinations in older adults, including gaps in understanding, access, and attitudes toward respiratory vaccines

• People with Chronic Health Conditions – January 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET: Why vaccination is essential for people with chronic health conditions and underlying health issues

For more information, visit www.nfid.org/2025flunews.

About the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

Founded in 1973, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating and engaging the public, communities, and healthcare professionals about infectious diseases across the lifespan. NFID has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and has earned a Platinum transparency seal from Candid/GuideStar. For more information, and to access trusted science-based resources on immunization for both healthcare professionals and the public, visit www.nfid.org.

This news briefing series is sponsored by NFID in collaboration with professional societies and patient advocacy partners, and unrestricted educational grants from AstraZeneca, Sanofi, and Seqirus. NFID policies prohibit funders from controlling program content.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE National Foundation for Infectious Diseases