This respiratory illness season, families in communities around the country face vaccine-preventable diseases that can cause serious illness in children — from the flu, COVID-19, whooping cough, pneumococcal disease, and RSV, to measles. Meanwhile, recent data show that vaccination rates in children continue to decline, leaving them more vulnerable and susceptible to severe illness.
Given this landscape, many parents and caregivers have questions about pediatric vaccines, including access through the federal Vaccines for Children program. This is a critical moment for vaccine champions to reinforce focus on pediatric vaccine uptake and strategies that help protect against severe respiratory illness.
Experts in pediatric care, public health, and vaccine policy discussed the critical role that respiratory vaccines play in keeping children safe and practical tools for supporting childhood vaccination during respiratory illness season and beyond.
Panelists included:
Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP, Chief Medical Officer, Association of Immunization Managers (AIM)
James Campbell, MD, MS, Vice Chair, Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Moderator: Stacy Buchanan, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, Chair, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Immunization Special Interest Group
Infectious Respiratory Diseases | Vaccines
Holidays Are Better Together
Make your presence the real present at holiday gatherings this winter. Recommended vaccines that protect against respiratory diseases such as flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and pneumococcal disease can help keep you and your loved ones healthy so you can enjoy all the holiday season has to offer.
Dr. Emily Kryger, owner of PharmRecs LLC and a board certified geriatric pharmacist, discusses the impact that respiratory diseases have had on the population she cares for — and how vaccines have helped protect against severe illness.
Paola German, a family nurse practitioner at the UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, discussed how respiratory illnesses can quickly turn from mild to serious without the help of vaccines.
Last Updated11/10/2025
RSV | Older Adult | Vaccines
RSV Vaccines Explained: Answers for Adults 50+
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus. In many people, it causes cold-like symptoms, including cough, sore throat, fatigue, runny nose, and headache. However, for adults ages 50 and older, RSV can be far more serious. It can cause more severe illnesses such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis (an infection of the lungs), congestive heart failure, or worsening of asthma or COPD symptoms. Adults who get very sick from RSV may need to be hospitalized — and severe RSV can be life threatening.
Most people think of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as a childhood illness, but the same virus can seriously affect adults, too. In fact, RSV rivals the flu in both the severity of illness and cost to older adults. Adults ages 75 and older are at the highest risk of severe RSV illness. Adults ages 50-74 can also be vulnerable, especially if they have chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. These factors can increase the likelihood of severe RSV illness or hospitalization.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that causes a cold-like disease. But unlike the common cold, RSV is highly contagious and can become dangerous, with infants, young children, and adults 50 years and older at highest risk for severe illness.
FAQ: Respiratory Vaccine Appointments for Patients 50+
Respiratory season is here, and depending on your age and health status, it may be recommended for you to get vaccinations for flu, COVID-19, RSV, or pneumococcal infection. The below FAQ can serve as a starting place as you make your vaccine appointments and take steps to stay healthy.
Last Updated10/17/2025
FAQ: Respiratory Vaccine Appointments for Patients 50+
Coverage, Access, and ACIP Recommendations: What Consumers Should Know about Respiratory Vaccines Heading into Fall
Last Updated10/15/2025
Recent changes to recommendations for respiratory vaccines have left patients and providers with pressing questions about vaccine access and coverage. Following its most recent meeting in September, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended COVID-19 vaccines for those 6 months and older based on “individual decision-making.” This change in recommendation illuminated the need for stakeholders to have clarity on the impact of ACIP recommendations on respiratory vaccine insurance coverage.
CVEEP hosted a timely discussion on this topic as experts in healthcare coverage, public health, and vaccine policy broke down the relationship between ACIP recommendations and coverage among different types of insurance plans, what to expect at your vaccination appointments this year, and how to advocate for yourself as a patient seeking fall vaccines.
Panelists included:
Chris Regal, MS, Director of Clinical Innovation, AHIP
Margot Savoy, MD, MPH,Chief Medical Officer, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Allison Hill, PharmD, RPh, Director of Professional Affairs, American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
Moderator: Serese Marotta, Deputy CEO, Vaccinate Your Family
Vaccines | Infectious Respiratory Diseases
Posters: Life Doesn’t Paws When You’re Sick
Vaccines against respiratory illnesses can help you stay on the ball.
