Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

Flu, RSV, COVID-19, and other respiratory illness updates, risks, and prevention advice.

Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

When Can My Child Return to School After a Respiratory Virus? The 24-Hour Fever-Free Rule (and What to Do for 5 More Days)
August 1, 2026 9:58 am

If your child has respiratory-virus symptoms, stay home until symptoms are getting better overall and there’s been at least 24 hours with no fever—without fever-reducing medicine. Then, for the next 5 days, use added precautions (cleaner air, hygiene, and mask/distancing/testing as appropriate) to help protect higher-risk people. Watch for warning signs and get urgent/emergency care if they appear.

Read More When Can My Child Return to School After a Respiratory Virus? The 24-Hour Fever-Free Rule (and What to Do for 5 More Days)
Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

Return to school/work after respiratory symptoms: CDC’s 24-hour fever-free rule
July 25, 2026 9:38 am

CDC’s practical “two-part” return rule for respiratory virus symptoms is: symptoms are getting better overall AND you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine. Here’s a calm checklist for families, schools, and workplaces—plus when to get medical advice faster.

Read More Return to school/work after respiratory symptoms: CDC’s 24-hour fever-free rule
Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

How to Read CDC “Activity Levels” for COVID-19, Flu, and RSV (What to Do Next)
July 18, 2026 9:27 am

CDC’s “Activity Levels” turn community respiratory-virus surveillance into five labels (Very Low → Very High). Here’s how to interpret the signals—wastewater, emergency department/ARI activity, and severe-illness context—and what families, schools, and workplaces can do next without panic.

Read More How to Read CDC “Activity Levels” for COVID-19, Flu, and RSV (What to Do Next)
Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

Should You Wait for the Fall 2026 COVID Shot if You’re Due Now?
June 29, 2026 9:33 am

Not usually by default. The FDA has chosen an XFG-based formula for COVID vaccines expected to begin in fall 2026, but that does not replace the 2025-2026 shots available under current CDC guidance right now.

Read More Should You Wait for the Fall 2026 COVID Shot if You’re Due Now?
Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

Should adults 50 and older wait for a new mRNA flu shot this fall?
June 28, 2026 9:01 am

An FDA advisory vote moved Moderna’s mRNA flu shot closer for adults 50 and older, but it is not approved yet. For most people, current CDC guidance still points to getting an age-appropriate flu vaccine on the usual fall schedule instead of waiting.

Read More Should adults 50 and older wait for a new mRNA flu shot this fall?
Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

A New mRNA Flu Shot Is Closer to Approval—Should Adults 50+ Wait?
June 27, 2026 9:30 am

On June 18, 2026, an FDA advisory committee backed Moderna’s investigational mRNA flu vaccine for adults 50 and older—but the product is not approved yet. For most people, the safer practical choice is to get the recommended 2026–2027 flu shot when it’s available, then revisit updates after FDA’s final decision.

Read More A New mRNA Flu Shot Is Closer to Approval—Should Adults 50+ Wait?
Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

Will There Be a Summer COVID Rise in 2026? What CDC Says Now
June 10, 2026 7:43 am

CDC’s June 1, 2026 outlook says a summer COVID-19 increase is possible, especially in parts of the South and West, but current trend data do not show a broad national surge. Here’s what that means for households, caregivers, schools, and workers.

Read More Will There Be a Summer COVID Rise in 2026? What CDC Says Now
Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

CDC urges older adults to plan RSV shots before late summer
May 13, 2026 8:08 am

CDC says eligible adults can get an RSV vaccine at any time, but the best window is late summer or early fall, before RSV usually starts spreading in the community. Current guidance recommends one dose for adults 75 and older and for adults 50 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV illness.

Read More CDC urges older adults to plan RSV shots before late summer
Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

Why RSV Is Still Circulating Into Spring 2026
May 5, 2026 7:45 am

RSV is still showing up in parts of the United States even as overall respiratory illness remains very low. CDC says the season arrived later than expected in many regions, which is why some communities may still see RSV activity in May. For older adults and others at higher risk, now is still a good time to check vaccine status and watch for warning signs.

Read More Why RSV Is Still Circulating Into Spring 2026
Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

CDC’s updated respiratory-virus guidance: who should get flu, COVID and RSV shots now
April 28, 2026 8:57 am

CDC says some older adults and higher-risk adults should get a one-time RSV shot, COVID-19 vaccination for 2025–2026 is based on age and shared decision-making, and flu planning is already underway for the 2026–2027 season. For families, caregivers, schools, and workplaces, the practical message is simple: stay current, think about timing, and ask a trusted clinician what fits your age and risk.

Read More CDC’s updated respiratory-virus guidance: who should get flu, COVID and RSV shots now
Aging & Long-Term Care | Elderly | Medicare & CMS Updates | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

Adults 75 and Older Need Only One RSV Shot for Now: What New 2026 Guidance Means
April 17, 2026 12:48 pm

Current U.S. guidance says adults 75 and older who have never had an RSV shot should get one dose now, with no repeat dose advised at this time.

Read More Adults 75 and Older Need Only One RSV Shot for Now: What New 2026 Guidance Means
Maternal & Infant Health | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness | Vaccines

More U.S. Babies Are Entering RSV Season Protected: How Maternal Vaccination and Infant Antibodies Are Working in 2025-2026
April 4, 2026 3:14 pm

As of February 2026, CDC estimated that 65.1% of U.S. infants born since April 1, 2025 were already protected against RSV through maternal immunization only or an infant monoclonal antibody, with another 9.1% of parents saying they definitely planned to get the infant product. For most babies, protection comes from one route or the other, not both. ([cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov/rsvvaxview/dashboard/index.html))

Read More More U.S. Babies Are Entering RSV Season Protected: How Maternal Vaccination and Infant Antibodies Are Working in 2025-2026
Elderly | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness | Vaccines

Updated RSV guidance in 2026: Which older adults should get vaccinated, who can wait, and why
April 4, 2026 3:08 pm

CDC says adults 75 and older should get one RSV shot, and adults 50 to 74 should get it only if they have certain high-risk conditions, frailty, or nursing home residence. For healthy adults under 75, current guidance usually means you can wait. ([cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vaccine-clinical-guidance/adults.html))

Read More Updated RSV guidance in 2026: Which older adults should get vaccinated, who can wait, and why
Infectious Diseases | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness | Vaccines

Trivalent flu shots didn’t drop the ball: what the 2025-26 switch really meant for protection this season
April 3, 2026 5:39 pm

The move to trivalent flu vaccines did not appear to leave Americans unprotected against a major circulating strain. This season’s weaker flu-shot performance looks more tied to drifted viruses, especially H3N2, than to dropping the long-absent B/Yamagata component.

Read More Trivalent flu shots didn’t drop the ball: what the 2025-26 switch really meant for protection this season
Infectious Diseases | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness | Vaccines

Flu Season Is Easing, but Risk Isn’t Over: What Families, Older Adults, and High-Risk Patients Should Do Right Now
April 3, 2026 5:33 pm

CDC says U.S. flu activity is falling but still elevated as of March 27, 2026. This season has brought unusually high hospitalization burden, high pediatric severity, and weaker-than-usual vaccine performance against a drifted H3N2 strain—yet vaccination and early antiviral treatment still matter right now. ([cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-11.html))

Read More Flu Season Is Easing, but Risk Isn’t Over: What Families, Older Adults, and High-Risk Patients Should Do Right Now
Aging & Long-Term Care | Elderly | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness | Vaccines

This Season’s Flu Shot Was Less Effective. What Older Adults Should Do Now
April 2, 2026 11:32 am

CDC says this season’s flu shot offered lower-than-usual protection in adults, but that does not mean it was useless. For people 65 and older, the key steps now are to stay vaccinated, use an age-preferred shot when possible, and seek antiviral treatment quickly if symptoms begin.

Read More This Season’s Flu Shot Was Less Effective. What Older Adults Should Do Now
Aging & Long-Term Care | Elderly | Patient Safety & Quality | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

CDC Has a New Respiratory Virus Toolkit for Nursing Homes. Here’s What Families Should Ask About Flu, RSV, and COVID.
April 2, 2026 7:09 am

CDC’s new nursing-home respiratory virus toolkit gives families a practical way to ask better questions. If you are choosing, visiting, or monitoring a nursing home, here are the five things to ask about vaccines, testing, treatment, outbreak response, and communication.

Read More CDC Has a New Respiratory Virus Toolkit for Nursing Homes. Here’s What Families Should Ask About Flu, RSV, and COVID.
Health | Public Health Data & Surveillance | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness | Vaccines

This Season’s Flu Shot Was a Weaker Match. Here’s What the New CDC Data Means and Why Next Year’s Vaccine Is Changing
March 29, 2026 5:47 pm

New CDC data show the 2025-26 flu shot was a weaker match against drifted viruses, but it still lowered the odds of doctor visits and hospitalization. Here’s what happened, who should seek treatment quickly, and what is changing for next season.

Read More This Season’s Flu Shot Was a Weaker Match. Here’s What the New CDC Data Means and Why Next Year’s Vaccine Is Changing
Elderly | Medicare & CMS Updates | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness | Vaccines

CDC Says Adults 65 and Older Should Get 2 Updated COVID Shots for 2025–26: What Seniors Need to Know
March 27, 2026 12:31 pm

As of March 27, 2026, the CDC still clearly recommends 2 doses of the 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine for adults 65 and older. Here is how the timing works, why age still matters, what Medicare covers, and what remains uncertain.

Read More CDC Says Adults 65 and Older Should Get 2 Updated COVID Shots for 2025–26: What Seniors Need to Know
Asthma | Infectious Diseases | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness | Vaccines

Asthma and the 2025–2026 Respiratory Virus Season: What Updated CDC Guidance Means for You
March 24, 2026 4:30 pmMarch 25, 2026 10:38 pm

People with moderate to severe asthma are at higher risk for complications from flu and COVID-19. Here’s what current CDC guidance says about vaccines, RSV prevention, and when to seek urgent care during the 2025–2026 respiratory virus season.

Read More Asthma and the 2025–2026 Respiratory Virus Season: What Updated CDC Guidance Means for You
Infectious Diseases | Outbreaks & Health Alerts | Public Health & Prevention | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

What the CDC’s Unified Respiratory Virus Guidance Means for the 2025–2026 Cold, Flu, COVID-19, and RSV Season
March 21, 2026 1:59 amMarch 25, 2026 10:39 pm

The CDC now uses one symptom-based approach for COVID-19, flu, and RSV: stay home when sick, return after symptoms improve and you’ve been fever-free for 24 hours, then use added precautions for several more days. Here’s what that means for families, schools, and workplaces during the 2025–2026 season.

Read More What the CDC’s Unified Respiratory Virus Guidance Means for the 2025–2026 Cold, Flu, COVID-19, and RSV Season
Infectious Diseases | Public Health & Prevention | Resources | Respiratory Viruses & Seasonal Illness

CDC’s Updated Respiratory Virus Guidance: What It Means for COVID‑19, Flu, RSV — and When to Stay Home
March 21, 2026 1:57 amMarch 25, 2026 10:39 pm

The CDC now uses unified guidance for COVID‑19, flu, and RSV. Here’s when to stay home, when to return to work or school, how testing and masking fit in, and what higher‑risk families should know.

Read More CDC’s Updated Respiratory Virus Guidance: What It Means for COVID‑19, Flu, RSV — and When to Stay Home

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