As the 2026–2027 influenza season approaches, long-term care providers have updated guidance to consider when planning vaccination for residents and staff. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued Interim Clinical Considerations for the Use of Seasonal Influenza Vaccines in the United States for the 2026–2027 season. Because of uncertainties affecting the federal recommendation process, CDC states that the seasonal influenza vaccination recommendations adopted in July 2025 remain in effect. 

Leading medical and infectious disease organizations have also issued independent recommendations for the 2026–2027 respiratory virus season. While there are some differences in the guidance, there is broad agreement on the core influenza vaccination recommendations most relevant to long-term and senior care. 

Annual influenza vaccination remains recommended 

CDC continues to recommend routine annual influenza vaccination for everyone age 6 months and older who does not have a contraindication. 

That recommendation is also reflected in 2026–2027 guidance from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), while the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recommends seasonal influenza vaccination for immunocompromised individuals. 

For senior care providers, vaccination is particularly important because older adults and people with certain chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for serious influenza-related complications. 

Adults 65 and older have specific flu vaccine considerations 

For adults age 65 and older, CDC preferentially recommends: 

• High-dose inactivated influenza vaccine 
• Recombinant influenza vaccine 
• Adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine 

AAFP similarly recommends that adults 65 and older preferentially receive an enhanced influenza vaccine when available and also includes an mRNA influenza vaccine newly available for the 2026–2027 season. 

If a preferentially recommended vaccine is not available, vaccination should not be delayed. An age-appropriate influenza vaccine should be used instead. 

Timing matters 

For most people who need one influenza vaccine dose during the season, CDC recommends vaccination during September or October. 

For most adults—particularly those age 65 and older—vaccination during July and August should generally be avoided unless there is concern that vaccination later may not be possible. This helps address the potential for vaccine protection to wane over the course of the influenza season. 

Vaccination should continue after October as long as influenza viruses are circulating and unexpired vaccine remains available. 

Residents of long-term care are at higher risk 

CDC identifies residents of nursing homes and other long-term care settings among those at increased risk for severe influenza and its complications. Adults age 65 and older, people with certain chronic medical conditions, and individuals who are immunocompromised are also at increased risk. 

IDSA's evidence-based 2026 guidance strongly recommends age-appropriate influenza vaccination for immunocompromised adults and children and notes that enhanced influenza vaccines may provide additional benefit for some immunocompromised individuals. 

Vaccination of healthcare personnel remains important 

CDC continues to recommend annual influenza vaccination for healthcare personnel. AAFP's 2026–2027 recommendations similarly call for healthcare personnel to receive annual influenza vaccination. 

In long-term and senior care settings, staff vaccination can help protect both healthcare personnel and the residents they serve. 

Putting the 2026–2027 flu guidance into practice 

Despite changes in how federal influenza vaccine recommendations are being issued this season, the core recommendations relevant to senior care remain largely consistent across CDC and leading medical organizations. 

Care teams should review vaccination status, consider the preferential vaccine recommendations for adults age 65 and older, vaccinate at an appropriate point in the season, and continue offering vaccination while influenza viruses are circulating. 

Individual vaccination decisions should consider age, health status, contraindications, and other clinical factors.