The Infectious Diseases Society of America released new COVID-19 vaccination guidelines for adults and children who are immunocompromised. Experts in infectious diseases recommend that all adults and children who are immunocompromised receive an age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine for the 2025-2026 season. Patients should talk with their health care providers about the timing and other clinical considerations specific to their individual situations.
“Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools to prevent respiratory viral illnesses, and this protection is especially important for individuals in our communities who have impaired immune systems,” said Lindsey Robert Baden, MD, FIDSA, vice president of clinical research at Mass General Brigham, and chair of the guideline panel. “IDSA’s guideline for COVID vaccination for individuals who are immunocompromised helps protect people who often suffer the most severe associated illnesses.”
People who are immunocompromised include individuals with impaired immune systems due to disease (e.g., cancer or HIV) or medications they must take to treat a health condition (e.g., for organ transplantation). The guidelines also advise that household members and those in close contact with individuals who are immunocompromised be up to date with COVID-19 vaccination to provide further protection.
The recommendations are based on a systematic literature review conducted by the Vaccine Integrity Project and supplementary searches and evidence reviews conducted by the IDSA guideline panel of experts. The panel included scientists with specific expertise in adult and pediatric infectious diseases, including treating patients who are immunocompromised; vaccines and vaccine research; and transplant medicine.
IDSA will be releasing recommendations on vaccination for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the coming weeks.
In addition to Dr. Baden, guideline authors include Anoma Nellore, MD; Kristina Bajema, MD, MSc; Katherine Belden, MD, FIDSA; Dean Blumberg, MD; Paul Goepfert, MD; Morgan Katz, MD, MHS; Daniel Kaul, MD, FIDSA; Tanvi Sharma, MD, MPH; Chen (Sabrina) Tan, MD, FIDSA; Shweta Anjan, MD, FIDSA; Ella Ariza-Heredia, MD, FIDSA; Francisco Magana, MD; Timothy Minniear, MD, MSc; Jennifer Loveless, MPH; Dipleen Kaur, MPH; Elizabeth York, MPH; and Yngve Falck-Ytter, MD, AGAF.
About IDSA
The Infectious Diseases Society of America is a global community of 13,000 clinicians, scientists and public health experts working together to solve humanity’s smallest and greatest challenges, from tiny microbes to global outbreaks. Rooted in science, committed to health equity and driven by curiosity, our compassionate and knowledgeable members safeguard the health of individuals, our communities and the world by advancing the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Learn more at idsociety.org.
