West Coast Health Alliance urges immunizations for 2026-2027 respiratory virus season

WASHINGTON, USA — The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) says it is issuing immunization recommendations for the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season.

According to a press release, immunization is the best protection against respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19 and influenza. The press release says that seasonal immunization is a public health tool to reduce community transmission, serious illness and strain on health care systems.

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WCHA says it believes that all recommended immunizations should be accessible to everyone and that it is important to protect the people who are most impacted by these respiratory viruses.

Below is a list of the recommended immunizations:

• Children:
  • All 6-23 months
  • All 2-18 years with risk factors or never vaccinated against COVID-19
  • All who are in close contact with others with risk factors
  • All who choose to reduce risk or severe illness
• Pregnancy:
  • All who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or postpartum
• Adults:
  • All 65 years and older
  • All 19-64 years with risk factors
  • All who are in close contact with others with risk factors
  • All who choose to reduce the risk of severe illness
• Healthcare Workers:

• Children:
• Pregnancy:
  • All who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or postpartum
• Adults:
• Healthcare Workers:

• Children:
  • All younger than 8 months
  • All 8-19 months with risk factors
• Pregnancy:
  • All who are 32-36 weeks gestational age
• Adults:
  • All 75 years and older
  • All 50-74 years with risk factors
• Healthcare Workers:
  • Everyone who meets the criteria above

WCHA says that the COVID-19 vaccine is available for ages starting at 6 months, and that you can protect infants with the prenatal RSV vaccine or an infant dose of nirsevimab. WCHA also says that an RSV vaccination during pregnancy or for adults is recommended once, rather than two doses given at least four weeks apart for ages 6 months to 8 years who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time.

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