Influenza Talking Points
2025–26 Influenza Season
Last year’s influenza season was classified as a severe respiratory virus season with high levels of seasonal influenza infections across the United States, marking the first such classification since the 2017–18 season. We also observed the second-highest number of pediatric influenza-associated deaths since the COVID-19 pandemic, a figure that exceeded the previous high for a nonpandemic season. Despite this risk, influenza vaccination rates among pregnant people continue to decline from previous seasons. CDC data show that influenza vaccination coverage was 47.4% in the 2023–24 season, down from prepandemic coverage of 57.5% in the 2019−20 season.
Talk with Your Patients About the Benefits of Influenza Vaccination
We ask that members use every opportunity to talk with their patients and staff about the benefits of influenza vaccination and join us in strongly recommending influenza vaccination to pregnant patients this season. Your strong recommendation and offer of vaccination are key factors in whether your patients get vaccinated. In fact, CDC reports find that influenza vaccination coverage is highest among pregnant people whose provider offers them or refers them for vaccination.
ACOG also continues to recommend annual COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible people, including those who are pregnant or lactating. Moreover, pregnant patients can receive all recommended vaccines—that is, influenza, COVID-19, and RSV—at the same visit. Anyone else who will be in contact with a newborn should also be up-to-date on their vaccinations to help form a circle of protection around the infant.
Continue to Recommend Annual COVID-19 Vaccination
ACOG’s Immunization Department and leadership has distributed a letter to the members of the ACOG Council of District Chairs to encourage and remind members to protect themselves and their patients against influenza. Read the full letter and access talking points members can use to assist them in communicating the importance of influenza vaccination below.
2025-26 Influenza Talking Points
This respiratory virus season, ACOG encourages you to lead by example: Get vaccinated against influenza, and encourage your staff and patients to do the same. When educating your pregnant patients about vaccines, make a strong recommendation and allow time for them to ask questions. Hearing your answers can help patients feel more confident about protecting themselves and their infants with the recommended vaccines. Use the following sample talking points to share the importance of getting vaccinated.
Strategy 1: Strongly recommend and offer the vaccine to all your pregnant patients as soon as the vaccine becomes available.
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Yes, I strongly recommend you get a flu shot while you are in the office today. I recommend this for you and for all of my pregnant patients because I believe vaccines are the best way to help protect you and your baby against the flu and against severe illness.
Strategy 2: Educate all pregnant patients about the safety and benefits of vaccination and the severity of influenza.
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Changes in your heart, lungs, and immune system during pregnancy make you more likely to get really sick if you get an illness like flu, which is why I recommend you get the flu vaccine today.
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Vaccination during pregnancy is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and your baby, and I recommend this to everyone in my family. Flu shots have been given to millions of people over many years with an excellent safety record. These vaccines have been carefully studied by medical and scientific experts who have determined that they are safe for pregnant patients and their babies.
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Yes. Thimerosal, a type of mercury, has been removed from most vaccines that you can get in the United States. It is only present in trace amounts in certain versions of the flu vaccine. It has not been shown to be harmful to pregnant women or fetuses. It does not cause autism. The benefits of preventing life-threatening illnesses in a mother and child far outweigh any potential risks of the vaccine.
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Getting vaccinated protects your baby from flu illness for several months after birth, before they are old enough to be vaccinated. The flu and other recommended vaccines such as the COVID-19 and maternal RSV vaccine have been shown to be very safe for you and your baby. By getting vaccinated during pregnancy, you pass along antibodies to your baby to protect them after they are born.
Strategy 3: Emphasize the serious impact of influenza on pregnant patients.
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The flu and other respiratory viruses such as RSV and COVID-19 are all highly contagious illnesses caused by different viruses. The flu vaccine is especially important for my pregnant patients as you are at a higher risk of getting very sick from the flu and it will also protect you and your baby from severe illness and hospitalization.
Strategy 4: Address patient’s questions and concerns in the context of influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 viruses and vaccines in plain and understandable language.
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No, you cannot get the flu from a flu shot.
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Yes, you can get a flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccine in the same visit. Receiving these shots at the same time is safe and effective. These vaccines may also help you avoid unnecessary doctor’s appointments and helps to limit your risk of exposure to respiratory germs.
Strategy 5: Encourage flu vaccine administration before flu activity begins in your community, ideally before the end of October.
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The flu shot can be safely given during any trimester. I recommend that you get the flu shot at any point during the flu season (typically October through May). The best time to get a flu vaccine is before the end of October. However, as long as flu viruses are circulating, you can get vaccinated.
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That's a really common experience, and it's frustrating when you feel sick after doing the right thing by getting vaccinated. The flu shot does not protect against all strains of the flu virus. While the flu vaccine is very effective, it's not 100%. Its effectiveness can vary each year depending on how well the vaccine matches the circulating strains. Even if you did get the flu, your vaccine likely made your illness much milder, significantly reducing your risk of severe complications, hospitalization, or even death.
Respiratory Season Resources
Learn more from ACOG’s Immunization, Infectious Disease, and Public Health Preparedness Program.
Clinician Resources
COVID-19
Influenza
RSV
Maternal Immunization Social Media Toolkit
ACOG Patient Resources
COVID-19
- Infographic: Pregnant? Top 3 Reasons Why You Need a COVID-19 Vaccine (Léalo en español)
- Video: Get Your Recommended COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy (Véalo en español)
- View all COVID-19 resources for patients
Influenza
- Infographic: Pregnant? Top 3 Reasons Why You Need the Flu Vaccine (Léalo en español)
- Video: Get Your Recommended Flu Vaccine During Pregnancy
- Influenza (flu) Vaccine and Pregnancy FAQs for Patients (Léalo en español)
RSV
- Infographic – Pregnant? Top 3 Reasons Why You Need the RSV Vaccine (Léalo en español)
- Infographic – Protecting Your Baby from RSV: Protection During Pregnancy or Protection After Birth (Léalo en español)
- Video - Get Your Recommended RSV Vaccine During Pregnancy (Véalo en español)
- FAQs: The RSV Vaccine and Pregnancy