It's National Influenza Vaccination Week: American College of Physicians Encourages Adults to Get Flu Shot

PHILADELPHIA, December 1, 2025— In observation of National Influenza Vaccination Week, the American College of Physicians (ACP) urges all adults to get a flu shot for the 2025–2026 season. ACP recommends standard-dose trivalent or quadrivalent vaccines for adults ages 18–64 and high-dose trivalent or quadrivalent vaccines for those 65 and older. Pregnant and immunocompromised adults were not included in ACP’s review, but most adults fall within the studied groups and should be vaccinated. The U.S. has largely shifted to trivalent vaccines since the 2024–25 season, though this varies by country.

National Influenza Vaccination Week was established to raise awareness of the importance of the influenza vaccine and increase vaccination rates throughout winter and into spring. Vaccination is critical, as population-based studies link vaccination rates to reduced hospitalizations and deaths. Influenza A and B cause a respiratory infection known as the flu and drive seasonal epidemics because they are highly infectious and rapidly mutate. Adults over the age of 65 and those with comorbidities, such as diabetes, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at greater risk for morbidity and mortality from influenza.

According to data from the CDC, the 2024-2025 season was the first high severity season since 2017-2018. Influenza rates in 2024-2025 increased from the previous season, with adults aged 65 and older seeing the sharpest increases in hospitalization. The peak hospitalization rate is predicted to be high again this year because of an influenza strain with severe outcomes and lower rates of immunization. National Influenza Vaccination Week serves as an important reminder to get the flu shot.

“Influenza is not a common cold. It is a dangerous, mutating virus that can quickly become life-threatening. National Influenza Vaccination Week reinforces not only the importance of immunization every year, but also that the effects of influenza and other respiratory viruses are as serious as they are widespread,” said Jason Goldman, MD, MACP, President, ACP. “The best protection we have against serious illness and hospitalization from influenza is getting the vaccine. It can not only save your life, but the lives of your loved ones.” 

ACP’s Adult Immunization Resource Hub offers a range of tools and resources for physicians and patients, including clinical recommendations, best practices, and breaking scientific content to improve adult immunization and patient outcomes.  

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About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 172 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 162,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our new RSS feed.

Contact: Louisa Ahlqvist (215-351-2661), lahlqvist@acponline.org