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Special Communication

COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety for the 2026-2027 Respiratory Season

JAMA 10.1001/jama.2026.18191

September 02, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT

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COVID-19 vaccines were consistently associated with a reduction in the risk of hospitalization and other outcomes, including among individuals at high risk of severe COVID-19, such as infants, and those who were pregnant. No new safety concerns were identified.

MEDIA ADVISORY: 2026-27 Respiratory Virus Immunization Recommendations

Recommendations are informed by JAMA evidence reviews on influenza, COVID-19, and RSV.

An accompanying Perspective describes the background of the Vaccine Integrity Project, outlines the process for the 2026-2027 evidence review, and summarizes key findings regarding vaccine effectiveness and safety.

EMBARGOED PRESS BRIEFING: Tuesday, September 1

The Vaccine Integrity Project, the American Medical Association (AMA), and leading medical specialty societies will participate in an embargoed press briefing to outline the latest data on influenza, COVID-19 and RSV immunization, and to provide evidence-based recommendations for the upcoming 2026-27 respiratory virus season.

WHAT: Embargoed press briefing for 2026-2027 respiratory virus scientific evidence and immunization recommendations

WHEN: 1 P.M. EDT Tuesday, September 1

WHERE: The briefing will be via Zoom. Register online.

WHO:

  • Nicole Basta, PhD, MPhil, Vaccine Integrity Project Evidence Review Co-Lead

  • Christina Davidson, MD, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Chief Medical Officer

  • Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD, AMA President-elect

  • Bruce Gelin, PhD, Vaccine Integrity Project Board of Advisors

  • Ronald G. Nahass, MD, MHCM, FIDSA, President of Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)

  • Sarah C. Nosal, MD, FAAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) President

  • Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) President.

Corresponding Author: Nicole E. Basta, PhD, MPhil, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, 2001 McGill College Ave, Ste 1200, Montréal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada (nicole.basta@mcgill.ca).

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Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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