Interim Estimates of 2025-26 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness - United States, September 2025-February 2026

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2026 Mar 12;75(9):116-123. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7509a2.

Abstract

In the United States, annual influenza vaccination has been recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months, including during the 2025-26 season. Interim influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates were calculated for patients with acute respiratory illness-associated outpatient visits and hospitalizations from three U.S. respiratory virus VE networks during the 2025-26 influenza season, using a test-negative case-control design. Among children and adolescents aged <18 years, VE was 38%-41% against influenza outpatient visits and 41% against influenza-associated hospitalization. Among adults aged ≥18 years, VE was 22%-34% against influenza outpatient visits and 30% against influenza-associated hospitalization. Among children and adolescents, VE against influenza A ranged from 37% (against outpatient visits) to 42% (against hospitalization) across settings; among adults, VE against influenza A ranged from 30% (against hospitalization) to 34% (against outpatient visits) across settings. Among children and adolescents, VE against influenza A(H3N2)-associated outpatient visits was 35% and against influenza A(H3N2)-associated hospitalization was 38%. VE against influenza B outpatient visits ranged from 45%-71% among children and adolescents and was 63% among adults. Other estimates of VE were not statistically significant or were not reportable. Although interim influenza VE is lower during the 2025-26 influenza season than it was during recent influenza seasons, these findings demonstrate that influenza vaccination still provides protection against influenza. CDC recommends influenza vaccination; U.S. influenza vaccines remain available for persons aged ≥6 months.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / isolation & purification
  • Influenza B virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza Vaccines* / administration & dosage
  • Influenza, Human* / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human* / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Seasons
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vaccine Efficacy* / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines