It is mid-January 2026, and if you have been following the RSV season 2025 news cycle, you know things just got incredibly complicated. Hospitals are currently seeing a weird mix of patients. For the first time in years, the "tripledemic" is behaving differently because the rules for who can get protected just shifted under our feet.
Honestly, it is a bit of a mess.
Just last week, the CDC effectively overhauled the childhood immunization schedule, moving several key shots—including those for RSV—into a "high-risk only" category. This is a massive departure from how we handled the 2024-2025 season. Back then, the goal was basically "protect every baby." Now? It’s a game of shared clinical decision-making and insurance hurdles.
The Current State of RSV Season 2025 News
Right now, the data from early January 2026 shows that RSV hospitalizations are hovering around 1.8 per 100,000 people. That might sound low compared to the flu, which is currently spiking at 11.9, but for parents of newborns, RSV is still the primary bogeyman.
Why? Because the virus literally chokes the smallest airways. Dr. Becky Thomas from Dayton Public Health recently called the new monoclonal antibodies a "game changer," but there is a catch. The "game" only changes if you can actually get the shot.
What changed with the new 2026 recommendations?
On January 5, 2026, the CDC cut the number of routinely recommended vaccines for kids from 17 down to 11. This didn't just affect RSV; it hit Hepatitis A, B, and the flu too. For RSV specifically, the long-acting antibodies like nirsevimab (Beyfortus) and the newly approved clesrovimab (Enflonsia) are no longer "routine" for every infant.
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They are now targeted.
Critics, including Kevin Ault, an OB-GYN and former member of the ACIP RSV working group, are sounding the alarm. He points out that most babies hospitalized with RSV were actually born healthy and full-term. If you only give the shot to "high-risk" kids, you miss the vast majority of cases.
The New Tools in the Arsenal
Despite the political and administrative shifts, the science behind the RSV season 2025 news is actually quite strong. We have more options than we did two years ago.
- Clesrovimab (Enflonsia): This was approved in June 2025. It’s a monoclonal antibody, which is basically a pre-made shield for the baby’s immune system. In trials, it cut RSV hospitalizations by a staggering 84%.
- Abrysvo (Maternal Vaccine): This is still the only one you can get while pregnant. It’s about 70% effective at keeping your future baby out of the hospital.
- mResvia: This is Moderna’s mRNA RSV vaccine for seniors. It joined the ranks of GSK’s Arexvy and Pfizer’s Abrysvo to give older adults three distinct choices this season.
Uptake has been... interesting. As of January 3, 2026, about 41% of adults over 75 have had an RSV shot. Among infants, the numbers were actually higher than last year initially—roughly 60% of babies were protected by either a maternal vaccine or an antibody shot by December. But with the new January restrictions, those numbers might stall as doctors wait to see if insurance companies keep paying for "non-routine" shots.
Why This Season is Different for Seniors
If you are over 75, the 2025-2026 advice is pretty simple: get the shot. It is a single lifetime dose for now. If you got it last year, you don't need another one today.
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But for those aged 60 to 74, the CDC shifted the goalposts to "increased risk." This means if you have COPD, asthma, or heart failure, you’re at the front of the line. If you’re a healthy 62-year-old, you might have to argue your case a bit more with your pharmacist.
The reality is that RSV kills up to 10,000 seniors every year. It isn't just a "bad cold." It's an inflammatory bomb that can trigger a heart attack or permanent lung damage.
The "High-Risk" Confusion
The biggest problem with the latest RSV season 2025 news is the definition of "high risk."
There isn't a perfect list.
This creates a "fragmentation of the system," as Dr. Ault puts it. When a vaccine isn't "routine," smaller clinics stop stocking it because it’s expensive and might expire on the shelf. You might be eligible on paper but find that your local pharmacy doesn't have a single dose in the fridge.
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Practical Steps to Navigate the Rest of the Season
If you're worried about the current spike, don't wait for a news alert to tell you the peak has passed. Historically, RSV peaks in late December or January, but the Southeast often sees it linger longer.
First, check your records. If you’re a senior who got Arexvy or Abrysvo in 2024, you are still protected. These are not annual shots like the flu.
Second, if you're pregnant, ask about the 32-36 week window. Getting the Abrysvo shot during this specific window is the easiest way to bypass the new "high-risk" restrictions for infants because the protection is passed through the placenta. It’s a loophole that works.
Third, document everything. Since the CDC moved these to "shared clinical decision-making," your insurance might bark at the bill. Have your doctor write a quick note in your chart about why the RSV protection is medically necessary for you or your child.
We are in a transition period where the science is getting better, but the access is getting tighter. Staying informed about the latest RSV season 2025 news is basically the only way to make sure you don't fall through the cracks of these new policy changes.
Check with your pediatrician specifically about clesrovimab availability if your baby was born recently. It is the newest tool we have, and in many areas, it is currently more available than the older nirsevimab supply.