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Lungs and Respiratory System / Vaccines and Immunizations
Better safe than sorry. These are your seasonal vaccines
May 26, 2026
Estimated Reading Time: 5m
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Vaccines available in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in the United States, for seasonal respiratory viruses include updated formulas against influenza (flu), COVID‑19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
Flu
The word flu has been incorporated into colloquial language for over a century, which has somehow made this seasonal respiratory infection a part of our lives. But beware, this doesn't make it any less dangerous: the flu or influenza can become complicated and serious, especially in vulnerable groups.
The main goal of seasonal influenza vaccination is to prevent severe illness. Currently, 42 countries and territories in the Americas offer this immunization to high‑risk groups defined at the national level as:
- children aged 6 to 23 months,
- pregnant women,
- people with chronic illnesses,
- older adults,
- and health workers.
However, beyond vulnerable populations, anyone can receive this vaccine, except those who must be exempt for specific medical reasons. Ideally, you should talk to your primary care provider about the best way to protect yourself.
Influenza caused thousands of hospitalizations and deaths from severe respiratory causes across Latin America in 2025. The Southern Hemisphere season saw a 29% increase in cases of severe acute respiratory infections compared to 2024, driven mainly by influenza A(H1N1) and subsequently by variants of A(H3N2) in countries such as Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
In the United States, the season 2025–26 saw an increase in cases, especially because a rare strain, called H3N2 subK, circulated, which generated a situation known as "super flu".
And just as the virus that causes the flu mutates, that is, changes its genetic makeup every year, scientists need to develop new vaccine formulations each season to combat the strain that is circulating at that time.
That is why it is necessary to get vaccinated every season.
COVID‑19
The epidemic is long gone, but the virus that causes COVID‑19 is here to stay. And it circulates in communities, so we must take advantage of the available vaccines that help prevent infection or developing a severe form of it.
Getting the COVID vaccine‑19 can:
- help reduce the risk of developing severe symptoms
- help you recover more quickly if the disease develops
- help reduce the risk of having to be hospitalized or dying from COVID‑19
- protect yourself against different types of the virus
- protect the family and the community
A community with a high vaccination rate generates what is known as the "herd effect": greater immunity that acts as a protective shield, preventing the virus from circulating easily.
Although anyone can get vaccinated, except those with medical reasons who should speak to their doctor, the groups that should get vaccinated regularly are:
- Those who have never received a COVID‑19 vaccine
- Those aged 65 and over
- Those at high risk of developing severe COVID‑19
- Those living in a long‑term care facility
- Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or who might get pregnant in the future
- Those who want to reduce their risk of developing persistent (or long‑term) COVID
The recommendations are similar in all regions, and the COVID‑19 vaccine must also be repeated every year.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a significant public health challenge in Latin America, a region that accounts for up to half of the cases worldwide. It is one of the main causes of severe lower respiratory tract infections as well as hospitalizations in the pediatric population.
Several countries in the region have been pioneers in implementing preventive measures, such as maternal vaccination.
In the United States, this season saw more hospitalizations of children due to this virus, which is why the regular vaccination season was extended until April 30.
RSV is a common respiratory germ that affects the nose, throat, and lungs and usually causes mild, cold‑like symptoms.
However, infants and the elderly or those with certain risk factors are more likely to become seriously ill from RSV and require hospitalization.
These groups should receive the preventive vaccine.
Respiratory syncytial virus can also cause more serious illnesses, such as bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs). This virus is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under 1 year old.
With minor variations, the general recommendation is that:
- Pregnant women should receive an RSV vaccine between weeks 32 and 36 of gestation to pass on immunity to the newborn.
- If the mother was not vaccinated during pregnancy, infants under 8 months of age can receive a single dose of an RSV immunization product.
- High‑risk young children: Immunization is usually recommended for children between 8 and 19 months of age who are at high risk of developing severe RSV disease.
You should always consult your family doctor or pediatrician first.
Sources consulted
Pan American Health Organization, “Influenza Vaccine.”
Pan American Health Organization, “PAHO signs agreement to reserve pandemic influenza vaccine supply for Latin America and the Caribbean.”
World Health Organization, “Seasonal Influenza Global Situation” (2025).
IDSA, “Lessons from COVID‑19: Vaccine updating and implications for regional health sovereignty.”
World Health Organization, “How do vaccines work?”
European Medicines Agency, “COVID‑19 vaccines: key facts.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Staying Up to Date with COVID‑19 Vaccines.”
Frontiers, “Respiratory syncytial virus disease burden in children and adults from Latin America: a systematic review and meta‑analysis.”
Pediatrics, “Recommendations for the Prevention of RSV Disease in Infants and Children: Policy Statement.
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