The WHO/Europe opened the respiratory season with a direct call to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19 this fall–winter, stressing that SARS-CoV-2 circulation increased over the summer and that flu rebounds every autumn in the region; the agency notes that older adults, pregnant women, people living with chronic conditions, and the immunocompromised face a higher risk of severe illness, and that vaccination remains the best protection—along with basic measures such as ventilation, hand hygiene, and staying home if symptomatic.
In terms of healthcare pressure, the U.S. CDC anticipates for 2025–26 a combined peak of hospitalizations from COVID, flu, and RSV similar (within ±20%) to last winter, although the burden will depend on the timing and magnitude of each wave; the practical message for health systems and families is to prepare for a season that is moderate but not mild, with particular focus on adults 65+ and people with comorbidities.
In Europe, integrated ECDC surveillance currently shows low levels of influenza and RSV with declining COVID circulation and low hospital impact, but warns that the situation can change with colder weather; therefore, health services are already rolling out co-administration campaigns for the flu shot and updated COVID doses, as in England’s NHS, which has sent millions of invitations to eligible groups. Where mixed messages exist about eligibility for COVID boosters, authorities and experts recommend consulting usual providers and prioritizing high-risk groups to maintain coverage and avoid confusion.
