Staying Healthy This Fall: What Granite Staters Should Know About 2025 Vaccines

As cooler weather arrives and families across New Hampshire head back indoors, now is the perfect time to make sure you’re up to date on your fall vaccinations. This year’s updated guidance from the CDC, AAP, ACOG, and the NH Public Health Association highlights three key vaccines that can protect you and your loved ones from severe respiratory illness: influenza (flu), COVID-19, and RSV.

Why It Matters

Each of these viruses can lead to serious illness — especially for older adults, infants, people with chronic conditions, and pregnant individuals. Vaccination remains the safest and most effective way to reduce your risk of hospitalization and protect those around you.

Even healthy adults can experience long recoveries and missed work from respiratory infections. Taking a few minutes this fall to schedule your shots can make a big difference through the winter season.

The Big Three: What You Need to Know

1. Flu Vaccine
Flu season is just around the corner, and October is the ideal time to get vaccinated. Protection can wane over the course of the season, so getting your shot now offers strong coverage through winter.

• How well it works: 30–60% protection against illness and severe disease.

• Who should get it: Everyone 6 months and older. Adults 65+ should ask for a high-dose, recombinant, or adjuvanted vaccine if available.

2. COVID-19 Vaccine
Updated COVID-19 vaccines now target the Omicron JN.1 and LP.8.1 subvariants, offering stronger protection against severe illness.

• How well it works: 80–96% reduction in risk of severe disease.

• Who should get it: All adults and children 6 months and older.

• Available options: Pfizer and Moderna (mRNA) and Novavax (protein-based).

3. RSV Immunization
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) can be particularly dangerous for infants, older adults, and people with underlying conditions.

• Who should get it:

  • Infants under 8 months and young children with risk factors (through monoclonal antibodies).

  • Pregnant individuals (32–36 weeks gestation) — the Pfizer ABRYSVO vaccine helps protect newborns.

  • Older adults (50+ with risk factors, and all 75+) may receive the GSK or Pfizer vaccine.

• Timing:

  • Infants: October–March

  • Pregnancy: September–January

  • Older adults: As soon as possible — protection lasts through the season.

Protecting New Hampshire Together

Vaccines are one of the simplest ways to protect both individual and community health. For every person who stays healthy, hospital systems are less strained, workplaces remain open, and families spend fewer days worrying about illness.

If you’re not sure which vaccines you need, talk with your healthcare provider or local pharmacy — many now offer all three vaccines at the same appointment.

For more information and local updates, visit nhpha.org or follow the New Hampshire Public Health Associationon social media.

Let’s keep New Hampshire healthy, connected, and resilient this fall.