The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) supports the 2026-27 respiratory season vaccine evidence review released on September 2, 2026, by the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) in collaboration with the American Medical Association. VIP’s rigorous and independent vaccine evidence review also helped inform recommendations released at the same time by its participating medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
VIP states that “the latest, high-quality scientific evidence found that immunizations against influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) continue to provide meaningful protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death.”
VIP’s vaccine evidence review reinforces the importance of evidence-based immunization recommendations across the life course, which are reflected in GSA’s Concentric Value of Vaccination As We Age platform .
The cornerstone of GSA’s platform is the report, “ Concentric Value of Vaccination: Intersecting Health, Economic, and Societal Benefits ,” which provides evidence on the advantages of immunization for individual and population health, economic outcomes, and societal well-being.
“Vaccines remain the most consistently effective intervention against infectious diseases such as smallpox, rabies, polio, and various childhood illnesses,” the report concludes. “Their multifaceted impact highlights how vaccines not only prevent illness and reduce health care costs but also enable individuals to remain active contributors in the workforce, support caregiving roles, and sustain community engagement.”
GSA is a longstanding advocate for age-appropriate immunizations, supporting the evidence that vaccinations prevent disease and save lives.
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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), founded in 1945, is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization focused on aging. It serves more than 6,000 members in over 50 countries. GSA’s vision, meaningful lives as we age, is supported by its mission to foster excellence, innovation, and collaboration to advance aging research, education, practice, and policy. GSA is home to the National Academy on an Aging Society (a nonpartisan public policy institute) and the National Center to Reframe Aging.