Getting Ready for Cold + Flu Season

Fall brings cooler weather, more time indoors, and the return of respiratory virus season. This year, people living with kidney disease in Oregon and Washington also have new regional guidance to help inform conversations about prevention.

On September 4, the West Coast Health Alliance issued its 2026–2027 respiratory virus season immunization recommendations. The alliance includes Oregon, Washington, California, and Hawaii and develops regional recommendations informed by national medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and American Academy of Family Physicians.

The recommendations address COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and emphasize protecting people who may be at greater risk of serious complications. Oregon Health Authority has also adopted measures designed to make updated COVID-19 vaccines broadly available for the 2026–2027 respiratory virus season.

For people living with kidney disease, fall is a useful time to review respiratory illness prevention with a doctor or kidney care team. Age, underlying medical conditions, medications, immune status, kidney dialysis, and kidney transplant history can all affect which immunizations may be appropriate and when they should be given.

That means recommendations should be individualized. Before receiving an immunization, kidney patients should talk with their doctor or kidney care team, particularly when health conditions or treatments have changed. Questions about previous vaccinations, timing, or whether a particular vaccine is appropriate are also worth raising during routine appointments.

Prevention extends beyond immunization. Staying home when sick, practicing good hand hygiene, and following guidance from health professionals can also help reduce the spread of respiratory illness.