This informal CPD article ‘Making Sense of Vaccine Evidence: What You Need to Know About the 2025-2026 Season’ was provided by Cima Care, who offer extensive training in vaccination and public health, advancing global health initiatives.
In waiting rooms, at kitchen tables, and in worried late-night internet searches, the same questions may often keep arising: Are these vaccines truly effective? Can I trust the safety information? What is the right decision for my family?
If these concerns feel familiar, you are not alone. Conflicting information about vaccines has left many people doubtful about whom to trust and what to believe. The good news is that independent researchers have completed one of the most comprehensive reviews of vaccine evidence ever conducted, examining 511 studies to provide clear, science-based answers to these questions.
The Largest Vaccine Evidence Review Ever
In October 2025, a group of independent academic investigators completed a comprehensive 12-week project: they reviewed 511 studies covering respiratory virus vaccines, examining over 17,000 scientific references. This work was not funded by pharmaceutical companies. It was supported by an unrestricted grant particularly designed to deliver unbiased, transparent guidance that healthcare professionals and the public could rely on. 1
But what made this review different from typical studies?
The researchers explored three major medical databases to find every relevant study. They assessed each study carefully for quality and potential bias. They used statistical methods to combine results from multiple studies, giving us more reliable answers. Most importantly, all their data is publicly available online so that anyone can verify their findings. 1
This level of transparency and rigour is crucial in an age when misinformation about vaccines spreads rapidly online.
How Well Do Vaccines Actually Work?
Here is what the evidence shows about protection against hospitalization:
COVID-19 Vaccines (updated mRNA vaccines)
The latest COVID-19 vaccines are 46-50% effective at preventing hospitalisation in adults. For the KP.2 variant specifically, protection jumps to 68%. Even in people with weakened immune systems, these vaccines still provide 37% protection. 1
RSV Vaccines (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
RSV vaccines show remarkable effectiveness, with 68% or greater protection against hospitalisation across three groups: infants protected through maternal vaccination during pregnancy, infants receiving the mAb (monoclonal antibody) treatment, and adults aged 60 and older receiving RSV vaccines. 1
Influenza (Flu) Vaccines
Flu vaccines are 67% effective in protecting children from hospitalisation and 48% effective in adults aged 18-64. 1
The bottom line? The research suggests vaccination substantially reduces your risk of becoming seriously ill enough to need hospital care.
What About Safety?
Understanding potential risks helps us make informed decisions. Here is what the comprehensive reviews found:
For Pregnant Women
The evidence is reassuring across all three vaccines:
- COVID-19 vaccination shows no link to miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital disabilities. Most studies actually found a lower risk of preterm birth after immunisation. 7
- RSV vaccination given at 32-36 weeks of pregnancy shows no significant association with preterm birth, though researchers continue to monitor data on earlier vaccination timing. 8
- Influenza vaccination has an excellent safety profile across all stages of pregnancy. 9
For Children and Teenagers
- Myocarditis (heart inflammation) after COVID-19 vaccination occurs in about 1.3-3.1 cases per 100,000 doses in male adolescents. The risk is lower when doses are spaced further apart. 1 & 10
- No significant safety concerns have emerged for the updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines formulated to protect against an Omicron subvariant, though long-term data continues to be collected. 1 & 7
For Older Adults
RSV vaccines have been linked to about 18 extra cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (a rare nerve condition) per million doses given. 1
Flu vaccines show no excess risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome in most studies. If there is any increased risk, it's extremely rare, about 1-2 extra cases per million doses. 1 & 11
Public health guidance on vaccination
Why Transparency About Risks Matters
Public‑health guidance on vaccination emphasises that transparent, proactive communication about safety and potential side effects is essential for building and maintaining trust, even when information is incomplete, and commentaries on vaccine communication further argue that honesty and clear explanation of both risks and benefits are particularly effective when speaking with hesitant patients. 6 & 12
In reality, the risks from these rare vaccine side effects are far smaller than the risks from the diseases themselves. For example, COVID-19 infection carries much higher risks of heart problems than COVID-19 vaccination does. 13&14
The Global Picture: Where Challenges Remain
While we have good evidence about vaccine effectiveness and safety, significant challenges persist worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, only Ghana achieved vaccination completion rates above 90%. 2 Over half of the countries in this region have no published studies on vaccination coverage. 3
Such data gaps create "blind spots" that make it harder to address vaccination challenges where they are needed most. 4 & 5
What influences whether children complete their vaccinations?
Research consistently shows several key factors:
- Having a vaccination card (100% positive association with completion)
- Mothers' education and knowledge about vaccines
- Access to facility-based births
- Healthcare workers' competence and confidence 3
These are not just statistics; they represent real families facing real barriers to healthcare access.
Making Sense of Changing Guidance
You may have noticed that vaccine recommendations sometimes change as new evidence emerges. This is not a sign of confusion; it is how science works. Each new study adds to our understanding, allowing us to refine recommendations based on the best available evidence.
The independent 2025 review provides a solid foundation for understanding current recommendations. By examining hundreds of studies together, researchers can identify patterns and reach more reliable conclusions than any single study could provide. 1
How Misinformation Spreads Faster Than Facts
One alarming finding from recent research is that health misinformation, false news, and rumours reach more people than the truth 15 and about 70% faster online than accurate information. 16 This makes it more important than ever to seek information from sources that base their recommendations on rigorous scientific review rather than anecdotal stories or unverified claims.
The World Health Organization has warned that "immunisation efforts are under growing threat as misinformation, population growth, humanitarian crises, and funding cuts jeopardise progress and leave millions of children, adolescents, and adults at risk." 17
What This Means for You
The evidence from 511 studies provides clear guidance that vaccines for COVID-19, RSV, and influenza offer substantial protection against serious illness while maintaining good safety profiles. Rare side effects exist, as they do with any medical intervention, but they are far less common and less severe than complications from the diseases themselves.
When making decisions about vaccination for yourself or your family, consider your individual circumstances and health conditions, discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider, remember that the evidence shows clear benefits, and have in mind that transparency about risks reflects scientific integrity, not reasons for worry.
Key Takeaways
- The most comprehensive independent review of 511 vaccine studies confirms that current COVID-19, RSV, and influenza vaccines are effective at preventing hospitalisation.
- Safety profiles are reassuring across all age groups, including pregnant women, children, and older adults.
- Rare side effects exist but are substantially less risky than the diseases themselves.
- Global vaccination challenges persist, particularly in lower-resource settings.
- Misinformation spreads faster than facts, making trusted, independent evidence sources more important than ever. 1-17
Looking Forward
As new vaccine formulations are developed and new evidence appears, reviews like this 2025-2026 systematic analysis will continue to provide the transparent, independent guidance we all need to make informed health decisions. 1
Remember, every family's situation is unique. While the science strongly supports vaccination, it is essential to discuss your specific circumstances with your healthcare provider to make the best decisions for your health and your loved ones'.
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from Cima Care, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
REFERENCES
1- Scott J, Abers MS, Marwah HK, McCann NC, Meyerowitz EA, Richterman A, et al. Updated Evidence for Covid-19, RSV, and Influenza Vaccines for 2025–2026. New England Journal of Medicine. 2025 Oct 29.
2- Status of immunization coverage in Africa as of the end of 2022 [Internet]. Available from: https://www.afro.who.int/sites/default/files/2023-10/Status%20of%20immunization%20coverage_final-compressed_compressed.pdf
3- Li W, Fabrice Sewolo, Aoun A, Minyahil Tadesse Boltena, Amro Musad, Lindstrand A, et al. Characteristics of Studies Focusing on Vaccine Series Completion Among Children Aged 12–23 Months in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review. Children [Internet]. 2025 Mar 26 [cited 2025 Nov 3];12(4):415–5. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12025459/
4- Alemneh Mekuriaw Liyew, Gilmour B, Clements ACA, Gething P, Rumisha SF, Jailos Lubinda, et al. Mapping Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination coverage in Africa from 1990 to 2022: a novel spatiotemporal modelling study. PubMed [Internet]. 2025 Sep 26 [cited 2025 Nov 3]; Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(25)00304-3/fulltext
5- Simon DJ, Kondo C, Kassoum Dianou, Osaretin Christabel Okonji, Serge Madjou. Regional, subregional and country-level full vaccination coverage in children aged 12-23 months for 34 countries in sub-Saharan Africa: a global analysis using Demographic and Health Survey data. BMJ Global Health [Internet]. 2025 Mar 15;10(e18333). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389880234_Regional_subregional_and_country-level_full_vaccination_coverage_in_children_aged_12-23_months_for_34_countries_in_sub-Saharan_Africa_a_global_analysis_using_Demographic_and_Health_Survey_data
6- Gibbs TE. Vaccine Communication: Delaware Journal of Public Health. 2022 Mar;8(1):6–6.
7- COVID-19 Vaccine -mRNA Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty XBB.1.5 -Ultra Frozen Vaccine Biological Page [Internet]. [cited 2025 Nov 3]. Available from: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/hp/cdc/if-hp-cdc-pfizer-xbb-vac-bio-page.pdf
8- Fleming-Dutra KE. Use of the Pfizer Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine During Pregnancy for the Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Associated Lower Respiratory Tract Disease in Infants: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2023. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report [Internet]. 2023;72(41). Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7241e1.htm
9- Influenza Vaccines for 2025-2026 | The Medical Letter Inc. [Internet]. Medicalletter.org. 2025. Available from: https://secure.medicalletter.org/TML-article-1738a
10- Gargano JW. Use of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine After Reports of Myocarditis Among Vaccine Recipients: Update from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, June 2021. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report [Internet]. 2021;70. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7027e2.htm
11- CDC. Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Flu Vaccine [Internet]. Influenza (Flu). 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-safety/guillainbarre.html
12- Sauer M, Limaye R. Building trust in vaccination [Internet]. Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. 2021. Available from: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/report/building-trust-in-vaccination
13- Myocarditis and pericarditis: Weighing the risks of these rare side effects: Oregon Health News Blog [Internet]. Oregon Health News Blog. 2021 [cited 2025 Dec 1]. Available from: https://oregonhealthnews.oregon.gov/myocarditis-and-pericarditis-weighing-the-risks-of-these-rare-side-effects/
14- Myocarditis risk significantly higher after COVID-19 infection vs. after a COVID-19 vaccine [Internet]. American Heart Association. Available from: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/myocarditis-risk-significantly-higher-after-covid-19-infection-vs-after-a-covid-19-vaccine
15- Vosoughi S, Roy D, Aral S. The Spread of True and False News Online. Science. 2018 Mar 9;359(6380):1146–51.
16- American Medical Association. AMA Ed Hub [Internet]. Ama-assn.org. 2024 [cited 2025 Nov 3]. Available from: https://edhub.ama-assn.org/pages/what-every-doctor-should-know-about-medical-misinformation
17- Increases in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks threaten years of progress, warn WHO, UNICEF, Gavi [Internet]. Who.int. World Health Organization: WHO; 2025. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-04-2025-increases-in-vaccine-preventable-disease-outbreaks-threaten-years-of-progress--warn-who--unicef--gavi
