The quick guide to fall vaccines and when you should get them

Labor Day has passed, schools have resumed, and the season for pumpkin spice lattes is upon us. As the weather turns cooler and the time for respiratory viruses approaches, it is time to get ready for the annual vaccines. However, with anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leading the country's health efforts, the rollout of this year's vaccines might seem chaotic.

For example, last year Kennedy immediately shut down a flu shot advertisement during a deadly flu season. As we enter this fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee, which typically determines vaccination recommendations and insurance coverage, is currently dysfunctional. A federal judge ruled in March that the anti-vaccine supporters Kennedy appointed to the panel were illegally appointed and unfit to serve, voiding all their changes to vaccine policy.

Despite these issues, this year's fall vaccine effort appears to be on track for a relatively smooth process, even unremarkable. The Food and Drug Administration has approved updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines for this season, which have already started arriving at pharmacies. While there are still some access issues, the overall rollout seems to be similar to last year's.