The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is holding off on distributing the newly updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine, awaiting crucial recommendations and clinical guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This comes as the CDC urges providers to discontinue and destroy existing 2024-2025 vaccine stocks to prevent vaccination errors.

This patient-safety-focused approach has been DPH’s consistent protocol since the very first COVID-19 vaccines became available in late 2020, ensuring that all vaccine administration aligns with the latest scientific understanding and best practices.

Currently, health departments across Georgia, and indeed nationwide, do not have the updated 2025-2026 vaccine in stock. In a significant move to prevent vaccination errors and ensure public safety, the CDC has issued a strong recommendation for healthcare providers to immediately discontinue the use of the prior 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine and to destroy any unused product.

The critical recommendations from the ACIP are anticipated following their scheduled meeting on September 18-19. These recommendations typically detail target populations, dosing schedules, and specific clinical considerations for the new vaccine.

DPH will closely monitor these updates and all federal guidance related to COVID-19 vaccine administration. The department will then assess how these changes may impact the health and safety of Georgia residents, preparing for a strategic and informed rollout once guidance is solidified.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved and authorized the updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines designed to better protect against currently circulating variants, the CDC/ACIP guidance provides the practical framework for their deployment.

The DPH remains committed to providing residents with the most effective and safest public health interventions available and will communicate further details as soon as the federal guidance is released.

For additional information about the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA, please visit: FDA Approves and Authorizes Updated mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines to Better Protect Against Currently Circulating Variants | FDA.