Federal Health Officials Urge Vaccination Against COVID-19, Flu, and RSV as Fall Approaches

Sara Myers

4 months ago
woman inject boy on arm

Photo by CDC

As the fall season approaches, federal health officials are emphasizing the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have recently approved updated vaccines to combat these prevalent respiratory viruses.

On August 22, 2024, the FDA granted emergency use authorization for updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer.

The CDC recommends that everyone aged six months and older receive vaccinations for both COVID-19 and influenza annually. This year’s flu vaccine has been updated to protect against three strains of the virus.

For RSV, which can cause severe illness particularly in young children and older adults, there are now vaccines available. Adults aged 60 years and older and pregnant individuals are advised to get vaccinated. Dr. Uslan emphasized that those aged 75 and older should also be vaccinated against RSV.

Health experts assert that it is safe to receive all three vaccines during a single visit. The CDC has confirmed that coadministration of the flu vaccine with COVID-19 and RSV vaccines is effective and safe.

As of now, approximately 81% of adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; however, only 21% have received the updated 2023-24 vaccine. The CDC aims to increase vaccination rates as respiratory illnesses peak during the fall and winter months.

In light of these developments, officials are launching a public education campaign titled “Risk Less, Do More” to encourage vaccination uptake across the nation.

For more information on vaccination recommendations, individuals are encouraged to consult their healthcare providers or visit vaccines.gov for resources.

Sources:
[1] https://theconversation.com/covid-19-flu-and-rsv-shots-an-epidemiologist-explains-why-all-three-matter-this-fall-237443
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/getting-vaccines-at-same-time.html
[3] https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/time-get-vaccinated-against-influenza-and-covid-19
[4] https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/08/02/what-to-know-about-who-should-get-vaccinated-and-when
[5] https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20240823/plan-now-for-covid-flu-rsv-vaccines
[6] https://www.fda.gov/consumers/covid-19-flu-and-rsv
[7] https://apnews.com/article/covid19-flu-rsv-vaccines-shots-ad33f4fe23f4c293ab87415b6449d9ad
[8] https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/16/health/covid-19-flu-rsv-vaccines/index.html
[9] https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/06/covid-19-flu-rsv-vaccine-recommendations-for-fall-when-to-get-them.html
[10] https://www.roswellpark.org/cancertalk/202409/time-your-flu-shot-get-rsv-new-covid-19-vaccine-too

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