What you need to know
- Immunizations against COVID-19, the flu, and RSV are available now. Recommendations vary depending on your age, health, and other risk factors.
- October is a good time to get vaccinated against respiratory viruses, and you can get multiple vaccines at the same appointment.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that COVID-19, the flu, and RSV could cause a similar number of hospitalizations this fall and winter as they did last season.
Last fall and winter, the U.S. experienced its highest levels of respiratory illness in more than 25 years. According to preliminary data from the CDC, millions of people were infected with the flu, at least 390,000 were hospitalized for it, and 24,000 died from it. This year, the agency predicts that COVID-19, the flu, and RSV could cause a similar number of cases and hospitalizations.
The good news is that immunizations to protect against all three viruses are now available, and most eligible people can get them for free.
“Respiratory viruses sicken and even kill thousands of people every year,” Dr. Preeti Malani, infectious disease physician and professor at the University of Michigan, tells Public Good News. “Vaccination is a safe and effective way to help prevent illness and prevent severe illness.”
Read on to learn more about the immunizations available, who should get them this season, and when.
Which immunizations are available this fall and winter, and who are they recommended for?
Updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available this respiratory virus season, along with RSV immunizations for certain groups. This year, a new mRNA flu vaccine option, Moderna’s mFlusiva, is available for people 50 and older.
We talked to experts about the immunization options for each virus and who they’re recommended for, following guidance from major medical associations like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
COVID-19:
Who should get the vaccine?
- All adults 19 and older, especially those 65 and over and people at higher risk of severe COVID-19, such as people with diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung diseases, or cancer.
- Children ages 6 to 23 months. Malani explains that young children “have lost immunity provided by their mothers after birth and their own immune system is still immature.”
- Children and teens ages 2 to 18 years who are at increased risk of severe COVID-19, have never been vaccinated, or live with someone at high risk. Vaccination is also an option for other children whose parents want them protected.
- People who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, says that these maternal antibodies can help protect newborns.
What COVID-19 vaccines are available this season?
mRNA vaccines: Made by Pfizer and Moderna, these vaccines give your cells instructions to produce a harmless piece of the virus, which helps your immune system recognize and fight it.
Protein-based vaccine: Novavax offers a vaccine that uses a protein from the virus to trigger an immune response. This may appeal to people who prefer a vaccine without mRNA technology.
Both types help protect against severe COVID-19, and neither is generally recommended over the other for people who are eligible for both.
Flu
Who should get the vaccine?
- Everyone 6 months and older.
- Vaccination is especially important for young children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with certain underlying health conditions.
What flu vaccines are available this season?
Standard flu shots: These are appropriate for most people ages 6 months and older. Some are made using eggs, while others are egg-free. People with egg allergies can generally get any flu vaccine, including egg-based vaccines, because they contain only a very small amount of egg protein. However, your doctor may recommend that you wait after your vaccine for observation as an extra precaution.
Nasal spray vaccine: FluMist is a needle-free option for eligible people ages 2 to 49 years. It can also be administered at home in some states, but it isn’t recommended for people who are pregnant or immunocompromised or have certain other medical conditions.
Vaccines for older adults: Adults 65 and older are advised to get an enhanced flu vaccine, which are designed to produce a stronger immune response or may offer better protection than standard-dose vaccines. These include high-dose, recombinant, adjuvanted, and mRNA vaccine options.
New mRNA flu vaccine: mFlusiva is the first mRNA flu vaccine, approved for adults 50 and older. Clinical trials found it was more effective than a standard-dose flu vaccine, although that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better than other vaccines recommended for older adults.
RSV
Who should get an immunization?
- All adults 75 and older.
- Adults ages 50 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV because of underlying health conditions or other risk factors.
- People who are 32 to 36 weeks pregnant during RSV season, generally September through January in most of the U.S., to help protect their babies after birth.
- Infants younger than 8 months entering their first RSV season whose birthing parent was not vaccinated during pregnancy, whose birthing parent’s vaccination status is unknown, or who were born less than 14 days after maternal vaccination.
- Some children ages 8 to 19 months who are at increased risk of severe RSV and entering their second RSV season.
What RSV immunizations are available?
Eligible adults receive an RSV vaccine. Unlike COVID-19 and flu vaccines, RSV vaccines aren’t recommended every year. People who have already received an RSV vaccine generally don’t need another dose.
Infants get an antibody medication—not a vaccine—that helps protect against severe RSV. Most infants don’t need both maternal vaccination and an antibody product.
When’s the best time to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu this season?
Both Malani and Chin-Hong agree that October is an ideal time to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu. It’s also safe (and convenient) to get both vaccines at the same appointment.
Chin-Hong says the timing is particularly important for the flu vaccine this year because flu activity is increasing earlier than usual.
“The flu is arriving early (now) in the U.S., so I would get the flu shot now if possible or sometime in October.”
“It’s important to get vaccinated before respiratory virus infections start to increase,” Malani adds. “Especially since it takes a few weeks to provide a protective immune response.”
Are COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines free this year?
Yes. Most major health insurance plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP, are expected to cover COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines at no cost to eligible patients. However, coverage can vary depending on your insurance plan, age, and where you get vaccinated.
If you have private insurance, check that your health care provider or pharmacy is in network to avoid unexpected costs.
If you’re uninsured, you may be able to get vaccinated for free or at a reduced cost through your local health department or a community health center. Children who qualify can also receive free vaccines through the federal Vaccines for Children program.