Don’t call them boosters.
They are vaccines. Both coronavirus and influenza constantly mutate, creating new strains for our immune systems to fight. New vaccines are created to target newer strains.
Influenza vaccines are created seasonally, but coronavirus mutations are less predictable and do not follow a linear annual path.
Flu season is here, and although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t predict the disease will be as prevalent as in past years, doctors are encouraging people to get vaccinated.
This fall, doctors are recommending both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Patients can receive influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations at the same time.
Dr. Oliver “Rocky” Morelle, an internal medicine and primary care physician at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, said that while the number of coronavirus cases is rising in Louisiana, the flu season is We don’t expect it to be as severe as the flu season. state.
Last year, only 45% of adults in the United States received a flu shot, and even fewer (23%) received a COVID-19 shot. As of March, Louisiana was averaging just over 70 hospitalizations per day due to the coronavirus, and only 39.4% of residents reported receiving a seasonal influenza vaccine.
Who needs a fall COVID-19 or influenza vaccination?
The CDC recommends both an up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination and an annual influenza vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. If you have recently been infected with COVID-19, you can wait two to three months, but you should get an updated vaccination as we anticipate an increase in infections in the winter.
Both viruses can be especially dangerous to certain groups, such as the elderly and people with weakened immune systems and lung or heart disease. Young children are also more vulnerable. The CDC counted 199 child deaths from influenza last year.
“If you get vaccinated, you’re less likely to get the flu, but it’s not guaranteed,” Moraire said. “The real benefit of giving individuals the flu vaccine is that it is very effective in reducing the likelihood that someone will become seriously ill, be hospitalized, or die from the flu.”
Pregnancy also increases your chances of contracting a serious coronavirus infection or influenza. Additionally, vaccination not only protects the mother, but also provides some protection for the newborn.
Molaire recommends that everyone who is eligible get the flu vaccine.
“As doctors, there is no good way to predict who will just ‘feel sick and feel uncomfortable for 10 to 14 days,’ or who will become seriously ill enough to end up in the hospital or die.” Morelle said.
What’s new about COVID-19 vaccinations?
While last fall’s shots targeted strains of the coronavirus that are no longer prevalent, this year’s shots are tailored to a new section of the coronavirus family tree. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are formulated against a virus subtype called KP.2, while the Novavax vaccine targets its parent strain, JN.1. Daskalakis said all need to provide good cross-protection against other variants that are currently circulating.
Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines are available for adults and children as young as 6 months old. The Novavax vaccine is a more traditional protein vaccine combined with an immune booster and can be given to anyone over the age of 12.
Which influenza vaccine should I choose?
Vaccinations with high-dose shots and special immune boosters are designed for people over 65, but if you can’t find one easily, opt for the regular flu shot for all ages. You can also.
For those who don’t like injections, Flumist, a nasal spray, is available for people aged 2 to 49 to buy at pharmacies and clinics, and will be available for home use next year.
All influenza vaccinations this year protect against two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B. Another once-common strain of influenza B stopped spreading several years ago and was removed from vaccines.
How much does it cost?
For Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans, the vaccine should be free if you use an in-network provider.
Last year, about 1.5 million uninsured adults received free coronavirus vaccinations through a federal program that has ended. In return, the CDC is providing $62 million to health departments to help improve access.
Check the government website to see if it is available at your local pharmacy.
