Fall is the time for nearly everyone to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines up to date. And many older adults also need protection against respiratory syncytial virus, another dangerous winter virus. Video above: Americans will soon be able to order more free COVID-19 tests. Yes, you can get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. Don’t call it a booster. It’s not just another layer of protection from last year. Coronaviruses and influenza are escape artists that constantly mutate to evade the body’s immune defenses, so both vaccines are reformulated each year to target new strains. “Now is the best time to get all of your recommended fall vaccinations,” said Mandy Cohen, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who got her flu shot on Wednesday. She also has an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination. Getting vaccinated is “the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community.” Vaccines are not perfect, but they offer strong protection against severe illness or death from influenza and COVID-19. “It doesn’t prevent all infections, but it reduces the severity of the disease,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of the CDC. “I’d rather have my grandmother or great-grandmother get a runny nose than go to the emergency room on Thanksgiving.” The challenge is getting more Americans to get vaccinated. Last year, only 45% of adults got a flu shot, and even fewer, 23%, got a COVID-19 shot. The number of people who plan to get vaccinated this fall is similarly low, according to a survey released Wednesday by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Last year, more Americans died from the coronavirus than from the flu. “You may believe you won’t get it, but don’t take the risk,” said Dr. Michael Knight of George Washington University. “Why not get a vaccine that helps reduce your risk?” Who needs a fall COVID-19 or flu shot? The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months get both an up-to-date COVID-19 shot and their annual flu vaccine. If you recently had COVID-19, you can wait two to three months, but you should still get an up-to-date vaccination as infections are expected to surge in the winter. Both viruses are especially dangerous for certain groups, such as the elderly, those with weakened immune systems and lung or heart disease. Small children are also more vulnerable. The CDC counted 199 children who died from influenza last year. Pregnancy also increases the chances of severe COVID-19 or influenza. Vaccination not only protects the mother, but also gives some protection to the newborn. What’s new in the COVID-19 vaccine? Last fall’s vaccine targeted coronavirus strains that are no longer circulating, but this year’s vaccine is tailored to a new section of the coronavirus family tree. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are made for a subtype of the virus called KP.2, while the Novavax vaccine targets its parent strain, JN.1. Daskalakis said both should provide good cross-protection against other subtypes currently circulating. The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines can be given to adults and children as young as 6 months old. The Novavax vaccine combines a more traditional protein vaccine with an immune booster and can be given to anyone 12 years of age or older. Which flu vaccine should you choose? High-dose shots and shots with special immune boosters are designed for people over 65, but if you can’t find them easily, you can choose the regular flu vaccine for all ages. For those who don’t like shots, pharmacies and clinics sell FluMist nasal spray for ages 2-49. However, it will be available for home use next year. All flu shots this year will protect against two influenza A strains and one type B strain. Another type of influenza, type B, which was once common, went out of circulation several years ago and has been removed from the vaccine. What about another virus, respiratory syncytial virus? Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a nuisance like the common cold for most people, but it also crowds hospitals every winter and can be deadly for children under 5, the elderly, and those with certain high-risk health problems. The CDC recommends RSV vaccination for everyone over 75, and for people aged 60-74 who are at high risk. It’s a one-time shot, not an annual vaccination, but only 24% of seniors got it last year. It’s also recommended to get it in the second trimester of pregnancy to protect babies born in the fall and winter. It’s also fine to get the RSV, flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time, “although it might make you feel a bit sick in your arm or a day,” Daskalakis said. What will it cost? The vaccine should be free under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans if you use an in-network provider. Last year, about 1.5 million uninsured adults received free COVID-19 vaccinations through a federal program, but that’s ending. Instead, the CDC has provided $62 million to health departments to help improve access, and states and large cities are starting to roll out plans. Dr. Raynard Washington, health director for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, advises calling your local health department and asking about your options, as many areas “expect the vaccine to be available at low cost or for free in the coming weeks.” Check the government website, vaccines.gov, for availability at your local pharmacy.
Fall is the time when nearly everyone gets their flu and COVID-19 vaccines up to date, and many older adults also need protection against another dangerous winter virus, respiratory syncytial virus.
Video above: Americans will soon be able to order more free COVID-19 tests
Yes, you can get the flu and COVID-19 shots at the same time. Don’t call it a booster; it’s not just an extra layer of protection from last year. Coronaviruses and influenza are masters of escape routes, constantly mutating to evade the body’s immune defenses, so both vaccines are improved each year to target new strains.
Mandy Cohen, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who got her flu shot on Wednesday, said “now is the best time” to get all the recommended vaccinations for the fall. She’s also scheduling an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccination, which she says is “the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community.”
Although vaccinations are not perfect, they provide strong protection against severe illness or death from both influenza and COVID-19.
“It won’t prevent all infections, but it will reduce the severity of infections if you do get them,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of the CDC. “I’d rather have my grandmother or great-grandmother with a runny nose than have to go to the emergency room on Thanksgiving.”
The challenge is getting more Americans to get vaccinated: Only 45% of adults got a flu shot last year, and even fewer, 23%, got a COVID-19 shot. The number of people planning to get vaccinated this fall is similarly low, according to a survey released Wednesday by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
And last year, coronavirus killed more Americans than the flu.
“You may believe you’re not going to get it, but don’t take any chances,” said Dr. Michael Knight of George Washington University. “Why not get the vaccine to help reduce your risk?”
Who needs a fall COVID-19 or flu shot?
The CDC recommends both an up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination and an annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months of age or older. If you were recently infected with COVID-19, you can wait 2-3 months, but you should still get an up-to-date vaccination as a winter surge in cases is expected.
Both viruses are especially dangerous for certain groups, such as older people and those with weakened immune systems and lung or heart disease. Young children are also more susceptible; the CDC counted 199 children who died from the flu last year.
During pregnancy, there is also an increased risk of contracting severe COVID-19 and influenza. Vaccination not only protects the mother, but also provides some protection to the newborn.
What’s the latest on COVID-19 vaccines?
Last fall’s vaccines targeted coronavirus strains that are no longer circulating, but this year’s vaccines are tailored to a new section of the coronavirus family tree. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are formulated against a subtype of the virus called KP.2, while Novavax’s vaccine targets its parent strain, JN.1. All of these should offer good cross-protection against other variants now circulating, Daskalakis said.
The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines can be given to adults and children as young as 6 months old, while Novavax’s vaccine is a more traditional protein vaccine combined with an immune booster and can be given to anyone 12 years of age or older.
Which flu vaccine should I choose?
High-dose shots and those with special immunity boosters are designed for people over 65, but if you can’t easily find them, you can opt for the regular flu shot for all ages.
For those who don’t like injections, a nasal spray called FluMist is available at pharmacies and clinics for people aged between two and 49, and is due to be available for home use next year.
All flu shots this year will protect against two types of influenza A and one type of influenza B. The other type of influenza B, which was once common, stopped circulating several years ago and was removed from the vaccine.
What about the other virus, RSV?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a nuisance like the common cold for most people, but it also crowds hospitals every winter and can be deadly for children under 5, older people, and people with certain high-risk health problems.
The CDC recommends RSV vaccination for everyone 75 years of age and older, as well as for high-risk individuals ages 60 to 74. It is a one-dose shot that is not given annually, but only 24% of older adults got it last year. It is also recommended to get the shot during the third trimester of pregnancy to protect babies born in the fall and winter.
It’s also fine to get the RSV, flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time, although “you might get a sore arm or feel sick for a day,” Daskalakis said.
What is the cost?
Under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans, the vaccine should be free if you use an in-network provider.
About 1.5 million uninsured adults received COVID-19 vaccinations for free through a federal program last year that has now ended. Instead, the CDC has provided $62 million to health departments to help improve access, and states and large cities are beginning to roll out their plans.
Dr. Raynard Washington, health director for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, advised people to call their local health department to inquire about their options, as many areas “are expected to see gradually increased availability of low-cost or no-cost vaccines over the coming weeks.”
Check the government website (vaccines.gov) for availability at your local pharmacy.