Fall Vaccines Fight 3 Viruses

If you’ve had the flu, you know it can be a miserable experience. No one wants to be sick for four or more days if they don’t have to be. 

Unfortunately, some are sick even longer with secondary issues like ear infections, sinus infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. A smaller number of patients end up in the hospital and unfortunately people do die from the flu and other viruses each year.   

That’s why we urge our patients to get their flu shot each fall. This year, there’s also a new Covid booster and an RSV vaccine for older adults. Which do you need, and when should you get them? Read on for details.

Flu Vaccine

The flu shot is currently available. We urge patients to get it as soon as possible to ensure they are protected when flu season begins in the fall. 

• Everyone aged 6 months+ with few exceptions is recommended to get a flu shot.
• Children 6 months through 8 years of age may need 2 doses during a single flu season.
• Everyone else needs only 1 dose each flu season.

It takes about 2 weeks after vaccination for protection to develop. Flu vaccines do not contain live virus and do not cause flu. 

Covid Booster

A new Covid booster vaccine becomes available in September 2024. Very similar to how the flu virus can change and mutate, the Covid virus can also mutate. Even if you’ve had Covid before or had a previous booster vaccine, you may not be protected from this current strain. 

• Everyone aged 6 months+ is recommended to get an updated 2024-2025 Covid vaccine, whether or not they have ever previously been vaccinated.
• Millions of people have safely received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense vaccine safety monitoring in US history.

If you get a mild case of Covid despite receiving the vaccine, it doesn’t mean the vaccine didn’t work. It means the vaccine helped your body fight the illness so your symptoms were not as severe. 

RSV Vaccine

An RSV vaccine is now recommended for older adults. The best time to get vaccinated is in late summer or early fall – before RSV starts to spread in the community. 

• Adults aged 75 and older are recommended to get an RSV vaccine.
• Adults aged 60-74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease (those with heart, lung, renal disease, diabetes, severe obesity and other conditions) are also recommended to get the vaccine. 
• 1 dose is needed at this time. Further study will determine if additional doses are needed in the future. 

If you’re unsure if the RSV vaccine is for you, talk to your primary care provider. If you are pregnant, your provider may recommend a maternal RSV vaccine during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy. 

The good news is you can get the flu and Covid vaccines at the same time as studies have shown it's safe. The same goes for flu and RSV vaccines. There’s currently no study results on getting all three vaccines at once.

While it’s more convenient, getting multiple vaccines at the same time may increase the chances of mild side effects like arm pain, swelling, headache, or fatigue. These are usually short-lived and manageable with ibuprofen and rest.

Keep in mind, vaccinations don’t just protect you. They also help protect vulnerable people such as young babies and immune compromised people by reducing the spread of these viruses. If you have any concerns about vaccines, talk to your provider.