3 Vaccines You Should Consider This Holiday Season

December 7, 2023
Doctor giving needle to woman in exam room

Nothing can disrupt travel plans or seasonal festivities like an illness. Fortunately, vaccines can limit the chances of that happening. This year, for the first time, there are vaccines for all three major respiratory illnesses that could make you or your family sick.听听

1. Updated COVID-19 Vaccine听

The virus that causes COVID-19 continues to evolve into new strains. The most recent strain, called EG.5, doesn鈥檛 appear to be more severe than previous strains, but health experts have found that it spreads more easily. In early September, updated COVID-19 vaccines became available, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone age 6 months and older get one dose of the new vaccine.听

2. Flu Vaccines听

Flu viruses change every year, and flu vaccines are reformulated annually to match the forms of the virus most likely to make people sick that year. Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine, ideally in September or October before the flu begins to circulate or during听National Influenza Vaccination Week in December.

3. RSV Vaccines听

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a virus that can cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections. The virus circulates during fall and winter and can cause serious complications in infants, pregnant women and older adults. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved RSV vaccines for each of those age groups.听听

  • Infants: The CDC recommends one dose of nirsevimab-alip, the RSV vaccine approved for children, in infants younger than 8 months old. Babies ages 8 to 19 months who are approaching their second RSV season and have higher risks for severe disease also need the vaccine. If you have a child younger than 2 years old with a serious illness, such as chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease, talk to your pediatrician about an RSV vaccine called palivizumab. This vaccine is given monthly during RSV season and reserved for babies at the highest risk for severe RSV.听
  • Pregnant women: The FDA has approved an RSV vaccine for pregnant women at later stages of their pregnancies. The CDC recommends that a single dose of maternal RSV vaccine be administered immediately before or during RSV season, in weeks 32 to 36 during a pregnancy. Abrysvo is the only RSV vaccine recommended for pregnant women. Talk to your OB-GYN if you鈥檙e concerned about the virus.听
  • Adults age 60 and older: The CDC recommends RSV vaccination in adults 60 and over who have chronic health conditions, such as heart and lung diseases. If you鈥檙e concerned about your risk for the virus, talk to your primary care provider about whether you鈥檒l benefit from the vaccine.听

To save yourself some time, you may consider combining vaccine appointments into one visit, also known as coadministration. It鈥檚 safe to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine alongside your flu shot. It鈥檚 also safe to get the RSV vaccine alongside the flu shot. If you鈥檙e looking to get all three together, consult with your provider first as they can help you decide if that鈥檚 the right choice for you, based on your medical history.听

Stay protected this holiday season. Find a AV研究所 primary care provider who can help ensure you鈥檙e updated on seasonal and routine vaccines.听

Related Links

A New Antibody-Based Vaccine Has Been Approved for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) The Updated COVID-19 Vaccine is Here Podcast: The Importance of Childhood Vaccines A Vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Has Been Approved for Use in Older Adults and in Pregnant Individuals to Prevent Infographic: National Influenza Vaccination Week Why You Should Get Your Flu Shot Consider Getting Flu and COVID-19 Shots Together

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