By Mike Hori, MD, Medical Director for Valley’s Infectious Disease Clinic
Winter respiratory viral infection season will soon be upon us. Many types of viruses can cause a respiratory infection over the winter months, ranging from an annoying cold to severe pneumonia that may be life-threatening. As with last winter, we can protect ourselves from winter respiratory infections such as COVID, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with vaccinations. These vaccinations may reduce your risk of getting an infection, but more importantly, they will reduce your risk of getting a severe, even deadly, infection. So who should get them and where?
Influenza vaccine is now available and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends getting the vaccination now. This vaccination is very widely available at most pharmacies or in your provider’s office and is recommended for anyone 6 months of age or older. It has been determined that this vaccine is safe even if you have an egg allergy.
A new 2024-2025 COVID vaccination is now available. The CDC is again recommending it for anyone 6 months of age or older. It is especially important to get your 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine. For most people, you are eligible for it as soon as it becomes available, but some people may benefit from waiting a bit. If you have had a recent COVID infection, you may wish to wait three months. You can get it earlier if you want without undue side effects. It will not be available for adults at Valley clinics, but major pharmacies will have it. The government is not covering the vaccine like it has previously, but your insurance should, including vaccines for children if the provider participates in the Vaccines for Children program. If you do not have insurance, check vaccines.gov for possible resources.
RSV vaccinations are available for certain people as recommended by the CDC if you did not get one last year. At this time the RSV vaccines are only recommended once in a lifetime. Per the CDC, eligible people include everyone ages 75 and older and adults ages 60-74 at increased risk of severe RSV.
Adults 60-74 who are at increased risk include those with chronic heart or lung disease, certain other chronic medical conditions, people on medications that compromise immunity, and those who are residents of nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.
RSV vaccination is also recommended for pregnant women between weeks 32 and 36 to protect their babies.
The best time to get vaccinated is in late summer and early fall — just before RSV usually starts to spread in the community.
RSV vaccination should be available in your usual pharmacy. Coverage by insurance this year should be better than in the past and is available to all patients with Medicare Part D.
Take Care to Help Prevent the Spread of Germs!
To help stop the spread of germs, please remember to:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze in to your elbow, not your hands.
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds immediately after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.
- If you are ill, stay home from work or school when possible.
See the CDC website for more tips on how to help prevent the spread of respiratory disease.
Where can I get vaccinated?
There are many locations throughout the community offering flu and COVID-19 vaccines, as well as RSV vaccines for those who qualify. Don’t delay, schedule your vaccination appointment (and appointments for your family members, too!) today.
- Valley Medical Center:
- Flu vaccine available for established Valley patients of all ages at primary care clinics
- COVID vaccine available for pediatric patients at primary care clinics
- Other options:
- Many pharmacies are now scheduling appointments for flu, COVID, and RSV vaccinations. Find a pharmacy near you at vaccines.gov
- GoVaxKids is hosting school and community-located vaccination events at no cost for children who live in South King County.
- Washington State Department of Health Care-a-Van clinics offer vaccines for all ages.
Learn more about fall and winter vaccines in this article from Public Health Insider.
