It is Autumn already. And, that means it is respiratory virus season.
Time to obtain the following vaccines: COVID19 Booster, flu, and RSV. (Note that not everyone needs a RSV vaccine. I’ll get into that shortly.)
Over the next 30 days or so, you should schedule your flu and COVID 19 inoculations. If you recently succumbed to COVID19, then hold off on that vaccine for about three to six months. Should you be a senior citizen or immunocompromised, then you need that COVID19 shot- which targets the dominant strains circulating in America. (Actually, anyone over the age of 5 is eligible for vaccination.) Moreover, if your last COVID shot was obtained a year or so ago- get thee to a dispensary soon. Your immunity is probably too low to stave off the infection. And, you should know that immunity doesn’t really kick into until a week or two after you’ve been jabbed.
These COVID (actually, all of these) vaccines can be obtained from your doctor, a drugstore, Target, and a few grocery stores. Right now, the vendor choices are Pfizer and Moderna- both with about equivalent protection. But, if you had negative reactions to those inoculations in the past, you may want to wait for the Novavax formulation (protein based, as opposed to RNA modified) which will be out soon.
Note that the flu vaccine yields its protection for about four to six months. It is recommended for every one over the age of 6 months (Centers for Disease Control). And, for older adults, there are vaccine choices- standard dose adjuvanted (look! An adjuvancy!), high dose inactivated quadrivalent, or the recombinant quadrivalent one. (This is the only one that is not egg based). So, waiting until mid-October may be the best choice, since the flu season doesn’t end until March or April. But, if you just had the flu, then you should wait a month from recovery to obtain the vaccine. (The flu vaccine is aimed at four different variants- and you only succumbed to one of them.)
Note that you can get both the COVID and Flu vaccines at the same time. But, you should get the RSV vaccine at a different time.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) targets the very young, the old, and the immunocompromised. If you match those characteristics, then you need the RSV vaccine. Note that if you have insurance, the cost for this vaccine is also free. Otherwise, it will set you back about $295.
Oh, and if you are pregnant (32 to 36 weeks)- get an RSV shot, too, so you child will be protected once it is born. Because most infants get infected right after birth (and in their first year of life)- when their immune systems are still developing. This process is about 80% effective.
Stay healthy!
