The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends that each up to date influenza and COVID-19 vaccines be a part of the vaccination plan that folks undertake come fall and winter.
The general public well being company mentioned that each vaccinations will be safely given on the similar time and famous that they defend towards extreme outcomes for each sicknesses, together with each hospitalizations and dying. The annual toll from the 2 sicknesses is important: In 2023, greater than 916,300 Individuals have been hospitalized resulting from COVID-19 and greater than 75,500 died on account of contracting the sickness. Through the 2023-24 flu season, extra than simply underneath 45,000 folks died of problems from flu.
COVID-19 vaccine advice
The CDC mentioned that up to date vaccines for COVID-19 can be accessible from Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer. The vaccines are being beneficial for everybody who’s no less than 6 months outdated. As a result of COVID-19 mutates over time, safety declines. The general public well being company mentioned the up to date vaccine “can restore and improve safety towards the virus variants presently accountable for most infections and hospitalizations in the USA,” in addition to lowering the potential of growing lengthy COVID.
Per a information launch, “To this point, lots of of tens of millions of individuals have safely obtained a COVID-19 vaccine underneath essentially the most intense vaccine security monitoring in United States historical past.”
What concerning the flu vaccine?
September and October are the optimum occasions to obtain a vaccine for influenza, and everybody 6 months outdated or older ought to get one, “with uncommon exceptions,” in accordance with the CDC. Most will want a single dose of flu vaccine in the course of the flu season, however vaccination in July and August shouldn’t be usually beneficial, with just a few exceptions.
These exceptions embrace pregnant ladies of their third trimester, who ought to get one to guard their infants, who can be too younger to get their very own vaccinations, in addition to youngsters who want two doses. Getting the primary one as quickly as the brand new vaccines can be found is a good suggestion.
The CDC additionally mentioned that early vaccination “will be thought of” for kids who’ve physician visits and won’t be again for vaccines later.
Two high-risk teams — these 65 and older and folks within the first or second trimester of being pregnant — ought to maintain off except there received’t be an opportunity to vaccinate them in September and October, per CDC.
The flu vaccines are constructed to guard towards H1N1, H3N2 and a B/Victoria lineage virus.
Mentioned Dr. Mandy Cohen, CDC director, in a written assertion, “Our high advice for safeguarding your self and your family members from respiratory sickness is to get vaccinated. Make a plan now for you and your loved ones to get each up to date flu and COVID vaccines this fall, forward of the respiratory virus season.”
