Fall is rapidly approaching, and that means it’s time to get your annual flu shot, as well as an updated COVID vaccine. Some people should consider an RSV vaccine, as well.
Flu (influenza) is a serious health threat that causes millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths each year in the United States. At a minimum, the flu will make you feel miserable for several days. The good news is, we can all reduce our odds of getting the flu by getting a flu shot each year.
Similarly, COVID-19 is still with us, as the virus continues to adapt and mutate. Getting an updated COVID vaccine along with your flu shot is the best defense.
Flu Statistics
A look at flu statistics from last season demonstrates how prevalent and serious the flu can be. Preliminary estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that between October 1, 2023 – June 15, 2024, the United States saw:
- 35 million – 65 million flu cases
- 390,000 – 830,000 hospitalizations due to flu
- 25,000 – 72,000 deaths due to the flu
As you can see, flu makes a lot of people sick every year. For some, it can be very dangerous.
Get Vaccinated!
The CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Privia Medical Group North Texas (PMGNTX) recommend that everyone age 6 months or older receive an annual flu vaccine.
“Flu season runs from October to May and typically peaks December through February,” explains Dr. Joseph Saucedo, a family medicine physician in Corsicana. “We recommend everyone get a flu shot in September, because it takes a couple of weeks for the vaccine to be completely effective. A September vaccine provides the best protection by the time flu season arrives in October.”
While everyone should get a flu vaccine, it is especially important that people who are at high risk for getting the flu and/or at high risk for serious flu-related complications do so, including:
- Children younger than 5 years
- Adults age 65 and older
- Women who are pregnant
- People who live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
- Health care workers
In addition, people with certain health conditions are at greater risk, including those with asthma, heart disease, kidney or liver disorders, a compromised immune system and obesity. People with these conditions are more susceptible to flu-related complications, including pneumonia, bronchitis and sinus infections.
Additionally, since infants younger than 6 months are too young to receive the flu vaccine, it is imperative that anyone who is around an infant be vaccinated.
You can usually get your flu vaccine at your primary care provider’s (PCP) office, or you can simply go to your neighborhood pharmacy to get your shot.
Does the Flu Vaccine Work?
Yes! While it is not a 100% guarantee that you will not get the flu, the vaccine reduces your chances of getting it.
According to the CDC, studies show that vaccination lessens the likelihood of flu by as much as 40% – 60%, depending on the year. Vaccine efficacy varies year to year, due to how well the vaccine formula is matched to the flu virus strains most prevalent that season.
The CDC reports that in the 2019-2020 flu season, flu vaccines prevented:
- 7 million flu illnesses
- 3 million flu-associated medical visits
- 100,000 flu-related hospitalizations
- 7,000 flu deaths
The flu vaccine has been updated for 2024-2025 to protect against the strands that scientists believe will be most common this season.
In addition, people who receive a vaccination and do get the flu experience less severe symptoms and a shorter duration of the illness compared to people who do not receive the vaccine.
How Does Flu Spread?
Flu spreads from person to person much the same way as other respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold. When someone with the flu sneezes, coughs or breathes too closely around others, respiratory droplets containing the flu virus can easily enter the mouth or nose of another person.
“In addition to getting an annual flu vaccine, you should take common-sense precautions, such as washing your hands frequently with soap and water,” says Dr. Jeffrey Moore, an internal medicine physician in Stephenville. “Use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands right away and avoid touching your face. Always cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough to prevent the spread of germs.”
One way flu definitely does not spread is through the vaccine – it’s a complete myth that the flu vaccine can give you the flu. The vaccine does not contain an active virus, so it is not possible for it to cause the flu.
What If I Get the Flu?
Tell-tale symptoms of the flu include:
- High fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)
- Body aches
- Chills
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nasal congestion
- Sore throat
These symptoms tend to come on suddenly – if this happens to you, see your PCP right away.
Your PCP can test for the flu and if you have it, prescribe antiviral medication that may help you recover more quickly. These medications can help lessen and shorten the symptoms, but they generally work best within 48 hours of the onset of the flu.
“Whether you are on antivirals or not, the best thing you can do is get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids,” says Dr. Miranda Nash, a Stephenville internal medicine physician. “Your body needs rest so it can fight off the flu virus. Additionally, you’re highly contagious when you have the flu, so you need to stay home until you are better.”
Other Important Fall/Winter Vaccines
COVID-19
COVID-19 comes in waves. Generally, we have seen an uptick in COVID cases in the winter and summer months over the last three years, although nothing approaching the pandemic levels we saw in 2020-2021. Just like the flu virus, COVID continually adapts and mutates, developing new strands that can make us sick.
To protect against new strains of COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a new 2024-2025 vaccine, which will be widely available in pharmacies in the first half of September. The updated vaccine is formulated to specifically protect against the COVID omicron variant KP.2, as well as offshoots that are currently spreading.
It is recommended that everyone age 6 months and older receive this updated vaccine when available. It is perfectly safe to get your annual flu shot and the new COVID vaccine at the same time.
RSV
You may have had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as a child; most children get RSV by the age of two.
Normally, RSV is not a big deal. It produces cold-like symptoms, such as runny nose, coughing, sneezing and fever. It may also cause wheezing and loss of appetite. Most RSV infections go away within a week or two.
While RSV usually only causes mild symptoms, it can lead to more serious illness, including bronchiolitis – the inflammation of the lungs’ small airways – and pneumonia. RSV can be especially dangerous for older adults.
That’s why there is now an RSV vaccine available for adults 60 and older. The CDC recommends that people in this age group get the RSV vaccine after discussion with their PCP.
Additionally, for the months of September through January, women who are pregnant at 32 weeks, 0 days through 36 weeks, 6 days should get an RSV vaccine.
The RSV vaccine may be given at the same time as the flu shot.
Protect Yourself with Vaccines
Vaccines provide us with essential protection. Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV all cause illnesses that can make us feel bad for several days – and in some cases, cause more severe and dangerous complications. Getting the flu shot and a COVID vaccine — plus the RSV vaccine, if recommended — are some of the best ways to protect yourself from illness this winter.
This article has been reviewed and approved by a panel of Privia Medical Group North Texas physicians.
This article contains information sourced from:
