Older adults who are in poor health - who have heart or lung disease, for example, or are on home oxygen - should get all three shots simultaneously, some experts said. Most Americans may want to consider receiving the flu and Covid shots at the same time, so they are prepared to face either virus. That probably means September or October. Most people will not want or be able to make multiple trips to a clinic or pharmacy to space the shots apart. No one knows when these viruses will re-emerge, so you should get the shots early enough in the fall to build immunity against the pathogens. “Even those with no pre-existing conditions can become quite sick with all three of these viruses,” she said. While it’s true that risks posed by any of the three viruses increase with age, remember that “65 is not a magical cutoff point,” Dr. now recommends that people ages 60 and older get immunized after consulting with their doctors. vaccine, Arexvy, are not yet approved for most Americans younger than 60. The vaccine, to be given in the last weeks of pregnancy, would provide maternal antibodies that travel through the placenta and is expected to prevent severe respiratory illness in infants up to 6 months.Ībrysvo and another R.S.V. did approve the use of Pfizer’s vaccine, Abrysvo, for pregnant women as a way to protect infants from the virus. Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody - to protect infants less than 8 months old and infants 8 months to 19 months if they are at risk for severe illness. in August recommended a new shot against R.S.V. is a frequent cause of respiratory illness among young children and seniors, particularly those 75 and older who have other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease or diabetes. Camille Kotton, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and an adviser to the C.D.C., said of the Covid vaccine. “Like a seatbelt in a car, it’s a good idea to keep using it,” Dr. (Officials aren’t even calling the shots “boosters” anymore.) Instead, they are trying to steer Americans toward the idea of a single annual immunization with the latest version of the vaccine. authorizes the shots and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviews new data.įederal health officials aren’t talking about a primary series of shots followed by boosters. The full recommendations will not be available until the F.D.A. Updated Covid shots are expected this fall from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax, and all are designed to target XBB.1.5, the Omicron variant that currently accounts for roughly 12 percent of cases. The annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older, but it is most important for adults ages 65 and older, children under 5 and people with weak immune systems. Which vaccines should I seek out?Įveryone should have at least the flu and Covid shots this fall, experts said. Scientists expect respiratory viruses to return to their prepandemic patterns eventually, but “it’s going to be unpredictable for the next two years,” Dr. Helen Chu, a physician and immunologist at the University of Washington. has a burden of disease similar to flu in older adults - it can make you very, very sick,” said Dr. is increasingly recognized as a major respiratory threat, particularly to older adults, immunocompromised people and young children. peaked several weeks earlier last year, and it circulated for longer than usual. Covid kept up a steady number of infections and deaths most of the season, with a peak in January.Ĭompared with its pattern before the pandemic, R.S.V. The virus may have caused as many as 58,000 deaths, a higher number than usual. This past winter, the flu peaked in December instead of in February, when it typically does. That’s in part because the restrictions in place during the pandemic altered the seasonal patterns of the viruses. are all likely to resurge this fall, but exactly when and how much damage they will do are unknown. What respiratory illnesses are coming our way? Here’s what he and other experts say about who should receive which immunizations, and when. Ofer Levy, director of the precision vaccines program at Boston Children’s Hospital and an adviser to the Food and Drug Administration. “This is an embarrassment of riches,” said Dr. For people with insurance, all of the vaccines should be available for free. New this year are the first shots to protect older adults and infants from respiratory syncytial virus, a lesser-known threat whose toll in hospitalizations and deaths may rival that of flu.įederal health officials are hoping that widespread adoption of these immunizations will head off another “ tripledemic” of respiratory illnesses, like the one seen last winter. Most Americans have had one or more shots of the flu and Covid vaccines.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |