Don’t wait for a holiday surge. Now is a good time to get your flu and COVID-19 vaccines

WASHINGTON — If you have the early fall pressure it’s not too late for flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

Health officials say it’s important to get vaccinated before the holidays, when respiratory infections often spread during travel and indoor parties.

These viruses have not caused many problems so far this fall. But COVID-19 tends to jump in the winter months, a surge that usually starts around Thanksgiving and peaks in January.

And that coincides with flu season, which typically starts in November or December and reaches its peak in January or February.

The body takes about two weeks to build immunity after each injection – meaning vaccination is needed before these viruses start spreading. Many older adults also need protection against another risky winter virus, RSV.

Yes you can flu and COVID-19 shots at the same time. Don’t call them boosters; they are not just a dose of protection from last year. The coronavirus and the flu are escape artists that constantly mutate to evade your body’s immune defenses, so both vaccines are reformulated annually to target newer strains.

While they are not perfectVaccinations provide strong protection against a severe case of flu or COVID-19 – or against death from it.

“It may not prevent every infection, but those infections will be less severe,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I’d rather have my grandmother or my great-grandmother pop in for a sniff than have to go to the emergency room on Thanksgiving.”

Last year, only 45% of adults got a flu vaccination and even fewer, 23%, got a COVID-19 shot.

“Our best defense to protect ourselves, our loved ones and everyone around us is a simple shot,” said Dr. Bruce A. Scott, president of the American Medical Association, in a recent statement.

While it may have faded from the headlines, the coronavirus still killed more Americans than the flu last year.

“We may believe it won’t be my fault, but let’s not take any chances,” said Dr. Michael Knight of George Washington University. “Why not get a vaccine that will help you reduce that risk?”

The CDC is pushing for both an updated COVID-19 shot and an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. If you have recently had COVID-19, you can wait two or three months but still need to get an updated vaccination due to the expected winter peak.

Both viruses can be especially dangerous for certain groups, including the elderly and people with weak immune systems and lung or heart disease. Young children are also more vulnerable. The CDC counted 199 child deaths from flu last year.

Pregnancy also increases the risk of severe COVID-19 or flu – and vaccination protects mom plus ensures the newborn also has some protection.

Moreover, the CDC advises that people aged 65 and over receive a second COVID-19 injection six months after their fall dose to strengthen their protection all year round, as the coronavirus is not just a winter threat. People with weakened immune systems are also eligible for additional doses.

Last fall’s shots focused on a coronavirus strain that is no longer spreading, while this year’s shots are tailored to a new part of the coronavirus family tree. The Pfizer and Moderna shots are formulated against a virus subtype called KP.2, while the Novavax the vaccine targets the parent strain, JN.1. Daskalakis said they should all provide good cross-protection to other subtypes now spreading.

The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines can be used by adults and children aged 6 months and older. The Novavax shot is a more traditional protein vaccine combined with an immune booster and is open to everyone 12 years and older.

High-dose shots and one with a special immune booster are intended for people 65 and older, but if they can’t find them easily, they can opt for a regular flu shot for all ages.

For those who are not shot averse, the FluMist nasal spray is available for children aged 2 to 49 at pharmacies and clinics, although it will also be available for home use next year.

All flu vaccinations this year protect against two type A flu strains and one type B strain. Another once common form of type B flu stopped spreading a few years ago and was removed from the vaccine.

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cold virus for most people, but hospitals are also full every winter and can be fatal for children under five, the elderly, and people with certain high-risk health conditions.

The CDC recommends an RSV vaccination for everyone age 75 and older, and for people age 60 to 74 who are at increased risk. This is a one-time vaccination, not an annual vaccination – but only 24% of seniors received it last year. It is also recommended late in pregnancy to protect babies born in autumn and winter.

And while “your arm might hurt and you might feel bad for a day,” it’s also fine to get the RSV, flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time, Daskalakis said.

The vaccines would be free under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans if people use an in-network provider.

About 1.5 million uninsured adults received free COVID-19 vaccinations through a federal program last year, but that has ended. Instead, the CDC is providing $62 million to health departments to help improve access. Call your local health department to ask about options.

Check the government website, vaccines.govfor availability at local pharmacies.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.