Vaccines to Consider Getting This Fall

It used to be simple to update your vaccines in the fall. Every year as the weather turned colder, you got a shot to help protect you from the flu virus strains expected to be circulating most during the winter months. It was one shot and done.

The traditional flu shot is still important to get this fall, but there are additional vaccines against respiratory illnesses to consider getting as well:

• COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been updated to offer protection from the virus variants now in circulation.
• RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help protect older adults. There are also immunizations available to protect newborns and infants from RSV.

To help you plan your fall vaccinations, this article breaks it down for you by age group. With this information, you’ll know how to best protect you and your family from respiratory illnesses this fall and winter.

Vaccines for Adults Over 60

People who are older have a greater risk of getting sick from a respiratory virus like the seasonal flu, COVID-19, or RSV. The reasons include having an immune system that doesn’t work as well as it did when they were younger, and having conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that have weakened their lungs and other body organs.

Not only are their chances of getting sick greater, older people are more likely to develop serious complications from respiratory infections, like pneumonia, that require hospitalization. Deaths from the seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses are also much higher among older people.

To reduce the chances of getting sick from a respiratory virus, it is important for older adults to get vaccinated this fall. 

• A new RSV shot is available for people 60 or older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends talking with your doctor about whether it will be beneficial for you. 
• Updated COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against the XBB variant and other variations now in circulation that have caused a recent uptick in cases and hospitalizations.
• Flu vaccines are available for people 65 or older that have higher doses of antigens, offering more protection than the standard flu vaccine.

It is safe to get all three shots at the same time, and their effectiveness is not reduced if they are delivered all at once. Plus, you won’t have to make another trip to the doctor’s office or pharmacy.

If you’ve previously experienced swelling or soreness in your arm after getting a vaccine, you may want to space out the shots. Just be sure to return for your remaining shot(s), preferably by the end of

October. Remember that it takes about two weeks after getting a vaccine for your immune system to respond and provide you with protection. 

Vaccines for Teens and Adults Under 60

Respiratory illnesses can be less severe for younger people, but it is still important for those in this age group to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu and the latest variants of the COVID-19 virus. The benefits of getting those shots include:

• Fewer illnesses over the winter
• Reduced absence from work or school
• Less chance of passing viruses to family and friends

With only two shots needed, it is easy to get them both at the same time, one in each arm. Not only is one trip to the doctor’s office or pharmacy more convenient, it eliminates the chance of missing a shot if you forget to get it later.

Vaccines for Infants and Young Children  

Respiratory illnesses are very common among infants and young children. The immunity that babies are born with diminishes within months, and it takes a while to regain that protection. Children also pass colds and other viruses among each other by sharing items and touching faces and hands.   

RSV is so common among children that almost all of them get it by the time they are two years old. RSV’s symptoms include stuffy or runny nose, sore throat and cough, and fever. RSV infection can progress to serious complications like bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

• A monoclonal antibody called Beyfortus (generic name nirsevimab) has been approved for all infants up to eight months old entering their first RSV season. It is also available for children between eight and 19 months old who are at high risk.
• The CDC recommends vaccination for pregnant people during weeks 32-36 to protect newborns from severe RSV illness. A new vaccine called Abrysvo has been approved for maternal immunization.
• Children six months or older can get the updated COVID-19 shot.
• Kids six months or older should get the seasonal flu shot, the CDC recommends.

Take Action to Avoid Getting Sick

We hope that you will take action to stay healthy this fall and winter by getting vaccinated against respiratory viruses. To support your wellness, we are covering COVID-19 vaccines with no cost to Blue Cross Vermont members. Flu shots are also free for members. Check out our article that has answers to questions about the flu shot. If you have any other questions about coverage for vaccinations, please call the number on the back of your member ID card or log into the Member Resource Center and send us a secure message.