Stay updated with the latest on fall vaccines! Learn more about the newly upgraded COVID-19 shots, the essential flu vaccine, and the debutant RSV vaccine.
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Hey everyone!
Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes pumpkin spice lattes, cozy sweaters, and, yes, the need to update our vaccines to stay safe and healthy.
Let us break down the buzz on the upcoming vaccines for COVID-19, the flu, and a virus you might be hearing about for the first time – RSV.
Avoiding Another “Triple Threat” This Winter
Last year was tough.
Hospitals were jam-packed because we were hit with not one, not two, but three viruses simultaneously – the flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
It felt like a triple-threat wrestling match where everyone grappled to stay on their feet.
This year, Dr. Mandy Cohen, the new head honcho at the CDC, wants to be a step ahead and encourages everyone to get vaccinated to avoid repeating last year’s chaos.
What is the Update on COVID-19 Vaccines?
Guess what?
The COVID-19 vaccines have had a glow-up!
The scientists have been working hard in their labs, and now the vaccines are better prepared to fight off the variant named XBB.1.5.
Big pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax have been cooking new batches of these updated vaccines.
Furthermore, here is the cool part – experts hope these new shots will protect us against XBB.1.5 and shield us against other related variants.
So, it is like getting a multi-purpose shield with one shot!
Flu Shots: Why They Are Still Important
With all the talk about COVID-19, it is easy to forget our old frenemy, the flu.
However, it is making a comeback this season, and the CDC recommends that everyone older than six months should get a flu shot by the end of October.
Whether young, old or somewhere in between, there is a flu shot, even one you can take as a nasal spray!
Mix and Match: Can You Get the Flu and COVID-19 Shots Together?
You must be wondering – with so many vaccines flying around, can you get the flu and COVID-19 shots simultaneously?
Well, the CDC says yes, you can! It will not affect how well they work or give you worse side effects.
However, for comfort’s sake, maybe get one shot in each arm.
Meet the New Kid on the Block: The RSV Vaccine
So, a new vaccine in town is fighting against a virus called RSV.
This virus usually does not cause much fuss but can be serious for babies and older adults, sending many to the hospital each winter.
Thankfully, GSK and Pfizer have developed vaccines for adults over 60. Moreover, for expecting moms, there is good news, too!
Pfizer has made a special version of this vaccine to help protect newborn babies.
Keeping the Tiniest Ones Safe from RSV
Babies have delicate immune systems, and to give them a fighting chance against RSV, there is a new shot in town named Beyfortus.
This is not a vaccine; instead, it is a shot of lab-made antibodies to guard infants under eight months against RSV, giving them a superhero shield before their first RSV season.
Phew! That was much information.
However, it is always better to be in the know, especially when keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe.
Let us roll up our sleeves and prepare for a healthier fall season!
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