Flu, Covid-19, RSV: Which vaccines do you need?

By: RAFEENA BACCHUS, M.D.

Each year, the influenza (flu) virus sickens millions of Americans. This fall we expect two other respiratory illnesses — Covid-19 and RSV — to surge around the same time.

Fortunately, safe and effective vaccines are available for the three viruses, and your doctor may recommend you get vaccinated against all three. Here’s what you need to know.

Flu

With symptoms like fever, chills, body aches and fatigue, the flu makes us feel lousy.  It can be very serious for older adults, young children and people with chronic illnesses. The flu virus continues to mutate new strains, so the vaccine typically protects against several types at once. The CDC recommends the vaccine for everyone 6 months and older, but it is especially important for adults 65+, children under 5, and those with weak immune systems.

Coronavirus

As we know, the coronavirus can mutate quickly, introducing new and risky variants. The dominant strain in the U.S. is currently EG.5, which spreads easily and causes symptoms similar to earlier versions, such as runny nose, fever, cough, headache, fatigue and sore throat. A new vaccine scheduled for release this fall will likely protect against EG.5 and other strains of the virus. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the Covid-19 vaccine.

RSV

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) usually produces mild cold-like symptoms, but it is increasingly recognized as a threat for young children and seniors with certain chronic health conditions. The FDA recently approved the first RSV vaccines for adults 60+ and pregnant women 32-36 weeks pregnant (to give their unborn children immunity). There is also a long-acting antibody treatment for infants up to 8 months of age and up to 19 months of age that are at high risk for severe infection.

Can you test positive for 3 viruses at once?

Flu, coronavirus and RSV are all highly infectious viruses, and in past years we’ve seen cases of people infected by two of them at once. It is even possible to catch all three at the same time. Hospitalization is often required for those suffering from these co-infections due to their more serious cases of illness. As you would expect, this is especially risky for young children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions.

Which vaccines should you get?

The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older to get the flu and Covid-19 shots as soon as possible this fall. The RSV vaccines are approved for people 60 years and older and the CDC suggests people 60+ with conditions such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, COPD, asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, immunocompromised conditions, and those that are long-term care residents, consult with their doctors.

Most of us can safely get the flu and Covid-19 shots at the same time. Since the RSV vaccine is new, health experts recommend getting it separately, but older adults in poor health may be able to get all three shots at once.

To schedule vaccinations, or if you have questions about them, contact your MPCP healthcare provider.

Dr. Rafeena Bacchus sees patients at MPCP’s Columbia office. She received her medical degree from SUNY at the Buffalo School of Medicine and completed her residency program in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.