ask …

Washington – Fall means it’s time for almost everyone to catch up on their flu and Covid-19 vaccines, and many older adults also need protection against another risky winter virus, RSV.

Yes, you can receive the flu and Covid-19 vaccines at the same time. Don’t call them boosters: They’re not just another dose of last year’s protection. Coronavirus and flu are escape artists, constantly mutating to evade the body’s immune defenses, so both vaccines are reformulated annually to target newer strains.

“Now is the best time” to get all recommended fall vaccines, said Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while getting her flu shot Wednesday. You also have an appointment to receive your Covid-19 vaccine. It is “the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community.”

While not perfect, vaccines offer strong protection against getting a severe case of the flu or Covid-19 (or dying from it).

“It may not prevent all infections, but those infections will be less serious,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of the CDC. “I would rather my grandmother or great-grandmother have a cold than have to go to the emergency room on Thanksgiving Day.”

The challenge: getting more Americans to get the vaccine. Last year, only 45 percent of adults got vaccinated against the flu and an even smaller percentage, 23 percent, got vaccinated against Covid-19. A survey released Wednesday by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases shows that a similarly low number intend to get vaccinated this fall.

And the coronavirus killed more Americans than the flu last year.

“We may think it’s not going to be my turn, but let’s not take any chances,” said Dr. Michael Knight of George Washington University. “Why not get a vaccine that helps reduce that risk?”

Who needs to get vaccinated against covid-19 or the flu in the fall?

The CDC recommends that everyone over 6 months of age receive the updated Covid-19 vaccine and the annual flu vaccine. If you recently had Covid-19, you can wait two to three months, but you should still get the updated vaccine due to the expected increase in cases in winter.

Both viruses can be especially dangerous for certain groups, such as older people and those with weak immune systems and lung or heart diseases. Young children are also more vulnerable. The CDC counted 199 childhood flu deaths last year.

Pregnancy also increases the chances of contracting a serious illness such as Covid-19 or the flu, and vaccination protects the mother and also ensures that the newborn also has some protection.

What’s new in vaccines against covid-19?

Last fall’s vaccines targeted a strain of coronavirus that is no longer spreading, while this year’s are designed for a new section of the coronavirus family tree. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are formulated against a subtype of virus called KP.2, while the Novavax vaccine is directed against its original strain, JN.1. Daskalakis said they should all offer good cross-protection against other subtypes that are now spreading.

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

Which flu vaccine to choose?

There are high-dose vaccines and one with a special immune booster designed for people 65 and older, but if they can’t find one easily, they can choose a regular flu vaccine for all ages.

For those who do not inject any vaccines, FluMist nasal spray is available in pharmacies and clinics for children between 2 and 49 years old, although next year it will be available for home use.

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

What about the other virus, RSV?

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a cold-like nuisance for most people, but it also fills hospitals each winter and can be deadly for children under 5, the elderly, and people with certain high-risk health problems. risk.

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

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

How much will it cost?

Vaccines are supposed to be free under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans if people use an in-network provider.

Last year, about 1.5 million uninsured adults received free Covid-19 vaccines through a federal program, but that program has since ended. Instead, the CDC is providing $62 million to health departments to help improve access, and states and big cities are starting to put their plans into action.

Call your local health department to ask about options because, in many areas, “vaccine availability at lower or no cost is expected to begin to appear in the coming weeks,” Dr. Raynard Washington advised. who heads the health department of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.