In the coming weeks, several vaccines will be available to help keep you and your loved ones healthy during this fall and winter, when the virus tends to hit its hardest.
NBC Chicago has asked medical experts to detail what’s to come and who is eligible for each vaccination.
RS virus (RS virus)
Beginning this fall, new prophylaxis for RSV, a respiratory virus that can hospitalize some infants, will apply to newborns.
“The children’s RSV vaccine is the monoclonal antibody recommended for all children under 8 months of age in their first RSV season,” said Tina Tan, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. said. .
Chicago area pediatric clinics are currently awaiting the arrival of the vaccine.
“People tried to order it, but they are still waiting for their orders to arrive,” Mr Tan said.
Shooting is expected to begin by the end of October. A single dose provides protection throughout the respiratory syncytial virus season, which typically lasts from November to March.
However, babies are not the only ones who can be hospitalized with RSV.
Two vaccines are currently also approved for adults over 60, especially those with chronic medical conditions.
Dr. Laura Hernandez, an infectious disease specialist at RUSH University Medical Center, said, “I recommend that you talk to your doctor to see what your risk for RSV is.”
influenza vaccination
Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months, but there’s one big change this year. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lifted precautions for people with egg allergies.
“This is important because it gives people a choice, and they have the option to get all kinds of vaccines. We have nasal vaccines and flu shots,” Hernandez said.
When it comes to flu vaccinations, CDC often looks to the Southern Hemisphere to determine how effective flu vaccines are. This year’s prescriptions were 52% effective in keeping people out of hospitals in South America, according to the CDC.
“Both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines provide some protection, and they provide considerable protection against severe illness, but even those who have been vaccinated can “We expect to see some outbreaks of influenza and the new coronavirus, but only with mild symptoms.” Pediatric Primary Care Representative at Advocate Health Care.
New COVID booster
The Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve an updated version of the COVID-19 booster soon.
“It’s brand new and actually targets the latest variants we’ve seen, and it’s actually proven to be pretty effective,” Holland said.
The latest shot is designed to target the XBB.1.5 micron subvariant.The stock is no longer dominant, but boosters are still needed Protect against currently circulating subvariantsthese are closely related, pharmaceutical companies and experts say.
Details on eligibility and availability may be announced after the CDC Advisory Board meets next Tuesday, Sept. 12.
“It is hoped that anyone who wants to be vaccinated will be offered a COVID-19 booster, and the COVID-19 vaccine is available to anyone over the age of six months,” Tan said.
Once this guidance is released, it is hoped that any adult over the age of 60 will be eligible for the COVID-19 booster, flu shot and RSV vaccine.
So we wanted to know if you could get all three at the same time.
“If you qualify, you can do all three at the same time. There are no limiting factors,” Holland said.