It’s fall, which implies it’s time for respiratory viral diseases to start out circulating once more as a part of our “cough and cold” season. This yr is not any exception – we’ve began seeing an uptick in constructive assessments for COVID-19, flu (also referred to as influenza) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), each nationally and regionally. With a number of diseases going round and up to date/new vaccines obtainable, there’s quite a bit for folks to know.
To assist mother and father type all of it out, I’ve answered essentially the most ceaselessly requested questions we’ve been receiving about COVID-19, flu and RSV:
1. What is the best factor mother and father can do to guard their youngsters from these critical diseases?
The best factor mother and father can do, along with handwashing and avoiding sick individuals, is to vaccinate their youngsters in opposition to these diseases. For the primary time ever, now we have vaccinations or different preventative remedies obtainable for all three. It’s fairly thrilling. It’s vital to notice, nonetheless, that vaccinations don’t utterly forestall all youngsters from getting contaminated and/or having signs; it prevents them from having extreme illness and probably being hospitalized.
2. Updated COVID vaccines that extra carefully match the present strains have been lately made obtainable — ought to I get my youngsters one other one?
Yes! The up to date COVID-19 vaccines defend in opposition to the newer omicron variants, such because the XBB lineage, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everybody aged 5 years and older get at the least one dose of this up to date Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to guard in opposition to critical sickness.
People (together with youngsters) who’re reasonably or severely immunocompromised could get extra doses of the up to date COVID-19 vaccine. Children aged six months to 4 years want a number of doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to be updated in the event that they haven’t been vaccinated earlier than, together with at the least one dose of the up to date COVID-19 vaccine.
3. Should we be pacing our COVID-19 vaccine schedule equally to the flu vaccine — yearly, round September/October?
Ideally, sure, it might be nice to get them each on the similar time of yr to make it simpler for households. However, as a result of COVID-19 has been unpredictable, I can’t say that for sure. Right now, it’s finest to comply with what’s occurring within the information and take note of what the CDC is recommending — till (hopefully) COVID-19 turns into a bit extra predictable just like the flu.
4. Is it okay for my youngsters to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines on the similar time?
Yes! It is protected to obtain the COVID and flu vaccines on the similar time. Based on present information, there isn’t any elevated security threat and no lower in immune response if they’re administered collectively.
5. Is this yr’s flu vaccine match for the present strains which are circulating?
Influenza could cause extreme illness requiring hospitalization and demise in even wholesome youngsters, particularly these lower than 5 years outdated. It is wanting like this yr’s flu vaccine is a comparatively good match based mostly on the information from the flu season within the southern hemisphere. Remember that getting a flu vaccine can forestall in opposition to critical sickness in case your baby turns into contaminated with the flu.
6. Who needs to be getting the brand new RSV vaccine?
Healthy infants lower than eight months of age ought to obtain nirsevimab, which was lately authorised by the FDA. While not technically a vaccine — it’s a monoclonal antibody — nirsevimab is getting used equally to how we consider preventive vaccines. It is advisable to get it round September, earlier than the RSV season, and safety ought to final about 5 months. Children who’re severely immunocompromised or have extreme lung illness could obtain a further dose of their second RSV season. We have had different RSV antibodies obtainable earlier than; nonetheless, solely high-risk infants have been eligible. This is the primary time we’ve had an antibody obtainable for all infants below eight months of age; research present it reduces the chance of extreme sickness by 75%.
7. When is the RSV season?
The typical RSV season is much like the flu, with essentially the most instances occurring within the winter and early spring. Influenza season begins within the fall and often peaks within the winter. That stated, we noticed a excessive quantity of RSV and influenza instances within the low season, such because the summer season of 2021 and the autumn of 2022. Some indications counsel it will likely be beginning early this fall as nicely.