Wrap Up Your Health: Vaccinate!
December 18, 2023 | General, Health & Wellness, Resources
Although it started later than in 2022, the cold and flu season is back – and more robust than ever. Spikes in cases of influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are leading news headlines, and all three can be deadly. About 12,000 people have already been hospitalized with the flu this year.
The good news is that there is an easy way to safeguard your health: vaccinations! And it’s not too late to get these shots. Here is an overview of the top three vaccines to consider for this winter.
Seasonal Flu Vaccine
The seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza strain that is expected to be most common during the season. In the United States, all flu vaccines are “quadrivalent” vaccines, addressing four different flu viruses: an influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and two influenza B viruses.
The CDC recommends that everyone six months or older get the flu shot every year, with rare exceptions. Immunity wanes and the flu viruses are constantly changing, so an annual shot is needed. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against an infection.
For people 65 and older, higher-dose flu are available which could be more effective than standard dose flu vaccines. A nasal spray vaccine is also available, but seniors, pregnant people, immunocompromised people, or individuals with certain medical conditions should not take it. Because different vaccines are approved and recommended for different age groups or groups of people, it’s important to talk with your doctor about which is best for you.
COVID-19 Vaccine (or Booster)
Currently, there are two different types of COVID-19 vaccines: mRNA and protein subunit. The mRNA is the newest vaccine technology and teaches cells how to make a protein to trigger an immune response. Protein subunit vaccines use a small piece of virus spike protein and another ingredient called adjuvant to help the immune system respond; this type of vaccine has been around over 30 years.
Everyone five years or older should get at least one dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness. Individuals who are immunocompromised may get additional doses, and children aged six months to four years may need multiple doses to become up to date. Like the flu vaccine, it takes about two weeks to be fully effective; COVID-19 vaccines are most effective during the first three months after vaccination.
Three COVID-19 vaccines are authorized and licensed for use by the FDA: Pfizer-BioNTech (mRNA), Moderna (mRNA), and Novavax (protein subunit). Nearly all the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines can be found in food and are fats, sugar, and salts. None affects or interacts with DNA.
RSV Vaccine
RSV is a common respiratory virus that can be serious in infants and older adults; RSVPreF3 (Arexvy) and RSVpreF (Abrysvo) are the two vaccines licensed for use in the U.S. Both vaccines contain part of the RSV virus and work by causing an immune response to protect against future respiratory disease. The RSV vaccine is given as a single dose.
The CDC recommends that individuals 60 years or older ask their health care provider whether the RSV vaccination is right for them. People with a weakened immune system from illness or medications, individuals with chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung disease, or those who live in nursing homes may be good candidates for the vaccination.
There is no maximum age for getting RSV vaccination, and even those who have had RSV can still get the vaccine. Both vaccines have shown over 80% effectiveness in preventing lung infections during the first season after inoculation. Keep your health wrapped up safely for the holidays – and every day – by staying current on vaccinations. It usually takes less than five minutes for up to a lifetime of protection.
Sources: Today; CDC; John Hopkins Medicine.
