Recommended vaccination schedule for fall

Fall is fast approaching, which means it's time to develop a vaccination schedule that will be useful for fall. Boosts immunity It can protect you from the most common respiratory illnesses.

This summer, we Rapid increase in COVID-19 casesThe flu season began in early June. Health experts say the flu season is Starting early this yeartoo.

“It is recommended that everyone aged 6 months or older receive both the COVID-19 and influenza booster shots.” Dr. Jen BrullThe president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians told CNBC Make It:

“influenza [shot] It is widely available. Covid has been approved, released and is now available in some locations. [It] It should be broadly available to everyone within the next few weeks.”

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season usually begins in October, and vaccination is essential as certain groups are more susceptible to severe symptoms from the virus than others.

Here's which vaccines Brul recommends getting this fall and the best time to get it.

1. The latest coronavirus vaccine

“Every year new strains emerge that have devastating consequences, and the CDC and the FDA are monitoring them, and the people who developed them are [vaccine] We're keeping an eye on that,” Brull said.

“And they're targeting the strains that are most likely to be prevalent and dangerous, just like they would with the flu.”

The new COVID vaccine will target the Omicron variant KP.2, which is similar to the variant currently most prevalent in the US, Brulle told Make It. The New York Times Reported.

When should you get the updated coronavirus vaccine? Brulle recommends getting the vaccine as soon as it is available to you, but “it's OK to wait a little longer until the fall, especially if you are at high risk, if you've had COVID in the past few months, or if you got your last COVID vaccine booster at the end of the summer because you may be at increased risk.”

What is the cost? Insurance plans typically cover the COVID-19 vaccine, and it's usually free, Brull said, but people without insurance could be paying as much as $200 for an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall. The Washington PostBrul noted that there may be programs through local health departments or public health agencies that allow uninsured people to get the vaccine at little or no cost.

2. Latest version of influenza vaccination

This may not come as any surprise, since for decades, annual flu vaccinations have been recommended for everyone over the age of six months.

Some groups are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza, CDCinclude:

• People aged 65 or older
• Children under 5 years of age, especially those under 2 years of age
• Pregnant people
• People with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or asthma

“But people who don't have any of these risk factors can still get very sick with the flu, so it doesn't really matter who ends up in the ICU and who gets only mild symptoms.” Dr. Andrew PaviaChief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Utah He told Make It last year.

When should I get my latest flu shot? “It will be fine to get vaccinated in early September,” Pavia told Make It last year. [but] Waiting until October may give you a little extra protection against the late flu season,” Brule said, suggesting people get their flu shot at the same time as they get their COVID vaccination. “Getting more than one vaccine at a time may give you a little extra immunity,” so you won't miss out on a shot like you would if you delayed it.

What is the cost? If you have insurance, you can usually get the flu vaccine for free, Brull said. “For adults who don't have insurance, health departments often provide the adult vaccine at a low cost or for free,” she added.

3. Respiratory syncytial virus vaccine

Unlike COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations, the RSV vaccine is primarily given to infants and adults over 60, who are at higher risk of severe outcomes from the disease.

“Anyone can get RSV, but it's usually the young and the elderly who become most seriously ill,” Brul said.

Infants under 8 months of age should receive the RSV vaccine if they are born during or are entering their first RSV season, which usually begins in October and ends in March. CDC.

of Updates on recommendations Adults who should receive the new RSV vaccine include:

• Anyone over 75 years old should get vaccinated.
• People between the ages of 60 and 74 should get the RSV vaccine only if they have certain chronic conditions, such as heart or lung disease, or if they live in a nursing home.

“This recommendation is for adults who did not receive the RSV vaccine last year. The RSV vaccine is no longer an annual vaccine, which means it is not necessary to get vaccinated every RSV season,” the CDC said.

When should the RSV vaccine be administered? Pavia told Make It last year that at-risk groups should get the RSV vaccine as soon as it becomes available.

What is the cost? According to Pavia, insurance coverage for the RSV vaccine varies. Some Medicare plans cover the vaccine in full. But if your plan doesn't cover it, Pay a high price Pavia said he came in to get vaccinated.

“Private insurance may cover it, but there's no legal obligation to provide coverage for 12 months, so we don't know if your insurance company will cover it,” Pavia told Make It.

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