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WASHINGTON—If you missed the early fall push for flu and Covid-19 vaccines, it’s not too late.
Health officials say it’s important to get vaccinated ahead of the holidays, when respiratory bugs tend to spread with travel and indoor celebrations.
Those viruses haven’t caused much trouble so far this fall. But Covid-19 tends to jump in the winter months, a rise that usually starts around Thanksgiving and peaks in January.
And that coincides with flu season, which tends to start in November or December and peak in January or February.
It takes the body about two weeks to build up immunity after either shot—meaning vaccination is needed before these viruses start spreading. A lot of older adults also need protection against another risky winter virus, RSV.
Yes, you can get your flu and Covid-19 shots at the same time. Don’t call them boosters—they’re not just another dose of last year’s protection. The coronavirus and influenza are escape artists that constantly mutate to evade your body’s immune defenses, so both vaccines are reformulated annually to target newer strains.
While they’re not perfect, vaccinations offer strong protection against a bad case of flu or Covid-19—or dying from it.
“It may not prevent every infection but those infections are going to be less severe,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I would rather have my grandmother or my great-grandmother have a sniffle than have to go to the emergency room on Thanksgiving.”
Last year, just 45 percent of adults got a flu vaccination and even fewer, 23 percent, got a Covid-19 shot.
“Our best defense to protect ourselves, our loved ones and all those around us is a simple shot,” Dr. Bruce A. Scott, president of the American Medical Association, said in a recent statement.
While it may have faded from the headlines, the coronavirus still killed more Americans than flu last year.
“Maybe we believe that it’s not going to be me but let’s not take a chance,” said Dr. Michael Knight of George Washington University. “Why not get a vaccine that’s going to help you reduce that risk?”
Who needs a fall Covid-19 or flu vaccination?
The CDC urges both an updated Covid-19 shot and yearly flu vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older. If you recently had Covid-19, you can wait two or three months but still should get an updated vaccination because of the expected winter surge.
Both viruses can be especially dangerous to certain groups including older people and those with weak immune systems and lung or heart disease. Young children also are more vulnerable. The CDC counted 199 child deaths from flu last year.
Pregnancy also increases the chances of serious Covid-19 or flu—and vaccination guards mom plus ensures the newborn has some protection, too.
In addition, the CDC is recommending that people 65 and older get a second Covid-19 shot six months after their fall dose to boost their year-round protection, since the coronavirus isn’t just a winter threat. People with weakened immune systems are eligible for extra doses, too.