HealthMatters
It’s fall, which suggests it’s time for respiratory viral sicknesses to start out circulating once more as a part of our “cough and chilly” season. This 12 months isn’t any exception – we’ve began seeing an uptick in optimistic exams for COVID-19, flu (also called influenza) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), each nationally and domestically. With a number of sicknesses going round and up to date/new vaccines obtainable, there’s loads for fogeys to know.
To assist mother and father type all of it out, I’ve answered probably the most incessantly requested questions we’ve been receiving about COVID-19, flu and RSV:
1. What’s the best factor mother and father can do to guard their youngsters from these critical sicknesses?
The simplest factor mother and father can do, along with handwashing and avoiding sick individuals, is to vaccinate their kids in opposition to these sicknesses. For the primary time ever, we have now vaccinations or different preventative therapies obtainable for all three. It’s fairly thrilling. It’s vital to notice, nevertheless, that vaccinations don’t fully forestall all youngsters from getting contaminated and/or having signs; it prevents them from having extreme illness and probably being hospitalized.
2. Up to date COVID vaccines that extra carefully match the present strains had been not too long ago made obtainable — ought to I get my youngsters one other one?
Sure! The up to date COVID-19 vaccines defend in opposition to the more moderen omicron variants, such because the XBB lineage, and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends that everybody aged 5 years and older get a minimum of one dose of this up to date Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to guard in opposition to critical sickness.
Individuals (together with kids) who’re reasonably or severely immunocompromised might get extra doses of the up to date COVID-19 vaccine. Kids 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 a minimum of one dose of the up to date COVID-19 vaccine.
3. Ought to we be pacing our COVID-19 vaccine schedule equally to the flu vaccine — yearly, round September/October?
Ideally, sure, it will be nice to get them each on the similar time of 12 months to make it simpler for households. Nevertheless, as a result of COVID-19 has been unpredictable, I can’t say that for sure. Proper now, it’s greatest to observe what’s taking place 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?
Sure! It’s protected to obtain the COVID and flu vaccines on the similar time. Based mostly on present knowledge, there isn’t a elevated security threat and no lower in immune response if they’re administered collectively.
5. Is that this 12 months’s flu vaccine match for the present strains which are circulating?
Influenza could cause extreme illness requiring hospitalization and demise in even wholesome kids, particularly these lower than 5 years outdated. It’s trying like this 12 months’s flu vaccine is a comparatively good match based mostly on the info from the flu season within the southern hemisphere. Keep in mind that getting a flu vaccine can forestall in opposition to critical sickness in case your baby turns into contaminated with the flu.
6. Who must be getting the brand new RSV vaccine?
Wholesome infants lower than eight months of age ought to obtain nirsevimab, which was not too long ago accredited by the FDA. Whereas not technically a vaccine — it’s a monoclonal antibody — nirsevimab is getting used equally to how we consider preventive vaccines. It’s endorsed to get it round September, earlier than the RSV season, and safety ought to final about 5 months. Kids who’re severely immunocompromised or have extreme lung illness might obtain an extra dose of their second RSV season. Now we have had different RSV antibodies obtainable earlier than; nevertheless, solely high-risk infants had been eligible. That is the primary time we’ve had an antibody obtainable for all infants underneath eight months of age; research present it reduces the danger of extreme sickness by 75%.
7. When is the RSV season?
The standard RSV season is just like the flu, with probably the most circumstances taking place within the winter and early spring. Influenza season begins within the fall and often peaks within the winter. That mentioned, we noticed a excessive quantity of RSV and influenza circumstances within the low season, such because the summer time of 2021 and the autumn of 2022. Some indications counsel will probably be beginning early this fall as properly.
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