Flu, COVID-19, RSV: Your guide to fall vaccines

’Tis the season to get your vaccines.

Every fall, we all play an important role in protecting each other from respiratory illnesses such as influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

What might be a minor illness for you could be a serious health threat to someone else. It only takes a few minutes to join the effort to support healthier communities.

Flu vaccines

Now is the ideal time to get a flu shot, with flu season approaching and COVID-19 still in our communities. The influenza vaccine is one of the best ways to protect yourself from the flu.

Experts recommend getting the flu vaccine by the end of October, ahead of peak case counts over the winter.

Find a flu shot location near you.

COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 cases are on the rise again as the weather cools. It’s a good idea to get vaccinated and receive an updated shot when it is available.

The CDC recommends updated COVID-19 shots for everyone 6 months and older for the 2023-24 virus season. The bivalent vaccine that was approved for use in 2022 is no longer available.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna were approved for use in early September, but most pharmacies and clinics, including MultiCare locations, do not yet have them in stock.

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine.

RSV vaccines and monoclonal antibodies

Like other respiratory illnesses, RSV tends to spread more widely in the fall, with transmission rates peaking in winter. This virus can cause serious illness in infants and older adults. To help combat RSV, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved new treatments for these more vulnerable groups.

Infants and young children can now receive an injection of monoclonal antibodies to help protect them from serious illness. Approved by the FDA and recommended by the CDC, this new treatment, nirsevimab, can reduce the risk of doctor’s visits and hospitalizations for RSV in infants by about 80 percent.

Earlier this year, the FDA approved the first RSV vaccine for adults 60 and older. The virus can also be dangerous for adults with serious health conditions such as asthma, congestive heart failure or pulmonary disease. If you are 60 or older or have a serious condition, talk with your health care provider to see whether the RSV vaccine is right for you.

Learn more about the CDC recommendations for these treatments, and ways to prevent RSV, on the CDC RSV Prevention website.