Every fall and winter, as temperatures drop, it’s a battle between man and microbes, as viruses take advantage of our nesting instincts to spread sore throats, runny and stuffy noses, fevers, and coughs that won’t stop. This respiratory disease season, however, we’re armed for the first time with tools against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes disease primarily in older people and infants. Here’s advice from experts on how to navigate the new choices, and who should be getting which vaccines:
- Flu: Everyone six months or older should be getting a flu shot to protect against influenza.
- COVID-19: There will be an updated vaccine, likely recommended for most people, around mid-September. Vaccine makers say it will protect against the latest variants causing infections in the U.S.
- RSV: People over age 60, and those who are pregnant, can now get vaccinated against RSV. Babies under eight months old can receive an antibody injection to ward off infections.
