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It’s fall, which implies it’s time for respiratory viral sicknesses to begin circulating once more as a part of our “cough and chilly” season. This 12 months is not any exception – we’ve began seeing an uptick in constructive assessments for COVID-19, flu (also called influenza) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), each nationally and regionally. With a number of sicknesses going round and up to date/new vaccines out there, there’s quite a bit for fogeys to know.
To assist dad and mom kind all of it out, I’ve answered essentially the most continuously requested questions we’ve been receiving about COVID-19, flu and RSV:
1. What’s the only factor dad and mom can do to guard their youngsters from these critical sicknesses?
The simplest factor dad and mom can do, along with handwashing and avoiding sick folks, is to vaccinate their youngsters towards these sicknesses. For the primary time ever, now we have vaccinations or different preventative remedies out there for all three. It’s fairly thrilling. It’s vital to notice, nevertheless, that vaccinations don’t utterly forestall all youngsters from getting contaminated and/or having signs; it prevents them from having extreme illness and doubtlessly being hospitalized.
2. Up to date COVID vaccines that extra intently match the present strains had been not too long ago made out there — ought to I get my youngsters one other one?
Sure! The up to date COVID-19 vaccines defend towards the newer omicron variants, such because the XBB lineage, and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends that everybody aged 5 years and older get at the very least one dose of this up to date Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to guard towards critical sickness.
Folks (together with youngsters) who’re reasonably or severely immunocompromised could get further doses of the up to date COVID-19 vaccine. Youngsters 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 at the very least 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 might be nice to get them each on the similar time of 12 months to make it simpler for households. Nonetheless, as a result of COVID-19 has been unpredictable, I can’t say that for sure. Proper now, it’s finest to comply with 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 secure to obtain the COVID and flu vaccines on the similar time. Based mostly on present knowledge, there isn’t any 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 youngsters, particularly these lower than 5 years outdated. It’s trying like this 12 months’s flu vaccine is a comparatively good match primarily based on the information from the flu season within the southern hemisphere. Keep in mind that getting a flu vaccine can forestall towards critical sickness in case your baby turns into contaminated with the flu.
6. Who ought to 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 authorized 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. Youngsters who’re severely immunocompromised or have extreme lung illness could obtain an extra dose of their second RSV season. We now have had different RSV antibodies out there earlier than; nevertheless, solely high-risk infants had been eligible. That is the primary time we’ve had an antibody out there 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 essentially the most instances 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 instances within the low season, such because the summer season of 2021 and the autumn of 2022. Some indications recommend it will likely be beginning early this fall as nicely.
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