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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 yr is not any exception – we’ve began seeing an uptick in constructive exams for COVID-19, flu (often known as 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 dad and mom kind all of it out, I’ve answered probably the most ceaselessly requested questions we’ve been receiving about COVID-19, flu and RSV:
1. What’s the simplest factor dad and mom can do to guard their children from these severe sicknesses?
The best factor dad and mom can do, along with handwashing and avoiding sick individuals, is to vaccinate their youngsters towards these sicknesses. For the primary time ever, we’ve vaccinations or different preventative remedies obtainable for all three. It’s fairly thrilling. It’s essential to notice, nonetheless, that vaccinations don’t fully forestall all children 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 intently match the present strains had been not too long ago made obtainable — ought to I get my children one other one?
Sure! The up to date COVID-19 vaccines shield 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 a minimum of one dose of this up to date Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to guard towards severe sickness.
Folks (together with youngsters) who’re reasonably or severely immunocompromised could get extra 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 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 might be nice to get them each on the identical time of yr 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 greatest to observe what’s occurring 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 children to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines on the identical time?
Sure! It’s secure to obtain the COVID and flu vaccines on the identical time. Primarily based on present knowledge, there is no such thing as a elevated security threat and no lower in immune response if they’re administered collectively.
5. Is that this yr’s flu vaccine a great 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 yr’s flu vaccine is a comparatively good match based mostly on the information from the flu season within the southern hemisphere. Keep in mind that getting a flu vaccine can forestall towards severe sickness in case your baby turns into contaminated with the flu.
6. Who needs 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 permitted 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 is strongly recommended 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’ve got had different RSV antibodies obtainable earlier than; nonetheless, solely high-risk infants had been eligible. That is the primary time we’ve had an antibody obtainable for all infants beneath eight months of age; research present it reduces the danger of extreme sickness by 75%.
7. When is the RSV season?
The everyday RSV season is much like the flu, with probably the most circumstances occurring within the winter and early spring. Influenza season begins within the fall and normally peaks within the winter. That stated, we noticed a excessive quantity of RSV and influenza circumstances within the low season, such because the summer season of 2021 and the autumn of 2022. Some indications recommend will probably be beginning early this fall as effectively.
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