Vaccines for Fall 2023

You will be hearing about 3 different vaccines for this coming fall vaccine season:

Flu
Covid
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

Flu Vaccine

Fall and Winter mean Flu Season, here's what you need to know. Flu continues to cause significant illness with symptoms, days out of work, and risk of hospitalization and death. Flu vaccine has been proven over many years to be safe. I recommend receiving a flu vaccine on, or around October 1. Like many vaccines, it does not guarantee that you will not get the flu, but if are vaccinated and get the flu, it is likely that the course will be less severe. Flu shots (both regular and over-65 version) will be available in my office after October 1.

Covid Vaccine

There will be a newly formulated covid vaccine, which is expected to be available in the Fall. This version of the vaccine is more effective than previous vaccines for the current strain of covid. If you received a covid vaccine, or have had covid, you should wait 3 months before receiving the new vaccine. This vaccine will be available in pharmacies.

RSV

RSV is a viral condition that is indistinguishable from flu or covid. It has a similar pattern of illness with most people developing flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, cough) with a small percentage of people who develop severe illness, hospitalization or death. The vaccine is approved for anyone aged 60 or older. This is a new vaccine, which I feel needs a bit more time on the market before we fully understand the safety profile. If you are considering receiving this vaccine, I'm happy to speak with you about it. RSV vaccine will be available in pharmacies and is known as Synagis.

While it is safe and effective to receive all of these vaccines together, my advice is to try to separate each by at least 2 weeks.

Be in touch with any specific questions.

Happy, Good Health,