Health experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) are urging that everyone age 6 months and older to get vaccinated against flu and Covid-19 this season.
The health experts are also recommended those most at risk for severe disease to discuss new RSV prevention tools (including vaccines and monoclonal antibodies), as well as pneumococcal vaccination, with a healthcare professional.
“For the first time, we have immunizations available to help protect against the three major respiratory viruses – Covid-19, flu, and RSV,” said CDC Director Dr. Mandy K. Cohen. “I strongly encourage you and your family to get the immunizations that are right for you. We must use all available tools to protect those most at risk, including infants and young children, pregnant people, older adults, and those with chronic health conditions.”
According to CDC data released today, the 2022-2023 season in the U.S. was moderately severe with an estimated 31 million symptomatic illnesses, 14 million medical visits, 360,000 hospitalizations, and 21,000 flu-related deaths, including 176 pediatric deaths.
Although flu and Covid-19 vaccines may be co-administered, a recent NFID survey showed only 38% of respondents indicated that they would get both vaccines at the same time, if offered to them.
“The NFID data – which show complacency around vaccination against flu, Covid-19, RSV, and pneumococcal disease – are concerning,” said NFID President Patricia A. Stinchfield. “These diseases can be serious, even in healthy children and adults, but the good news is that we now have prevention tools available to help protect people against severe illness and complications. We just need to use them.”
