Oct. 5, 2023 – As we forge forward into fall and winter, the specter of a “tripledemic” – when instances of COVID-19, flu, and RSV surge on the similar time – looms over our heads.
Main specialists from the CDC on Wednesday met and addressed the three viruses that we’re confronted with and the way greatest to guard ourselves and others.
Within the assembly, CDC Director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, mentioned that clear, easy messaging is of the utmost significance proper now: The best method to defend your self from the worst of this season’s viruses is to get vaccinated. Everybody above 6 months previous ought to get their flu shot and up to date COVID vaccine; pregnant ladies and adults over 60 ought to get vaccinated towards RSV. For all of those viruses, the month of October is the very best time to get your pictures to stop an infection down the road.
“Coadministration of this vaccine together with influenza and COVID vaccines is totally acceptable,” mentioned Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH, the performing director of the Nationwide Middle for Immunization and Respiratory Ailments (NCIRD). “And it is necessary to recollect that there is a good quantity of overlap between the situations that will enhance threat for influenza and COVID and people who might enhance threat for extreme RSV illness as effectively.”
Going over the CDC’s up to date suggestion record for all three vaccinations, Daskalakis mentioned when you’ve already had a dose of the earlier COVID vaccine, it’s best to wait about 2 months earlier than getting the up to date one. Should you’ve just lately had COVID, the CDC tips say, you might contemplate ready 3 months to get the brand new COVID shot.
Along with the unique vaccination collection and a dose of the up to date shot, Daskalakis mentioned, those that are immunocompromised might obtain extra doses now relying on what their well being care supplier advises.
In the case of RSV in infants, Daskalakis identified that every one infants qualify for nirsevimab, the monoclonal antibody remedy to guard towards RSV. One other method to goal newborns and infants is by getting pregnant individuals vaccinated 32-36 weeks into their being pregnant.
With all of those viruses, specialists agreed that velocity is the important thing for remedy. Getting examined as quickly as you possibly can, getting antivirals like Paxlovid for COVID-19 or people who goal influenza, and masking when you’ve been uncovered to a virus are all very important methods to guard others from an infection.
For the reason that rollout of the up to date COVID vaccine, there have been many reviews of individuals struggling to get an appointment or having their appointments canceled on the final minute. Daskalakis and Nirav Shah, MD, JD, principal deputy director of the CDC, addressed these points.
“Public well being distribution of vaccine is lots completely different than business distribution of vaccine,” mentioned Daskalakis, who mentioned it took a 12 months of planning to arrange for the change. Regardless of reviews, he mentioned that day by day the CDC is seeing a rise of vaccine provide are available for all suppliers, whether or not that be pharmacies or medical doctors’ places of work.
“Please do not surrender on the vaccine, please know that the vaccine is obtainable,” mentioned Shah. “And please examine again in along with your supplier, along with your pharmacist as a result of it is possible that in the event that they did not have the vaccine 2 weeks in the past, they’ll have it now.”
