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Seasonal Respiratory Illness Vaccine Toolkit: Influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Background

Influenza or flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can lead to hospitalization or death. A yearly flu vaccination is the best way to lower your risk of getting sick from the flu. Getting vaccinated reduces doctors’ visits, missed work or school, and flu-related hospitalizations.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also expects COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, to spread this fall and winter. These diseases are highly contagious and serious, especially for people who are at higher risk. Staying up to date on recommended vaccines, everyday actions like handwashing, and medication prescribed by your doctor can protect you and help stop the spread of viruses.

Key Messages for Communicators

Influenza

  • Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the seasonal flu vaccine every year, with rare exceptions. 
  • It’s best to get the vaccine before the flu spreads in your community.
    • Even if you get vaccinated later, the vaccine still protects you.
    • Flu season usually peaks in February and can continue into May.
  • You can get your flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines at the same visit if you are eligible and due for each vaccine. If you get them at separate appointments, there’s no required wait time between vaccines.
  • DHA guidance requires uniformed service members to get their annual seasonal flu vaccination by Jan. 15, 2024.
  • The annual flu shot is mandatory for civilian health care personnel who provide direct patient care and is highly recommended for all other staff who work in military hospitals and clinics.
  • The TRICARE flu vaccine webpage has information on how to get the flu vaccine through the TRICARE network.
  • If you or your child gets a vaccine outside of a military hospital or clinic, remember to include that in your military medical record. This keeps your vaccination records complete.
  • A high dose quadrivalent flu vaccine is available for people 65 and older.
    • This version of the vaccine stimulates a better immune response and better protection against flu.
    • The high-dose vaccine is not approved for people younger than 65.
    • If a high-dose flu vaccine is not available for a person 65 and older, they should get a standard-dose flu vaccine instead.
  • People younger than 65 can use any available flu vaccine.
  • Talk to your provider about which flu vaccine will be most beneficial to you.
  • The flu mainly spreads through droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk.
  • You can spread flu before you even know you are sick. 
  • You can have the flu with no symptoms and still spread the virus.
  • The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. 
  • Good habits to avoid getting or spreading the flu include:
    • Avoid people who are sick.
    • Cover your cough or sneeze.
    • Wash your hands (using alcohol-based hand sanitizer if washing with soap and water is not possible).
    • Avoid contact with your nose, eyes, or mouth.
    • Staying home if you have flu-like symptoms.
  • Flu vaccine effectiveness can vary year to year.
  • Flu vaccination reduces the risk of hospitalization and severe complications for those with at higher risk.
  • Recent studies show the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of flu between 40% and 60%.
  • Pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness and complications if they get the flu. 
  • If you’re pregnant during flu season, call your doctor to see when and how you can get the flu shot. They can tell you which vaccines the CDC recommends for pregnant people and how to protect you and your baby during flu season.

COVID-19

  • U.S. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and protect people from serious illness and death from COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 vaccines protect people who have already had COVID-19, including protection against being hospitalized from a new infection.
  • COVID-19 vaccination helps protect people by creating an immune response without the risk of severe illness.
  • CDC recommends the 2023–2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax, to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. 
    • Everyone aged 5 years and older should get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.          
    • Children aged 6 months–4 years need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine. 
    • People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
    • Talk to you doctor about your vaccine history to see which vaccine and dosage is appropriate.
  • Immunocompromised people can get additional updated 2023-2024 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses, depending on the number of prior doses.
  • Hundreds of millions of people in the U.S. received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.

For more information visit the full COVID-19 vaccination toolkit.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

  • The RSV vaccine can help protect adults aged 60 years and older from RSV disease.
  • Older adults are at greater risk than young adults for serious complications from RSV because immune systems weaken with age.
  • If you are 60 years and older, talk to your health care provider to see if vaccination is right for you.
  • Respiratory viruses can affect anyone.
  • Those at higher risk of getting very sick from flu, COVID-19, and RSV include:
    • Older adults.
    • People with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions.
    • Pregnant people.
    • Infants and young children.
  • Flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines lower your risk of getting sick, being hospitalized, and developing serious complications.

Approved Graphics

Use any of these graphics on your social media platforms to promote the Flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines. Click on the image to download or share and find suggested social media content for each graphic.

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Last Updated: August 28, 2024
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