Breathe Easier this Winter: Vaccinate for Respiratory Illnesses

6 hours ago | Kristin Eggebraaten | @keggebraaten

It’s officially fall once again. As the season changes, so do the health challenges we face. Fall and winter bring an uptick in respiratory illnesses, with common culprits including influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Now is the time to consider health measures that can help you avoid illness in the coming months.

The flu vaccine is one of the most effective ways to reduce the severity of influenza illness and to reduce hospitalizations and deaths. Doctors advocate for the flu vaccine and an updated COVID-19 vaccine, because they are the best way to prevent serious illness, especially for those who are immune compromised, adults over age 65, people with cancer and others who are in higher risk groups.

At Mayo Clinic, we are encouraging our adult transplant recipients to receive the high-dose trivalent influenza vaccine or alternatively, the adjuvanted formulation (Fluad) or the recombinant formulation (Flublok) of the flu vaccine. Check with your transplant doctors or nurses for their recommendation for you.

RSV might be a new consideration for some. If you are 60 or older, or if you have a high-risk condition, check with your local doctor about the RSV vaccine and find out if it’s right for you.

Information about the RSV vaccine:

Abrysvo (RSVpreF, Pfizer, originally licensed May 2023 is FDA approved for all adults age 60 years or older, adults age 18 through 59 years with high-risk conditions for severe RSV disease, and during pregnancy from 32 through 36 weeks’ gestation
Arexvy is licensed for all adults age 60 years or older, adults age 50 through 59 years with high-risk conditions for severe RSV disease
MResvia is an mRNA vaccine originally licensed May 2024 for all adults age 60 years or older, adults age 18 through 59 years with high-risk conditions for severe RSV disease

Again, check with the team caring for you about their recommendations for any vaccines you consider.

Your local doctor or local health department web page should list vaccine locations near you. Some locations may even offer the flu vaccine, COVID booster, and RSV vaccine at the same time. Information on flu vaccines at Mayo Clinic can be found here.

If you are a transplant patient at another facility or you have contraindications to the vaccine, contact your care team to ask about their recommendations for this flu season.

What you can do to stay healthy in addition to being vaccinated?

It’s easy to do some common things to stay healthy this flu season:

Wash your hands. Wash your hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your face. Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth helps keep germs away from those places.
Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Then wash your hands.
Wear a mask. Consider wearing a mask when out in public, especially during peak rates of COVID-19 and influenza infection in your geographic area of residence and when in areas of large public gatherings.
Clean surfaces. Regularly clean often-touched surfaces to prevent the spread of infection from touching a surface with the virus on it and then your face.
Avoid crowds. The flu spreads easily wherever people gather — in child care centers, schools, office buildings, auditoriums and on public transportation. By avoiding crowds during peak flu season, you lower your chances of infection.

Do you get your flu vaccine every year? Make it part of your fall routine! Tell us about how you stay healthy in times of high disease transmission.

HELPFUL LINKS