Updated flu, COVID-19, RSV vaccines now available
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Sept. 12, 2024
Fast Facts:
- All people six months of age and older are recommended for flu vaccines
- New 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines authorized by FDA as of Aug. 30
- Find local pharmacies with available vaccines at gov/en/
(711 words)
(Newsrooms: With graphic)
LITTLE ROCK — As children return to school and families resume busy fall schedules, it’s important to stay safe and healthy by getting updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Adults aged 75 years and older are also recommended for RSV vaccines.
Bryan Mader, extension health specialist and assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said vaccines are critical to personal and community health.
“Vaccines, especially those used to help prevent flu and COVID, are vitally important for your personal health, but also for the health of those around you,” Mader said. “Most basically, flu vaccines can help to prevent people from getting sick with influenza. Additionally, people who were vaccinated and did become ill had reduced severity of symptoms and overall time of illness.”
Mader said vaccines.gov, available in English and Spanish, is the best source of information for where to find nearby vaccines. “It’s a very easy process and can be used on mobile devices,” he said. “All you need to do is input your zip code, and the results provide a list and map of the closest resource for vaccines. Vaccines are also available through your healthcare provider or your local health department unit.”
Many vaccines are available free of charge with insurance. There are also programs available that help to reduce or eliminate the cost of preventive vaccines, such as flu and COVID vaccines.
Fighting the flu
Flu season in the U.S. generally spans from October to May, with peak season during the colder months from December to February. Mader said that because the influenza virus changes from season to season, it is recommended that everyone six months of age and older get a flu vaccine each year.
“Receiving a flu shot at any time during the flu season in the U.S. is highly recommended, however, aiming to receive a flu shot between September and October is typically recommended for the highest effectiveness throughout the season,” Mader said. “CDC recommends a flu vaccine by the end of October, before flu begins spreading in your community.”
Mader said that children aged 6 months through 8 years who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time, and those who have previously only received one dose of flu vaccine, should get two doses of vaccine.
“The first dose should be given as soon as the vaccine becomes available,” he said. “If your child previously got two doses of flu vaccine, at any time, they only need one dose of flu vaccine this season.”
Pregnant women should get a flu vaccine during each pregnancy, as they can help protect both the mother and baby from the flu.
Keeping up with COVID
As of Aug. 30, the FDA has authorized the new 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all people ages 6 months and older receive COVID-19 vaccine doses. Vaccination is especially important for those at high risk of severe COVID-19, including people ages 65 years and older, people with underlying medical conditions, including those with compromised immune systems, people living in long-term care facilities and pregnant people.
Mader said the most reliable data for COVID test positivity rates across the United States comes from the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker. After a spike in test positivity rates in early August, the test positivity rate for the week ending Aug. 31 is 16.3 percent, down from 16.7 percent the previous week.
As the United States prepares for the upcoming respiratory illness season, COVIDTests.gov will re-open for orders at the end of September. U.S. households will be eligible to receive four free COVID-19 tests, which can help detect current COVID-19 variants and can be used through the end of the year.
Who is at risk for RSV?
Mader said all adults aged 75 and older are recommended to get an RSV vaccine.
“Adults aged 60-74 who are at an increased risk of RSV – including those who have a chronic heart or lung disease, have a weakened immune system, have severe obesity and/or diabetes and those who may live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility – should receive a single dose of an RSV vaccine,” Mader said.
Mention of brand names does not imply endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
# # #
Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_
501-671-2061