For those of us with vaccinations against respiratory diseases (Covid, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)) on our fall agenda, this year may feel surprisingly ordinary.
After a tumultuous summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in early October changes to its Covid vaccine recommendations as federal officials later retracted them. Fall Immunization Schedule UpdateIt’s not much different from last year.
Public health experts say it will make it easier for most people who want to get vaccinated to get it.
“The patient’s experience is no different from what they already have, except that the pharmacist provides the patient with a bit more information,” he explained. Hannah FishDirector of Strategic Initiatives for the National Association of Community Pharmacists.
Here’s what you need to know:
corona vaccine
This fall, the vaccine will be recommended for everyone From 6 months onwardsThere is one caveat. First, we need a dialogue with health care providers, a model called “shared clinical decision-making.”
The provider may be your doctor, pharmacist, or other professional who gives you the vaccine. For people under 65, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices emphasized that vaccination is generally most beneficial for those at highest risk for severe Covid-19.
Age recommendations are the same as last year, but there are some nuances. The CDC approval is broad, meaning health insurance should cover the vaccine at no cost to patients, but some providers may be reluctant to offer the vaccine to people under 65 unless they have health conditions that put them at higher risk for severe Covid if they become infected. This is the recommendation that appears on the vaccine label approved by the Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“These are details that can come up in interactions between healthcare providers and patients,” he said. Jen CatesHe is vice president and head of global and public health policy at KFF.
But if one provider refuses to vaccinate a healthy person because of what is considered an off-label use of the vaccine, it is likely that another provider will be willing to administer that vaccine, experts said.
“They could have gone to another pharmacy,” Kates said.
According to KFF analysisMany states have taken steps to ensure people have access to the vaccine if they want it. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have adopted broader recommendations than the federal government, Kates explained.
However, the proportion of people choosing to get the COVID-19 vaccine continues to decline. As of the end of April, only 23% of adults had received an updated vaccine; According to the CDC.
Because uptake is so low, fewer pharmacies and doctors may decide to offer the vaccine this year, he said. jeff levin jokeHe is a primary care physician, population health leader at consulting firm WTW, and adjunct professor at Harvard University’s Chan School of Public Health.
Large chains like CVS and Walgreens say there is enough supply to meet demand.
Still, additional obstacles people may face, such as having to find a different pharmacy or provider, may impact their interest in getting the Covid vaccine.
“If we want to get more people vaccinated, the key is to make the process as easy as possible and reduce the number of steps,” Levin-Scherz said.
flu vaccine
More people are seeking the flu vaccine than the Covid vaccine, but only 47% of adults were vaccinated last season.
CDC recommends Almost everyone over the age of 6 months gets the flu vaccine every year. There are no changes this year. The vaccine is widely available at pharmacies and doctor’s offices and is free to patients and covered by their health insurance.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Announced in July Flu vaccines should not contain thimerosal, a preservative that prevents the growth of bacteria in the vaccine.
According to experts in the field, no evidence This additive, which contains mercury and has been used for decades, is harmful. last year, CDC estimates Only 6% of flu vaccines contained thimerosal.
Vaccine against RSV
This vaccine protects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). seasonal viruses It is highly contagious, affecting the lungs and respiratory tract. Although symptoms are usually mild, RSV can cause serious lung infections, especially in older people.
Vaccine has been approved In 2023. CDC Recommends It is intended for everyone over the age of 75 and people aged 50 to 74 with medical conditions that put them at higher risk of developing a severe form of the disease.
People who meet these criteria should be able to get vaccinated at pharmacies, Fish explained.
The RSV vaccine is not given annually. According to current regulations, if you have already been vaccinated, you do not need to be vaccinated again.
