It’s Time for Fall/Winter Vaccinations to Fight Respiratory Viruses

We are approaching what is historically the respiratory virus season. The Mississippi State Department of Health encourages everyone to get appropriate updated vaccinations to avoid severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death.

The rates of respiratory viruses such as influenza, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID tend to increase during the fall and winter months as more people gather indoors.

All individuals 6 months of age and older are recommended to get updated flu and COVID vaccines each season. Protection against RSV is recommended for babies and older adults.

Thanks to the wide availability of effective vaccines, the risk of severe illness from both the flu and COVID were cut nearly by half in fall 2023. More than 98% of the U.S. population now has some protective immunity against COVID. The first immunization against RSV for older adults, pregnant women and young children also became available last fall.

Vaccinations are currently available through primary care physicians, clinics and pharmacies around the state. Your healthcare provider can determine the number and type of doses for your age to provide the best protection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated recommendations this year to bring a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of respiratory viral illnesses:

• Staying up to date with vaccinations to protect against serious illness, hospitalization and death. This includes flu, COVID-19 and RSV if eligible.

• Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.

• Taking steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air or gathering outdoors.

Stay up to date on news and updates on the MSDH Healthy Mobile App, on our website  www.msdh.ms.gov. , and on social media facebook.com/healthyms, twitter.com/msdh and Instagram.com/healthy.ms