by Kate Evans
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just approved updated vaccines against Covid-19 this week. Officials recommend getting the updated COVID vaccine with your updated flu shot.
When to get your shot depends on your age, your health, if you’ve recently had COVID and if you have any underlying medical conditions.
The United States has been experiencing its largest summer wave of COVID-19 in several years. Those who haven’t had a recent COVID infection, especially those over 65 years of age, and those at high risk of serious illness from COVID are advised to get the updated COVID vaccine as soon as possible.
People that are at highest risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are those that are immune-compromised, people that have medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease and liver disease, pregnant women and the elderly. These individuals may need to get the updated shot as soon as possible.
Waiting until October or November if you can will provide you with better protection against respiratory illnesses through December and January.
What’s available
Updated COVID and flu vaccines are available now or will be available soon at local pharmacies, health departments and physician’s offices.
Walgreens in Berkeley Springs has the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines available now. Schedule an appointment online at the Walgreens website.
Reed’s Pharmacy pharmacist Tammy Davison in Berkeley Springs said they have the high dose flu shot for seniors available now. The updated COVID-19 vaccine and regular flu shots will be available in a couple weeks. They usually schedule a couple days in early October with extra staff to give a lot of vaccines at once.
Davison encouraged people to wait until October 1 to get their vaccines if they can so they can get through the whole season protected. She also wanted to remind people to check with their pharmacist or their doctor about whether they needed a pneumonia or RSV shot.
Reed’s Pharmacy in Hancock said they didn’t think they’ll be doing the updated COVID shots, but they’ll will be offering the flu vaccines-probably beginning in September.
Tri-State Community Health Center in Berkeley Springs does not normally get COVID-19 vaccines but expects to get the updated flu vaccine in September or October.
Tri-State Community Health Center in Hancock said they’re not sure if they’ll be offering the COVID-19 vaccine. They normally offer flu vaccines, but they’re not in yet. They expect to have them available by November.
The Home Center Pharmacy in Hancock doesn’t carry the COVID shots. The owner wasn’t available to ask about whether they’ll be carrying updated flu shots.
COVID symptoms
Possible symptoms of COVID-19 include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea. Symptoms may vary depending on vaccination status and can change depending on variants.
Emergency warning signs for COVID include trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion and inability to wake or stay awake. A person’s lips, nail beds and skin may appear pale, gray or blue. Call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Vaccine recommendations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine for ages six months of age and older. Ages six months to 4 years of age should get two doses of the Moderna vaccine or three doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine for the initial vaccination. Ages five years and older would receive one dose of either vaccine initially.
If individuals have received previous doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, ages six months to four years of age would get one or two doses from the same manufacturer, depending on their previous number of doses. Ages five years and up would get one dose of the 2024-2025 Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised would receive varying additional doses based on age and vaccination history.
Prevention
Preventing the flu, COVID, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and other respiratory illnesses involves the same basic measures. Follow the below advice from health officials to stay healthy year-round:
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer made of at least 60% alcohol if soap and water aren’t available for handwashing.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue or your upper shirt sleeve-not your hands.
Avoid touching your face, eyes and nose.
Stay home if you or your child are sick, except to get medical care.
Don’t send a sick child to school or day care.
Avoid close contact with others, such as kissing, shaking hands and sharing cups and eating utensils.
Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, telephones, counter-tops, cell phones and keyboards.
Consider wearing a face mask, especially if you develop a runny nose, cough or fever or if you are at high risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, RSV or other respiratory illnesses.
Avoid others that aren’t wearing masks if possible and ask others around you to wear face masks.
Keep six feet distance between you and other people indoors and outdoors to avoid spreading COVID, flu and respiratory viruses.
Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and take Vitamin C, D and zinc to help recovery from illness.
Stay up to date on your vaccinations. Get the yearly influenza vaccine and the updated COVID vaccine soon to ensure that you and your family are protected during the holidays.
