Flu season is here! There’s also an updated COVID vaccine booster and concerns about the spread of Monkeypox. Read on to learn who should get these vaccines and when.
COVID booster
A new COVID vaccine booster, sometimes called the Omicron booster or bivalent booster, is now available. Protection from the COVID vaccine fades over time, so a booster rebuilds your protection for another three to four months. The new booster also helps protect specifically against the types (or subvariants) of COVID that are currently spreading most
Who should get it? Everyone aged 5 and older is recommended to get the Omicron booster shot, but it is especially important if you are over 60, have other medical conditions, or have a weakened immune system. Kids under 5 can’t currently get the new booster. Kids and teens will get a smaller dose of the updated booster based on age; anyone 6 and up can get either Pfizer or Moderna, while Pfizer is approved for ages 5 and up.
When should you get it? You must be fully vaccinated and your last COVID shot or booster must have been at least two months ago. If you tested positive for COVID recently, you may want to wait three months to get the booster. Otherwise, experts recommend getting your COVID booster as soon as you are able.
Flu shot
This year’s flu season has come to Texas early and is expected to be worse than usual. At the clinic we have already seen hundreds of cases of flu. To be protected against flu, you must get the flu shot every year.
Who should get it? Everyone over 6 months old is recommended to get the flu shot.
When should you get it? Now! Ideally, get your flu shot by the end of October.
Can you get a flu shot and COVID booster at the same time? Yes.
Monkeypox vaccine
Monkeypox is a serious and painful illness that was rare in the U.S. until this year, though it seems that cases are decreasing now. It is spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, and most people are at very low risk.
Who should get it? The CDC recommends vaccination for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and people who may be more likely to get monkeypox, including:
- People who have been identified by public health officials as a contact of someone with monkeypox
- People who know one of their sexual partners in the past 2 weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox
- People who had multiple sexual partners in the past 2 weeks in an area with known monkeypox
When should you get it? If you are at high risk of monkeypox or have been exposed in the past four days, it’s recommended that you get vaccinated as soon as possible. You will need two doses of vaccine spaced 28 days apart.
Can you get a monkeypox vaccine at the same time as a flu shot or COVID booster? Yes, though people at increased risk of inflammation of the heart should wait four weeks after their monkeypox vaccine to get a COVID vaccine.