As we welcome fall, it is a great time to make sure you and your family
are taking steps to prevent respiratory diseases, including flu,
COVID-19, and RSV. CDC’s respiratory virus guidance can help you stay
healthy so you can continue to enjoy all the things you love to do this
time of year.
Seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have
risk factors for severe illness [7]; early treatment [8] may help lower
your risk of severe illness
Every year, respiratory diseases such as flu, COVID-19, and RSV cause
hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths during
the fall and winter virus season. There are more tools than ever to
protect ourselves, our families, and our communities from these
diseases.
Flu vaccines [12] prevent millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s
visits each year. Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against
the three flu viruses that research indicates will be most common during
the upcoming season. During seasons when flu vaccines are similar to
circulating flu viruses, a flu vaccine can reduce the risk of having to
go to the doctor with flu by 40% to 60%. For people who get vaccinated
but still get sick, flu vaccine has been shown to reduce severity of
illness.
Everyone 6 months and older, with rare exception, should get a flu
vaccine every season. Vaccination is particularly important for people
who are at higher risk of serious complications from flu [13].
Ideally, people should get vaccinated by the end of October. Most health
insurance plans cover an annual flu vaccine as preventive care. Flu
vaccination is often available at no or low cost [14] to people who do
not have insurance.