Navigating the Holidays can be challenging. Throw in young kids, school break, and travel; I can already feel the panic rising. The last few years have felt increasingly difficult when it comes to gathering friends and family due to the emergence of COVID-19 back in 2020 and the resulting few years of increased illness among young children. Not only are we looking out for our children and those who live in our households, but we also have to consider the older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and others we will encounter while celebrating during December and January.
What Factors Should You Consider When Planning for Vaccinations?
While many of us have become accustomed to our annual flu shot, there are a few added layers that have given many people what I will deem “vaccine fatigue.” If you meet certain qualifiers, your annual vaccination regime this year could include Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID. Do you feel like a human pin cushion yet? To add complexity to all of this, many people are asking questions such as, what if I had COVID recently? What if I think I have had the flu or RSV?
I had this same discussion with my children’s pediatrician recently. After a bout of COVID over the summer, where my kids were essentially asymptomatic, I was questioning the need to have them vaccinated with the new booster. His basic explanation was that, well, the research isn’t in yet on what the best approach is. According to the current guidelines, much like the flu, there is no reason to wait to be vaccinated after an infection. According to the CDC, the chances of you being reinfected within 90 days of your most recent COVID infection are lower, but it is still possible. Some factors, such as your personal risk (being immunocompromised), the risk level of people you are in close contact with, and current transmission levels where you live, can influence the timing of your booster and other seasonal vaccines.
Covid Vaccines
The current recommendation for this Fall/Winter is that everyone 5 years and older should get an updated COVID Booster regardless of their previous vaccination status. The only exception is for children 4 and under who will follow these guidelines:
-Children 6 months to 4 years old who have never been vaccinated against COVID-19 should get either 2 doses of Moderna or 3 doses of Pfizer.
-Children 6 months to 4 years old who have received previous doses before September 12th, 2023, should get 1 (Moderna) or 2 (Pfizer) doses (If they have had 2 doses of Pfizer, they will only need one additional dose).
Influenza Vaccines
Flu vaccines are offered each fall; it is recommended to receive yours in September and October. If you have still not received yours, you still have time. Current recommendations are that everyone 6 months and older receive an updated influenza vaccine each year. For children (usually infants) receiving their first influenza vaccine, they will need to have a second dose at least 4 weeks after the first to be protected.
RSV Vaccine
The new RSV vaccine is offered to a limited number of individuals. The administration of this vaccine is usually between September and January based on the timing of previous RSV seasons. The CDC currently recommends that these groups receive one dose:
-Adults age 60 and over
-Pregnant people between 32-36 weeks of gestation
-Some infants in their first RSV season whose mother was unable to receive the vaccine. (A different RSV antibody is administered to this age group).
How to Time Vaccines
You can choose to have your influenza, RSV, and COVID vaccinations administered at the same time if you are eligible for all three. You can also choose to separate them if you are someone who has a tendency to experience side effects. There is no recommended waiting period between each vaccine.
According to the CDC, based on recent clinical trial data, there is only a slight increase in the incidence of side effects when administering more than one vaccine at a time.
The personal risk to myself and my immediate family is relatively low if we were to contract COVID again within a 90-day window. However, we are traveling by plane for the holidays and will be visiting with many family members over the age of 65 and some who are considered immunocompromised. As a family, we decided to receive our updated COVID boosters right around the 90-day mark post-COVID and two weeks before traveling. While the new COVID booster will not prevent us from acquiring COVID again, it can decrease the risk and help us protect those around us who are more vulnerable.
On that same note, I was careful to ensure our family received our flu shots with plenty of time for them to become effective before holiday plans began. No one in our house is eligible for the new RSV vaccine, but I did encourage family members to get it, knowing my lovely little petri dishes would be the most likely culprits to bring it to them.
If You Need a Little More Information….
If you are curious about currently circulating levels of Flu, RSV, and COVID, most states have dashboards where you can see this information. You can also check out these resources:
And, of course, when in doubt, reach out to your medical provider or your child’s pediatrician if you need specific advice.
Happy Holidays!
Last but not least, I would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.
Brooke Schmidt Nurse Writer 