{"id":8713,"date":"2023-11-10T04:24:03","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T21:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8713"},"modified":"2023-11-10T04:24:03","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T21:24:03","slug":"cdc-get-covid-flu-rsv-vaccines-before-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8713","title":{"rendered":"CDC: Get COVID, Flu, RSV Vaccines Before Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">S<\/span>uitcases? Check. Flights? Check. Vaccines? <em>Uhh<\/em>\u2026 Wait a second. Getting vaccinated might not be at the top of your holiday travel checklist, but medical professionals at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are urging everyone who is eligible for the flu, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/covid-19-public-health-emergency\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/covid-19-public-health-emergency\/\">COVID-19<\/a>, and\/or RSV vaccines to get their shot(s) ahead of any plans to travel or gather with family members or friends this Thanksgiving and holiday season. (Note that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vaccines.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.vaccines.gov\/\">all three vaccines are free<\/a> to the public, regardless of health insurance status.)<\/div>\n<p>Last winter, the United States experienced a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/12\/05\/1140806412\/cdc-updates-the-status-of-the-tripledemic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/12\/05\/1140806412\/cdc-updates-the-status-of-the-tripledemic\">tripledemic<\/a>\u201d of these three airborne respiratory viruses, resulting in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2022\/12\/16\/us\/covid-flu-rsv-tripledemic-data.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2022\/12\/16\/us\/covid-flu-rsv-tripledemic-data.html\">spike in hospitalizations and deaths among both children and adults<\/a>. And this year, some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/philadelphia\/news\/tripledemic-2023-covid-flu-rsv-vaccine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/philadelphia\/news\/tripledemic-2023-covid-flu-rsv-vaccine\/\">doctors fear a similar triple-whammy surge<\/a>. But taking action now is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are two weeks [away] from Thanksgiving, and now is the right time for everyone to protect themselves,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/about\/leadership\/director.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/about\/leadership\/director.htm\">Mandy Cohen, MD<\/a>, director of the CDC. \u201cEvery winter season, we see more viruses circulating, and unfortunately, these viruses make people very sick, [and they can] end up in the hospital, and sadly, even die.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWe are two weeks [away] from Thanksgiving, and now is the right time for everyone to protect themselves.\u201d \u2014Mandy Cohen, MD, director of the CDC<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>We may be nearly four years away from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Dr. Cohen says that the virus remains highly prevalent, and given what we know now about the potential for contracting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/what-long-covid-is-like\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/what-long-covid-is-like\/\">long COVID<\/a><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>and experiencing lingering health consequences from infection, it&#8217;s still important to take all the precautions you can to avoid the virus.<\/p>\n<p>That means getting vaccinated for COVID-19 as well as the flu, and for those eligible, RSV, as soon as possible (and especially before doing any Thanksgiving or holiday travel). Below, you&#8217;ll find everything you need to know about eligibility for the COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines, how to get them, potential side effects, and other tips from the CDC for staying healthy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/travel-covid-flu-rsv-vaccines\/\" current-title=\"The CDC Director Says Flu, COVID-19, and RSV Vaccinations Should Be at the Top of Your Pre-Travel To-Do List This Holiday Season\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/child-getting-vaccinated_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-05-09\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/travel-covid-flu-rsv-vaccines\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/travel-covid-flu-rsv-vaccines\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/travel-covid-flu-rsv-vaccines\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Who should get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines?<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/stay-up-to-date.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/stay-up-to-date.html\">CDC recommends<\/a> that everyone older than six months get this year&#8217;s flu vaccine and everyone five years and older get one dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine (even if you had previous COVID-19 shots, assuming they were before September 12, 2023). Any of the current options on the market for the COVID-19 vaccine\u2014Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax\u2014will satisfy this requirement.<\/p>\n<p>One exception to this rule is if you had COVID-19 recently; the CDC suggests delaying your updated vaccine by three months from the date when you tested positive, given reinfection is unlikely in the few weeks immediately following infection.<\/p>\n<p>Children who are between six months and four years of age may need additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to get up to date, and anyone who is either moderately or severely immunocompromised may also need extra doses of the updated vaccine, so if that&#8217;s you, it&#8217;s important to check in with your doctor.<\/p>\n<h2>Who should get the RSV vaccine?<\/h2>\n<p>According to the CDC, adults over 60 years old and people who are 32 to 36 weeks pregnant should get the respiratory syncytial virus (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/rsv-sickness\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/rsv-sickness\/\">RSV<\/a>) vaccine. (To be clear, those who do not fall in these particular groups are not eligible for the RSV vaccine and should not get it.) RSV is a highly contagious flu-like condition that can be particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations, including the very old and the very young.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor the first time, we have protection for our babies against RSV,\u201d says Dr. Cohen, who stresses the importance of vaccination for anyone in those eligible groups. \u201cIf you&#8217;re pregnant, there&#8217;s a vaccine for you if you&#8217;re between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant, and we have an antibody shot that we can give to babies under the age of eight months that can protect them directly against RSV.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to the CDC, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/rsv\/high-risk\/older-adults.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/rsv\/high-risk\/older-adults.html\">RSV kills an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 older adults<\/a> and 100,000 to 200,000 infants each year. Last fall, the United States experienced a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9844019\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" class=\"no-underline citation\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9844019\/\"><span>dramatic RSV surge<\/span><sup>1<\/sup><\/a> that was driven by two strains of the virus, RSV-A and RSV-B. It&#8217;s thought that lack of exposure to the typical seasonal viruses in the years of COVID-19 quarantines and lockdowns may have triggered this surge, which again, occurred alongside a rise in cases of both COVID-19 and the flu, putting an immense strain on hospitals. Getting the RSV vaccine, explains Dr. Cohen, can help prevent a repeat of last year\u2019s spike, and potentially save thousands of lives in the process.<\/p>\n<h2>Can I get 2 or 3 of the vaccines at the same time?<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re wanting to save time at the doctor\u2019s office, Dr. Cohen says there\u2019s no risk involved with getting any combination of the COVID-19, RSV, and\/or flu vaccines at once. There is no minimum waiting period you must adhere to between each vaccine, according to the CDC.<\/p>\n<p>That said, you may want to consult with your doctor ahead of time to discuss your options, as getting multiple shots in one fell swoop could potentially heighten the side effects of each; one 2022 study found that people were slightly more likely to experience side effects when <a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2794318\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" class=\"no-underline citation\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2794318\"><span>getting the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time<\/span><sup>2<\/sup><\/a>, and CDC clinical trials found that those who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/respiratory-viruses\/whats-new\/getting-vaccines-at-same-time.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/respiratory-viruses\/whats-new\/getting-vaccines-at-same-time.html\">received the RSV and flu vaccines at the same time<\/a> experienced slightly more side effects than those who got them separately. Despite this, the CDC reports that getting all three vaccinations at the same time is, again, safe and efficacious.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you have the ability to spread them out, [and] you want to do that, that&#8217;s perfectly fine,\u201d says Dr. Cohen. \u201cYou want to get them together? Also fine. It&#8217;s really more about what works for your schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>What are the side effects of the COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines?<\/h2>\n<p>Side effects of the COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines vary from person to person, but for most patients, the symptoms are mild to moderate. \u201cThe most common side effects that we&#8217;re seeing from these vaccines are pain at the site of the injection, a little arm soreness, and a bit of achiness or fatigue that usually goes away with Tylenol or ibuprofen,\u201d says Dr. Cohen.<\/p>\n<p>While there\u2019s certainly some risk of more severe side effects (like nausea, chills, and fever), Dr. Cohen says that these adverse reactions pale in comparison to how you\u2019d feel after contracting RSV, the flu, or COVID-19, and are typically short-lived.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe risks of what could happen to you if you don&#8217;t get vaccinated are much worse, so we want to make sure that everyone&#8217;s getting protected,\u201d says Dr. Cohen.<\/p>\n<h2>4 tips from the CDC to stay healthy this season (beyond getting vaccinated)<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Stay home if you\u2019re sick<\/h3>\n<p>According to Dr. Cohen, one of the best ways to keep your loved ones from getting sick is by limiting your contact with them while <em>you\u2019re<\/em> sick. Sure, it sucks to miss out on fun outings and gatherings, but with proper rest, treatment, and isolation, you\u2019ll be back on your feet sooner, and you won\u2019t risk getting your family sick in the process. \u201cYou don&#8217;t want to bring germs to your family, particularly if you&#8217;re gathering with grandparents or other older adults,\u201d says Dr. Cohen.<\/p>\n<p>If you begin to feel any cold, flu, or COVID-19 symptoms , Dr. Cohen suggests getting tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible. \u201cTesting is really important [in order] to get you access to the treatment that could save you from going into the hospital,\u201d says Dr. Cohen.<\/p>\n<p>You can get tested for COVID-19 for free through the CDC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/icatt\/AboutICATT.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/icatt\/AboutICATT.html\">Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program<\/a>. Use this <a href=\"https:\/\/testinglocator.cdc.gov\/Search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/testinglocator.cdc.gov\/Search\">testing center locator<\/a> to find a free testing location close to your home, or order up to four free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/testing\/self-testing.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/testing\/self-testing.html\">at-home self-testing kits<\/a> from the federal government.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Mask up<\/h3>\n<p>Wearing face masks might not be the norm anymore, but according to Dr. Cohen, they\u2019re still the best form of personal protection against airborne diseases. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/prevent-getting-sick\/about-face-coverings.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/prevent-getting-sick\/about-face-coverings.html\">Face coverings<\/a> that fully cover your nose and mouth can shield you from saliva droplets and sprays (yuck!) that you can otherwise inhale when in close proximity to others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCOVID-19, flu, and RSV are respiratory viruses and spread through the air,\u201d explains Dr. Cohen. \u201cRemember\u2014masks do work to protect you from what might be circulating in your airspace.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>3. Wash your hands<\/h3>\n<p>To prevent hand-to-hand transmission of respiratory (and diarrheal) viruses, the CDC recommends properly washing your hands frequently throughout the day. You can easily catch COVID-19, RSV, and the flu by touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands that have come into contact with any of these viruses.<\/p>\n<p>While hand sanitizer does <em>reduce<\/em> the number of germs on your hands, it doesn\u2019t get rid of all types of germs, according to the CDC. Per the CDC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/handwashing\/when-how-handwashing.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/handwashing\/when-how-handwashing.html\">handwashing guidelines<\/a>, be sure to wash your hands before, during, and after cooking; before and after eating; after blowing your nose or sneezing; before and after coming into contact with someone who\u2019s sick; and of course, after using the toilet. Scrub up with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or as long as it takes to sing \u201cHappy Birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>4. Travel wisely<\/h3>\n<p>While airborne illnesses run rampant this time of year, Dr. Cohen says that you can keep your holiday travel plans\u2014just be mindful of your contact with others. Getting vaccinated, masking up when possible, and washing your hands frequently will greatly reduce your chances of getting sick while traveling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe all can [still] gather with our friends and travel,\u201d says Dr. Cohen. \u201cI plan to travel this Thanksgiving, but we&#8217;re using layers of protection. It&#8217;s why I got vaccinated, my kids got vaccinated, [and] my husband&#8217;s vaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adhering to these healthy practices can keep you\u2014and your loved ones\u2014safe throughout the holiday season. \u201cWe all want to have a happy and healthy holiday season with Thanksgiving being just two weeks away,\u201d says Dr. Cohen. \u201cWe know folks are gathering indoors, and that&#8217;s what viruses like. They like to move around with us, so we need to use the tools that we have available to protect ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"block-thin post-citations mt-[40px] mb-[30px]\" data-module-init=\"main-2020\/post-citations\" data-module-immediate=\"true\">\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mb-[24px]\"\/>\n<div class=\"post-citations-content flex flex-col gap-[24px]\">\n<p>Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.<\/p>\n<div>\n<ol class=\"!ml-[18px] !mt-0\">\n<li>\n              Adams, Gordon et al. \u201cThe 2022 RSV surge was driven by multiple viral lineages.\u201d\u00a0<i>medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences<\/i>\u00a02023.01.04.23284195. 5 Jan. 2023, doi:10.1101\/2023.01.04.23284195. Preprint.            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Hause AM,\u00a0Zhang B,\u00a0Yue X, et al. Reactogenicity of Simultaneous COVID-19 mRNA Booster and Influenza Vaccination in the US.\u00a0<em>JAMA Netw Open.<\/em>\u00a02022;5(7):e2222241. doi:10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2022.22241            <\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mt-[24px]\"\/>\n  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Suitcases? Check. Flights? Check. Vaccines? Uhh\u2026 Wait a second. Getting vaccinated might not be at the top of your holiday travel checklist, but medical professionals at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are urging everyone who is eligible for the flu, COVID-19, and\/or RSV vaccines to get their shot(s) ahead of any plans &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8713"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8713\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}