Where to get COVID, flu + RSV shots in NC (and when doctors say you should get vaccinated)
As COVID cases surge in the U.S., and flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are just on the horizon, experts say vaccines are critical to help stop the spread of these viruses.
COVID case counts are the highest they’ve been in a year, Dr. David Weber, an infectious disease specialist at UNC Health, told The Charlotte Observer.
“We have increases in cases, hospitalizations, deaths countrywide, including here in North Carolina. Our hospital, the UNC Medical Center, is running 25 to 30 patients a day with with COVID,” he said.
Two updated COVID vaccines recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration should help protect against the new variant and reduce chances of serious illness.
Can you get your COVID vaccine at the same time as flu and RSV immunizations? Here’s what to know.
Can you get your COVID, flu and RSV shots at the same time?
You can get an updated COVID shot, flu shot and RSV shot during the same appointment, Weber said, but all three shots aren’t recommended for everyone.
A new flu vaccine will be available in the coming weeks that includes three types of flu virus, a drop from four last year, that could result in less intense side effects. There is also an enhanced flu vaccine available for older people, Weber said.
Though respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isn’t circulating in North Carolina right now, people who are at high risk for developing serious illness should get the vaccine, Weber said.
Who should get the updated COVID vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all people aged six months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccinations are especially important for those at higher risk of severe viral respiratory disease, NCDHHS told the Observer, including:
People 65 years and older
Children younger than 5
Pregnant women
Those with a weakened immune system
Those with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and obesity
Who should get the updated flu vaccine?
Similar to the updated COVID vaccine, the CDC recommends all people aged six months and older receive an updated flu vaccine.
“September and October remain the best times for most people to get vaccinated,” the CDC says.
Vaccinations in July and August aren’t recommended, but they can be administered to the following groups earlier:
Pregnant people who are in their third trimester.
Children who need two doses of the flu vaccine.
Children who have health care visits during those months if there might not be another opportunity to vaccinate them.
Adults, especially those 65 years old and older, who can’t get vaccinations in September and October.
Should I get the high-dose flu vaccine?
A high-dose flu vaccine is available for those aged 65 and older to boost their immune system response to the virus, as they’re generally at high risk for severe flu and complications, according to Mayo Clinic.
This age group has a higher rate of hospital stays and flu-related deaths than younger people do.
Studies have shown that high-dose flu vaccines help prevent flu-related hospital stays better than standard-dose vaccines, and recipients have higher antibody levels to fight the virus, according to Mayo Clinic.
Who should get the RSV vaccine?
New guidelines say most people who received the RSV vaccine last year do not need one this year, but Weber said it is recommended for:
Anyone aged 75 or older.
Those between the ages of 60 and 74 with chronic medical conditions.
Pregnant people in their second or third trimester.
The CDC also recommends the vaccine for:
- Infants younger than eight months who were born shortly before or are entering their first RSV season.
- Infants aged eight to 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season.
Where can I get COVID, flu & RSV shots in NC?
▪ Walgreens customers can now schedule appointments to receive the updated COVID vaccine at walgreens.com/schedulevaccine, with availability starting Sept. 6, according to a news release. Additional appointments will be added as daily inventory arrives.
▪ COVID vaccine doses are expected to start arriving at CVS locations within a few days, a pharmacy representative told CNN. Walk-in appointments will be available once the vaccine arrives, and customers will be able to schedule appointments online.
▪ You can also find vaccines through the CDC’s online pharmacy lookup tool at vaccines.gov once COVID and updated flu vaccines become widely available, the website says.
This story was originally published August 24, 2024 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Where to get COVID, flu + RSV shots in NC (and when doctors say you should get vaccinated)."
