Take steps now for a healthy fall and winter

The Rappahannock Area Health District encourages families to prepare now for the winter spread of respiratory illness.

Fall can be a busy season for families with children. But nothing derails a packed schedule like the flu. So, when pumpkin-spice items start showing up on grocery-store shelves, make that your signal to schedule the annual vaccines that can help defend your family against the most common ailments that are known to circulate in the colder months.

Shots for flu, COVID-19 and RSV are available at area pharmacies and physicians’ offices. A great first stop for scheduling your family’s shots is www.vaccines.gov. You can also visit the Rappahannock Area Health District’s vaccine clinics.

As the 2024-25 school year opened around the Fredericksburg region, Virginia was experiencing an increase in cases of COVID-19. On top of this, respiratory illnesses and influenza traditionally peak from October to February. RSV, a respiratory illness that is particularly difficult for the very young and very old, is also on the rise. And pertussis, also known as “whooping cough” is also impacting more Virginians than in years past. The Rappahannock Area Health District offers this guide to preventative measures for these illnesses to help you make the best decisions for yourself and your family this fall and winter.

FLU

What is it? Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses. Flu cases occur year-round, but they typically peak during October through February.

Who should get the flu shot? The CDC recommends routine annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 and older. Getting the shot in late September to early October ensures that you will have peak protection (which lasts for four months) through the height of flu season, but it’s never too late to get this year’s shot. It’s OK to get the flu shot at the same time as the COVID-19 booster.

COVID-19

What are current trends? While severe illness and hospitalizations due to COVID are lower than two years ago, Virginia did see a spike in cases over the summer when more people congregated inside air-conditioned buildings. Vaccinations have played a vital role in reducing the risk of infection, including severe illness.

How can I make sure I am fully vaccinated? A 2024-25 version of the COVID-19 vaccine is now available from three different manufacturers. This new version protects against strains of the virus that have circulated more recently than when most individuals had their latest COVID shot. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 and older receive this updated vaccine. It is especially important for those who are 65 and older, who are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or who have never had a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC also states that the updated shots are especially important for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant.

Can I get the COVID-19 shot at the same time as the flu shot? Yes.

RSV

What is it? Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs. Its symptoms look a lot like the common cold, flu or COVID-19. According to the CDC, RSV tends to peak in December and January.

Who is most at risk? RSV does not typically cause complications in healthy adults and children, but it poses a significant risk to older adults and children under 6 months. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among U.S. infants.

Who should get vaccinated? Vaccines have been developed and are recommended for three specific groups of individuals. These single-dose vaccines are not annual shots, so you only need to get them once. CDC recommends RSV vaccines for:

·       Adults over 75 years of age, or those 60-74 who have chronic heart or lung problems, compromised immunity or reside in a long-term healthcare facility.

·       Pregnant women, between 32 and 36 weeks’ gestation.

·       Infants younger than 8 months who were born in October through March, whose mothers did not receive the RSV vaccine.

PERTUSSIS

What is it? Pertussis is a bacterial infection also known as whooping cough. It is a highly contagious respiratory disease that poses a high risk to babies under 1 year of age and individuals who are immunocompromised or have asthma.

Are cases increasing? Yes. As of Aug. 1, more than five times as many pertussis cases had been reported in Virginia than at this same point last year, according to the State Health Commissioner.

How can we prevent it? The Virginia Department of Health recommends that everyone stay up to date on their pertussis vaccinations. The pertussis vaccine is combined with vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria as a single injection. The combination vaccine (called “DTaP”) is given at 2, 4, 6, and 15 months of age and when a child enters school. Current recommendations also advise that children receive a single booster dose of vaccine (called “Tdap” for this age group), at 11-12 years of age. Adults who anticipate having close contact with an infant younger than 12 months (pregnant women, new parents, grandparents, childcare providers, and healthcare providers) also should receive a single booster dose.

CLEAN HANDS STOP GERMS

While vaccines are an essential line of defense, it’s still important to observe all of the commonsense measures that help stop the spread of disease. Stay home from work and school when you are sick. Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze. Wear a mask if you think you could be contagious. And wash your hands.

Oct. 15 is Global Handwashing Day. This is a great time to add a little fun to this important skill and teach young children good hand-washing habits. Here are a few ideas:

·       Sing a fun song while washing hands to ensure they scrub for at least 20 seconds. Songs like “Happy Birthday” sung twice or the “ABC” song work well.

·       Use glitter to represent germs. Have kids rub glitter on their hands and then try to wash it off. This shows how thorough they need to be to remove all the “germs.”

·       Fill a bin with soapy water and let kids wash toys or their hands. You can even freeze water in latex gloves and color them with washable markers to represent germs that need to be washed off.