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"content": "\u003cp>California may finally be getting a reprieve from one of the worst recorded \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flu\">flu\u003c/a> seasons in decades, a recent report by state health officials shows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#flu-vaccine\">It’s not too late for a flu shot — and here’s where to find the vaccine\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>For the week ending Feb. 15, 23.3% of tests conducted by the state’s clinical labs were positive for influenza, making up a week-over-week drop of 3.4 percentage points, according to the report released Friday by the Department of Public Health. That decline was more than triple the one seen the week before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the decrease in testing positivity rates could be a sign that the season has passed its peak, some health experts are warning that numbers could go up again and urge \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027283/forgot-your-flu-vaccine-with-historic-infections-its-not-too-late-for-a-shot\">those who haven’t been vaccinated yet\u003c/a> to do so as soon as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A similar drop was reported in early January but only lasted a couple of weeks before rates climbed up again, said Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, noting that flu season typically peaks around the middle of February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s possible we could get lulled into the same mistake that we made in the middle of January … but I think this drop coincides more with what we typically see with influenza,” Swartzberg said. “I’m cautiously optimistic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12009848\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12009848\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2168147137-scaled-e1740515847601.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1359\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man receives both the flu and COVID-19 vaccine at a CVS in August 2024. \u003ccite>(Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been at least 33 million confirmed cases of influenza, 430,000 hospitalizations and 19,000 deaths across the country \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027212/missing-cdc-data-concerns-doctors-as-influenza-and-bird-flu-outbreaks-escalate\">during this flu season\u003c/a> alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, influenza activity remains high even as numbers begin to go down, and at least 15 children have died from flu-related complications — raising concerns about declining pediatric vaccination rates. Swartzberg said it’s worrying to see so many pediatric deaths because children tend to be resilient when it comes to fighting illnesses outside of infancy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two influenza strains circulating most rapidly this flu season are H1N1 and H3N2, both of which are influenza-type A strains. As the rate of those infections begins to go down, however, Swartzberg said there is another type of influenza circulating — influenza type B — and those numbers usually go up around March, which could result in another peak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12028454 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-2177324845-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We may continue to see influenza A drop, but then the number of cases of influenza could go back up because influenza B is starting to play a role,” Swartzberg said. “We’ve seen that pattern over the last several years.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts can only speculate as to why the rates of infection are so much higher this year, Swartzberg said, adding that several factors, such as a decrease in the use of masks in crowded spaces and lower vaccination rates, could be contributing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People have been less diligent about getting their flu shots since the COVID-19 emergency ended, and herd immunity is way down, Swartzberg said. Additionally, since many people have had less exposure to the flu in recent years, they’re naturally more vulnerable to the respiratory illness, he added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the flu vaccine as early as possible — ideally in the fall — it’s never too late to get vaccinated, especially since the virus is still circulating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you haven’t been vaccinated, you’ll get some immunity within a week of the vaccine, and you get your optimal immunity within two weeks of the vaccine,” Swartzberg said. “The vaccine may not prevent you from getting infected or even getting sick, but it’s quite good at preventing that sickness from getting really bad.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"flu-vaccine\">\u003c/a>Where can I find a flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Although the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevention/index.html\">ideally by the end of October\u003c/a>,” the agency also said that people “should continue to get vaccinated as long as flu viruses pose a threat to their community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means that if you forgot to get your shot back in the last months of 2024 — and you haven’t been hit by a flu infection yourself this winter — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027283/forgot-your-flu-vaccine-with-historic-infections-its-not-too-late-for-a-shot\">it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine\u003c/a> now and increase your protection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is covered and available without extra cost as a preventive service from your usual health care provider. It’s also available at most pharmacies (see below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Common places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/\">CDC’s Find Flu Vaccines tool\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler\">Rite Aid flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/immunizations.html\">Albertsons (Safeway) flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to reserve these particular resources for those without coverage.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county’s public health department may also be offering flu shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/\">San Francisco Department of Public Health’s AITC clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinic\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you cannot pay.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/nnavarro\">\u003cem>Natalia Navarro\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A new state report shows a growing decline in flu positivity rates in California, but experts still urge those who haven’t gotten flu shots to do so as soon as possible.",
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"title": "Signs California's Harsh Flu Season Is Winding Down | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>California may finally be getting a reprieve from one of the worst recorded \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flu\">flu\u003c/a> seasons in decades, a recent report by state health officials shows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#flu-vaccine\">It’s not too late for a flu shot — and here’s where to find the vaccine\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>For the week ending Feb. 15, 23.3% of tests conducted by the state’s clinical labs were positive for influenza, making up a week-over-week drop of 3.4 percentage points, according to the report released Friday by the Department of Public Health. That decline was more than triple the one seen the week before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the decrease in testing positivity rates could be a sign that the season has passed its peak, some health experts are warning that numbers could go up again and urge \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027283/forgot-your-flu-vaccine-with-historic-infections-its-not-too-late-for-a-shot\">those who haven’t been vaccinated yet\u003c/a> to do so as soon as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A similar drop was reported in early January but only lasted a couple of weeks before rates climbed up again, said Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, noting that flu season typically peaks around the middle of February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s possible we could get lulled into the same mistake that we made in the middle of January … but I think this drop coincides more with what we typically see with influenza,” Swartzberg said. “I’m cautiously optimistic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12009848\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12009848\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2168147137-scaled-e1740515847601.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1359\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man receives both the flu and COVID-19 vaccine at a CVS in August 2024. \u003ccite>(Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been at least 33 million confirmed cases of influenza, 430,000 hospitalizations and 19,000 deaths across the country \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027212/missing-cdc-data-concerns-doctors-as-influenza-and-bird-flu-outbreaks-escalate\">during this flu season\u003c/a> alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, influenza activity remains high even as numbers begin to go down, and at least 15 children have died from flu-related complications — raising concerns about declining pediatric vaccination rates. Swartzberg said it’s worrying to see so many pediatric deaths because children tend to be resilient when it comes to fighting illnesses outside of infancy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two influenza strains circulating most rapidly this flu season are H1N1 and H3N2, both of which are influenza-type A strains. As the rate of those infections begins to go down, however, Swartzberg said there is another type of influenza circulating — influenza type B — and those numbers usually go up around March, which could result in another peak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We may continue to see influenza A drop, but then the number of cases of influenza could go back up because influenza B is starting to play a role,” Swartzberg said. “We’ve seen that pattern over the last several years.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts can only speculate as to why the rates of infection are so much higher this year, Swartzberg said, adding that several factors, such as a decrease in the use of masks in crowded spaces and lower vaccination rates, could be contributing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People have been less diligent about getting their flu shots since the COVID-19 emergency ended, and herd immunity is way down, Swartzberg said. Additionally, since many people have had less exposure to the flu in recent years, they’re naturally more vulnerable to the respiratory illness, he added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get the flu vaccine as early as possible — ideally in the fall — it’s never too late to get vaccinated, especially since the virus is still circulating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you haven’t been vaccinated, you’ll get some immunity within a week of the vaccine, and you get your optimal immunity within two weeks of the vaccine,” Swartzberg said. “The vaccine may not prevent you from getting infected or even getting sick, but it’s quite good at preventing that sickness from getting really bad.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"flu-vaccine\">\u003c/a>Where can I find a flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Although the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevention/index.html\">ideally by the end of October\u003c/a>,” the agency also said that people “should continue to get vaccinated as long as flu viruses pose a threat to their community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means that if you forgot to get your shot back in the last months of 2024 — and you haven’t been hit by a flu infection yourself this winter — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12027283/forgot-your-flu-vaccine-with-historic-infections-its-not-too-late-for-a-shot\">it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine\u003c/a> now and increase your protection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is covered and available without extra cost as a preventive service from your usual health care provider. It’s also available at most pharmacies (see below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Common places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/\">CDC’s Find Flu Vaccines tool\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler\">Rite Aid flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/immunizations.html\">Albertsons (Safeway) flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to reserve these particular resources for those without coverage.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county’s public health department may also be offering flu shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/\">San Francisco Department of Public Health’s AITC clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinic\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you cannot pay.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/nnavarro\">\u003cem>Natalia Navarro\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "forgot-your-flu-vaccine-with-historic-infections-its-not-too-late-for-a-shot",
"title": "Missed Your Flu Shot? It's Still Not Too Late",
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"headTitle": "Missed Your Flu Shot? It’s Still Not Too Late | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>If the flu has hit your household this winter — or your workplace or your friend group — you’re not alone. The Bay Area is in the middle of a particularly pronounced wave of influenza infections, mirroring a wave across California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As anyone who’s had the flu can attest, the virus is no joke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that this season alone, nationwide, there have been \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance\">at least 29 million illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations, and 16,000 deaths\u003c/a> from flu so far. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said it has received reports of 11 children in California who have died due to flu-related complications this season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#whereflushot\">Where to find a flu shot in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC also warns that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance\">flu is also proving deadlier in the U.S. than COVID-19 this season\u003c/a>. The week ending Jan. 25 was the first time that the percentage of deaths for influenza was higher than those for COVID-19 — and flu deaths have continued to increase throughout this season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is one piece of good news: If you didn’t get your shot in the last months of 2024, you can still get vaccinated now and increase your protection against the current wave.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As long as flu is circulating in our communities, it’s not too late to get your flu vaccine,” said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “As a parent and a pediatrician, I ensure my family gets the flu vaccine every year because I am confident the flu vaccine is safe and can help prevent serious illness, like pneumonia and hospitalization.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where are we right now in flu season?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Respiratory-Viruses/Respiratory-Virus-Report/RespiratoryVirusReportWeek6.pdf\">The current statewide test positivity rate for the flu\u003c/a> — that is, the percentage of tests taken that return a positive result — is 26.7%, placing it in CDPH’s “high” category. By contrast, the latest test positivity rate for COVID-19 is 2.6%, which is in the agency’s “low” category.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flu represents 8% of hospital visits around the country right now, said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Stanford. That’s “higher than we’ve actually seen since this particular strain of flu, the H1N1 flu, showed up as a pandemic in 2009,” she said. “So it’s actually pretty historic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flu season tends to run from October to March, Maldonado said. While she and her colleagues actually thought this season had reached its peak “a couple of weeks ago,” she said, “the numbers just haven’t gone down.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Flu did a little trick on us because it looked like it was peaking” a couple of weeks ago, Maldonado said. “It came down a little bit — and then it popped up even higher.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to Bay Area hospital admissions, “We’re definitely getting crunched,” she said, “because the numbers are higher, more people are getting flu, and more people are being hospitalized or coming into the emergency department.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I still get a flu shot now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts usually recommend that people seek out their flu shot in the fall, ahead of the coming winter wave of infections, and the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevention/index.html\">ideally by the end of October\u003c/a>.” However, the CDC also said that people “should continue to get vaccinated as long as flu viruses pose a threat to their community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means that if you forgot to get your shot back in the last months of 2024 — and you haven’t been hit by a flu infection yourself this winter — it’s not too late to get the vaccine now and increase your protection against the current wave.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[aside label=’Related Coverage' tag='health']\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you can and are interested, and you think you’re at risk, people should still get vaccinated,” Maldonado said. “There’s still time because it takes about two weeks or so for the antibodies to really kick in hard. And I do think that the risk is out there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you got your flu shot in the fall, after all? “We don’t recommend a second dose at this time,” Maldonado said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The flu vaccine reduces your risks of severe illness and hospitalization. The virus can be especially dangerous for kids, and the CDC said that a 2022 study showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of severe, life-threatening influenza by 75%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite this, vaccination rates among all Americans aged 6 months and older during the 2022–23 flu season was 49.3% — a slight drop from the previous year. And this year, CDPH said their data shows “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Respiratory-Viruses/Respiratory-Virus-Report/RespiratoryVirusReportWeek6.pdf\">only a small percentage of eligible Californians have received the appropriate respiratory virus vaccines\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"whereflushot\">\u003c/a>Where can I still find a flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is covered and available without extra cost as a preventive service from your usual health care provider. It’s also available at most pharmacies (see below).\u003cbr>\nCommon places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/\">CDC’s Find Flu Vaccines tool\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California)\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler\">Rite Aid flu shots\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/immunizations.html\">Albertsons (Safeway) flu shots\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get a flu shot if I don’t have health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you want a flu shot but don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to reserve these particular resources for those without coverage.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county’s public health department may also be offering flu shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/\">San Francisco Department of Public Health’s AITC clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinic\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you’re unable to pay.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s Nina Thorsen.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "Experts are encouraging people to make sure everyone has received their seasonal flu shot as infections across the U.S. reach “historic” levels.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>If the flu has hit your household this winter — or your workplace or your friend group — you’re not alone. The Bay Area is in the middle of a particularly pronounced wave of influenza infections, mirroring a wave across California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As anyone who’s had the flu can attest, the virus is no joke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that this season alone, nationwide, there have been \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance\">at least 29 million illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations, and 16,000 deaths\u003c/a> from flu so far. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said it has received reports of 11 children in California who have died due to flu-related complications this season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#whereflushot\">Where to find a flu shot in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC also warns that the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance\">flu is also proving deadlier in the U.S. than COVID-19 this season\u003c/a>. The week ending Jan. 25 was the first time that the percentage of deaths for influenza was higher than those for COVID-19 — and flu deaths have continued to increase throughout this season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is one piece of good news: If you didn’t get your shot in the last months of 2024, you can still get vaccinated now and increase your protection against the current wave.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As long as flu is circulating in our communities, it’s not too late to get your flu vaccine,” said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “As a parent and a pediatrician, I ensure my family gets the flu vaccine every year because I am confident the flu vaccine is safe and can help prevent serious illness, like pneumonia and hospitalization.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where are we right now in flu season?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Respiratory-Viruses/Respiratory-Virus-Report/RespiratoryVirusReportWeek6.pdf\">The current statewide test positivity rate for the flu\u003c/a> — that is, the percentage of tests taken that return a positive result — is 26.7%, placing it in CDPH’s “high” category. By contrast, the latest test positivity rate for COVID-19 is 2.6%, which is in the agency’s “low” category.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flu represents 8% of hospital visits around the country right now, said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Stanford. That’s “higher than we’ve actually seen since this particular strain of flu, the H1N1 flu, showed up as a pandemic in 2009,” she said. “So it’s actually pretty historic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flu season tends to run from October to March, Maldonado said. While she and her colleagues actually thought this season had reached its peak “a couple of weeks ago,” she said, “the numbers just haven’t gone down.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Flu did a little trick on us because it looked like it was peaking” a couple of weeks ago, Maldonado said. “It came down a little bit — and then it popped up even higher.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to Bay Area hospital admissions, “We’re definitely getting crunched,” she said, “because the numbers are higher, more people are getting flu, and more people are being hospitalized or coming into the emergency department.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I still get a flu shot now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Experts usually recommend that people seek out their flu shot in the fall, ahead of the coming winter wave of infections, and the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevention/index.html\">ideally by the end of October\u003c/a>.” However, the CDC also said that people “should continue to get vaccinated as long as flu viruses pose a threat to their community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means that if you forgot to get your shot back in the last months of 2024 — and you haven’t been hit by a flu infection yourself this winter — it’s not too late to get the vaccine now and increase your protection against the current wave.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you can and are interested, and you think you’re at risk, people should still get vaccinated,” Maldonado said. “There’s still time because it takes about two weeks or so for the antibodies to really kick in hard. And I do think that the risk is out there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you got your flu shot in the fall, after all? “We don’t recommend a second dose at this time,” Maldonado said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The flu vaccine reduces your risks of severe illness and hospitalization. The virus can be especially dangerous for kids, and the CDC said that a 2022 study showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of severe, life-threatening influenza by 75%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite this, vaccination rates among all Americans aged 6 months and older during the 2022–23 flu season was 49.3% — a slight drop from the previous year. And this year, CDPH said their data shows “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Respiratory-Viruses/Respiratory-Virus-Report/RespiratoryVirusReportWeek6.pdf\">only a small percentage of eligible Californians have received the appropriate respiratory virus vaccines\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"whereflushot\">\u003c/a>Where can I still find a flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is covered and available without extra cost as a preventive service from your usual health care provider. It’s also available at most pharmacies (see below).\u003cbr>\nCommon places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/\">CDC’s Find Flu Vaccines tool\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California)\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler\">Rite Aid flu shots\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/immunizations.html\">Albertsons (Safeway) flu shots\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get a flu shot if I don’t have health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you want a flu shot but don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to reserve these particular resources for those without coverage.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county’s public health department may also be offering flu shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/\">San Francisco Department of Public Health’s AITC clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinic\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you’re unable to pay.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s Nina Thorsen.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Why Getting Your 2024 COVID and Flu Shots Before Halloween Is a Good Idea",
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"content": "\u003cp>If you haven’t yet sought out your updated COVID-19 vaccine — or your flu shot — now might be a good time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because, after a lengthy COVID-19 surge this summer that lasted twice as long as 2023’s summer swell, the Bay Area is now about to enter the winter respiratory virus season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In August, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">the updated 2024 COVID-19 vaccine was made available to everyone age 6 months and over\u003c/a>, with shots from manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna and most recently, Novavax. These COVID-19 vaccines are now provided as annual fall vaccines, alongside the yearly flu shot, updated to target the latest strains and timed in order to offer maximum protection against the predicted winter surge of these viruses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of which means if you haven’t gotten either your COVID-19 or flu shot yet at this stage in the fall, seeking them out in the next few weeks is a good idea. Keep reading for what you need to know about fall vaccines, including the best time to get them, what to do if you got COVID-19 this summer and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#covidbayarea\">If I got COVID this summer, when should I get my vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>When is the best time to get my COVID and flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a COVID-19 or flu shot are based on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>The fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the virus\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>When levels of the virus are predicted to rise that year\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Getting your COVID shot\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, the Bay Area’s fall and winter COVID-19 surge began in late October, according to Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN team, which monitors levels of the virus in local sewage. And when it comes to the timing of your COVID-19 shot, you want to aim for what UCSF infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Chin-Hong called “the Goldilocks moment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You don’t want to get it too soon because your antibodies might wane just when you need it the most,” Chin-Hong said. “And you don’t want to get it too late because you want to prevent infection. So generally, by Halloween or mid to late October is when most people say the right time is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12001396]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reason for this, explained Chin-Hong, is to ensure you get your full immunity ahead of the busy holiday season, from trick-or-treating at Halloween to holiday travel, Thanksgiving and beyond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With your vaccine, “you not only get protection against serious disease, hospitalization and death, but you get a little bit of a buffer against infection itself,” Chin-Hong said. “So that if you want to have peace of mind while doing all of these things, it’s probably a good idea to peak your antibodies just when people are getting together again.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Getting your flu shot\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that last year’s flu season caused between 17,000 and 100,000 deaths and up to 900,000 hospitalizations. Typically, flu season starts in November and peaks around January or February, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevention/index.html\">everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine “ideally by the end of October.”\u003c/a> Chin-Hong told KQED that his “optimal sweet point” for getting this shot is “sometime before Halloween” — but that if you see flu cases start to rise earlier, you should hustle to seek out your flu shot even sooner.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I get my COVID and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes — it’s totally fine and safe to get your flu shot at the same time as your new COVID-19 vaccine, and you’ll find many pharmacies offer appointments where you can get multiple vaccines at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A caveat: if you’re trying to schedule vaccinations for a child, the CDC advised in 2023 that you first talk to your pediatrician about the best schedule for the COVID-19 and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment, too).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidbayarea\">\u003c/a>I got COVID over the summer. Do I still need a COVID shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, Chin-Hong said — although make sure you’re not getting a shot too soon after having COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because “after getting infected with COVID, in general, you have a force field for around three months,” Chin-Hong said, meaning your infection will give you a good level of immunity against getting COVID-19 again during that period.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, this immunity will wane, Chin-Hong said, so having “a little bit of a buffer” is something to consider. This means getting your COVID-19 shot even after two months “won’t be a bad idea if it coincides with the time when we expect COVID to come back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get my COVID and flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For full information on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">how to find an updated 2024 COVID-19 shot, read our guide\u003c/a>. If you have health insurance, the cost of your COVID-19 vaccine should be fully covered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12006600]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To learn more about where to find a flu shot with or without insurance, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv#flushotnearme\">read our 2023 guide to locations offering flu vaccination around the Bay Area\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that many locations — including pharmacies — will offer appointments where you can get both vaccines at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about RSV? Should I get a vaccine for that?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that while RSV “does not usually cause severe illness in healthy adults and children,” older adults and infants younger than six months of age are especially at risk of becoming “very sick and may need to be hospitalized.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/index.html\">vaccine against RSV is accordingly recommended by the CDC for infants, young children and adults ages 60 and older\u003c/a>, as well as for pregnant people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The virus spreads in the fall and winter like other respiratory viruses and “usually peaks in December and January,” according to the agency, which recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vaccine-clinical-guidance/older-adults.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fvaccines%2Fvpd%2Frsv%2Fhcp%2Folder-adults-faqs.html\">vaccination against RSV “will have the most benefit if administered in late summer or early fall\u003c/a> [August through October], just before the RSV season.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speak to your health care provider about getting the RSV vaccine, when might be the best time for you and whether to get it alongside other vaccines. And as ever, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>If you haven’t yet sought out your updated COVID-19 vaccine — or your flu shot — now might be a good time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because, after a lengthy COVID-19 surge this summer that lasted twice as long as 2023’s summer swell, the Bay Area is now about to enter the winter respiratory virus season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In August, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">the updated 2024 COVID-19 vaccine was made available to everyone age 6 months and over\u003c/a>, with shots from manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna and most recently, Novavax. These COVID-19 vaccines are now provided as annual fall vaccines, alongside the yearly flu shot, updated to target the latest strains and timed in order to offer maximum protection against the predicted winter surge of these viruses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of which means if you haven’t gotten either your COVID-19 or flu shot yet at this stage in the fall, seeking them out in the next few weeks is a good idea. Keep reading for what you need to know about fall vaccines, including the best time to get them, what to do if you got COVID-19 this summer and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#covidbayarea\">If I got COVID this summer, when should I get my vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>When is the best time to get my COVID and flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a COVID-19 or flu shot are based on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>The fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the virus\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>When levels of the virus are predicted to rise that year\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Getting your COVID shot\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, the Bay Area’s fall and winter COVID-19 surge began in late October, according to Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN team, which monitors levels of the virus in local sewage. And when it comes to the timing of your COVID-19 shot, you want to aim for what UCSF infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Chin-Hong called “the Goldilocks moment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You don’t want to get it too soon because your antibodies might wane just when you need it the most,” Chin-Hong said. “And you don’t want to get it too late because you want to prevent infection. So generally, by Halloween or mid to late October is when most people say the right time is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reason for this, explained Chin-Hong, is to ensure you get your full immunity ahead of the busy holiday season, from trick-or-treating at Halloween to holiday travel, Thanksgiving and beyond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With your vaccine, “you not only get protection against serious disease, hospitalization and death, but you get a little bit of a buffer against infection itself,” Chin-Hong said. “So that if you want to have peace of mind while doing all of these things, it’s probably a good idea to peak your antibodies just when people are getting together again.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Getting your flu shot\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that last year’s flu season caused between 17,000 and 100,000 deaths and up to 900,000 hospitalizations. Typically, flu season starts in November and peaks around January or February, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevention/index.html\">everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine “ideally by the end of October.”\u003c/a> Chin-Hong told KQED that his “optimal sweet point” for getting this shot is “sometime before Halloween” — but that if you see flu cases start to rise earlier, you should hustle to seek out your flu shot even sooner.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I get my COVID and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes — it’s totally fine and safe to get your flu shot at the same time as your new COVID-19 vaccine, and you’ll find many pharmacies offer appointments where you can get multiple vaccines at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A caveat: if you’re trying to schedule vaccinations for a child, the CDC advised in 2023 that you first talk to your pediatrician about the best schedule for the COVID-19 and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment, too).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidbayarea\">\u003c/a>I got COVID over the summer. Do I still need a COVID shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, Chin-Hong said — although make sure you’re not getting a shot too soon after having COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because “after getting infected with COVID, in general, you have a force field for around three months,” Chin-Hong said, meaning your infection will give you a good level of immunity against getting COVID-19 again during that period.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, this immunity will wane, Chin-Hong said, so having “a little bit of a buffer” is something to consider. This means getting your COVID-19 shot even after two months “won’t be a bad idea if it coincides with the time when we expect COVID to come back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get my COVID and flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For full information on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">how to find an updated 2024 COVID-19 shot, read our guide\u003c/a>. If you have health insurance, the cost of your COVID-19 vaccine should be fully covered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To learn more about where to find a flu shot with or without insurance, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv#flushotnearme\">read our 2023 guide to locations offering flu vaccination around the Bay Area\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that many locations — including pharmacies — will offer appointments where you can get both vaccines at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about RSV? Should I get a vaccine for that?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that while RSV “does not usually cause severe illness in healthy adults and children,” older adults and infants younger than six months of age are especially at risk of becoming “very sick and may need to be hospitalized.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/index.html\">vaccine against RSV is accordingly recommended by the CDC for infants, young children and adults ages 60 and older\u003c/a>, as well as for pregnant people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The virus spreads in the fall and winter like other respiratory viruses and “usually peaks in December and January,” according to the agency, which recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vaccine-clinical-guidance/older-adults.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fvaccines%2Fvpd%2Frsv%2Fhcp%2Folder-adults-faqs.html\">vaccination against RSV “will have the most benefit if administered in late summer or early fall\u003c/a> [August through October], just before the RSV season.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speak to your health care provider about getting the RSV vaccine, when might be the best time for you and whether to get it alongside other vaccines. And as ever, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 11:15 a.m., December 13\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 2023-2024 winter respiratory virus season is here. And alongside \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the latest COVID-19 variant \u003c/a>and\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\"> the return of flu season\u003c/a>, RSV is once again on the rise around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV — which stands for Respiratory Syncytial (\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html\">pronounced “sin-SISH-uhl”\u003c/a>) Virus — usually causes “mild, cold-like symptoms,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in infants, young children and adults over 60, this respiratory virus can attack a weakened immune system to cause severe sickness, leading to hospitalization and even — in serious cases — death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People in these age groups and the people who care for them are often warned by their health care providers about the dangers of RSV transmission and offered vaccination against the virus. However, there are a lot of people who may not even know RSV exists, let alone how dangerous it can be to spread it to others accidentally — even if getting infected themselves only means mild symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about RSV testing, how to spot an RSV infection, incubation periods, and who’s eligible for the new RSV vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor1\">How bad is RSV in the Bay Area now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor2\">Can I get tested?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor3\">How do I know if my “cold” is actually RSV?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor4\">If I get infected but I’m not high risk, what should I do?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor5\">Why are younger and older people more at risk, and when is it time to seek medical attention?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor6\">Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor1\">\u003c/a>How bad is RSV around the Bay Area right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In its weekly report, on Dec. 8, the CDC said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data-research/dashboard/snapshot.html\">the U.S. is “experiencing elevated RSV activity, particularly among young children\u003c/a>” — and that there is currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html\">“high overall respiratory illness activity” in California.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The impacts on the state’s hospital capacity are already being felt, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">three-quarters of intensive care beds around California are full\u003c/a>, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.wastewaterscan.org/en/about\">The WastewaterSCAN project\u003c/a> monitors the presence of viruses — including RSV, COVID-19 and the flu — in wastewater across the U.S. Alexandria Boehm, a Stanford professor of civil and environmental engineering, who helps lead the project, provided KQED with the latest snapshot data on Nov. 30, that found RSV “levels are trending up and high,” and that “all sites in the Bay Area are categorized as in the high wastewater category” for the virus. This upward trend indicates that the Bay Area is “headed towards \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9844019/\">the levels we saw last year”\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">Levels of flu and COVID are also increasing in local wastewater, said Boehm\u003c/a>. [pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Dr.Peter Chin-Hong, UCSF infectious disease specialist\"]‘If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.’[/pullquote]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Santa Clara County, health officials recently warned of a dramatic increase in winter viruses in the county’s wastewater — and an especially sharp rise in RSV levels, which the county’s Deputy Health Officer Dr. Sarah Rudman said had doubled in the month leading up to Thanksgiving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That worries me,” Rudman told KQED on Monday, “that especially after this holiday weekend with everyone’s travel and gathering there, we’re going to see even higher levels [afterward].”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said that when it comes to lab testing at his hospital right now, more tests are coming back positive for RSV than for the flu or COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor2\">\u003c/a>What about testing for RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At-home testing for RSV isn’t available in the way it is for COVID-19. The only places you’d typically have access to a formal RSV test are at an urgent care center, the emergency room, or elsewhere in a hospital, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think in the future it’d be great to have a home test for COVID, flu and RSV,” he said. “But right now, we just have COVID [testing] at home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong acknowledges the downsides of being unable to access an RSV test outside of these clinical settings. “It’s good to know so that you don’t infect the very young and very old, who can have more serious consequences,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And on that note …\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor3\">\u003c/a>So, what are RSV symptoms? How are they different from COVID-19 or the flu?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>RSV, Chin-Hong said, “seems like a cold for most people. But that ‘cold’ infecting somebody under two, or older than 60, can land them in the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC,\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\"> the symptoms of RSV infection\u003c/a> “usually appear in stages and not all at once,” and can include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Decrease in appetite\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Coughing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sneezing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Wheezing\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>One big exception to this list: In some very young infants with RSV, the CDC said that “the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wheezing could be the particular symptom that might indicate you’ve got RSV rather than another respiratory virus, Chin-Hong said — although wheezing can still be a symptom of those other viruses, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re unlikely to get access to an RSV test, how can you tell if what feels like a bad cold is actually RSV — or the flu? Chin-Hong said there are a few things that might help you tell the difference:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The speed and severity of symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said the onset of symptoms for the flu will be sudden and severe, with fever and muscle pain. “You feel like a garbage truck hits you very suddenly,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Influenza, which, like RSV (and COVID-19), is already spreading throughout the Bay Area this winter, can cause serious problems even in healthy people of any age. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">Some people are also at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick\u003c/a>, including those aged 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant people and children younger than 5 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC estimates that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\"> last year’s flu season resulted in as many as 58,000 deaths from flu\u003c/a> and up to 650,000 flu hospitalizations. WastewaterSCAN’s Boehm noted, in her team’s latest snapshot, that wastewater levels for influenza are “starting to trend up, which suggests influenza infections are starting to rise in our region,” and that based on last year’s records, “we fully expect the levels to keep increasing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you haven’t already, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">consider getting your flu shot as soon as possible\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/treatment.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what to do if you get the flu.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your cold symptoms are more progressive, but you’re repeatedly testing negative for COVID-19, seriously consider the possibility that you have RSV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or, as Chin-Hong puts it: “If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The incubation period\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV has a longer incubation period than COVID-19 or a cold — the amount of time between exposure to the virus and getting sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Right now, the latest COVID-19 subvariants have an incubation period of three to five days, and a cold will take 24 to 72 hours to incubate after exposure. But RSV has a longer incubation period of “four to six days,” Chin-Hong said. So, if you know you’ve been exposed to RSV but haven’t gotten sick after a few days, unfortunately, it’s unwise to presume you’ve escaped infection.\u003cbr>\n[ad fullwidth]\u003cbr>\nWhile people infected with RSV are usually contagious for “3 to 8 days,” according to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/transmission.html\">they can also “become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness”\u003c/a> — similar to those infected with COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor4\">\u003c/a>What should I do if I have RSV but I’m not at higher risk?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re not at higher risk for severe RSV but you’re pretty sure you’ve got it, what now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manage your symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that antiviral medication is “not routinely recommended” to fight an RSV infection — in contrast to COVID-19, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11966797/paxlovid-free-eligibility-california-2023\">the antiviral drug Paxlovid is often prescribed\u003c/a>, or for the flu, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm\">antiviral drugs like Tamiflu can be taken\u003c/a>.[aside label=\"more virus-related coverage\" tag=\"coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\"]Most RSV infections, the agency said, “go away on their own in a week or two.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re an adult who’s not at higher risk for severe RSV, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\">the CDC recommends managing fever and pain symptoms \u003c/a>with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. It’s also important to drink fluids to prevent getting dehydrated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Stay home as much as you can\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, the big difference between having “just” a cold and having RSV is that if you spread RSV, you’re potentially endangering infants and older people who are at much higher risk from it. The best thing to do is keep away from others as much as possible while you’re sick — especially infants and people aged 60 and older. And “definitely don’t go out if you have a fever,” Chin-Hong said — “that’s probably the highest risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you really can’t stay indoors away from others? Then it’s time to wear a well-fitted face covering like an N95 or KN95 mask, Chin-Hong said. By masking, you’ll reduce the risks of spreading the virus to those around you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor5\">\u003c/a>Why are younger and older people more at risk from RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are two age groups at the highest risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death from RSV:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants and young children\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every year, as many as \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\">80,000 children under 5 years old are hospitalized in the U.S. because of RSV\u003c/a>, according to an estimate from the CDC. Children at the greatest risk from RSV include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Premature infants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Infants up to 12 months, especially (6 months and younger)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children younger than 2 years with chronic lung disease or congenital (present from birth) heart disease\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with weakened immune systems\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with neuromuscular disorders.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Part of the danger of RSV is how it can bring on more severe infections, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Bronchiolitis: when the small airways in the lungs are inflamed\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pneumonia: when the lungs are infected.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that RSV is “the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These statistics can seem scary — and RSV does undoubtedly pose a threat to many younger children. But for context, the CDC notes that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\"> “almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If an infant or young child gets infected with RSV, parents and caregivers can always call their provider’s advice line, added Chin-Hong, who said to watch for red flags, including when a young child is having difficulty feeding or breathing, or is wheezing and lethargic. “Infants with quote-unquote ‘colds’ who have any of those [symptoms] should be brought into the hospital or urgent care or the emergency room for advice,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV poses a particular risk to older people because of how our immune systems weaken with age. Every year, between \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">60,000 and 160,000 older adults in the U.S. are hospitalized with RSV, \u003c/a>and as many as 10,000 die from it, The CDC estimates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to causing more severe infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, the virus can also exacerbate existing health conditions — including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">Some younger adults are also at higher risk from RSV\u003c/a>. These groups include folks with chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems or certain other underlying medical conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When should older adults — or their caregivers — seek medical attention due to a potential RSV infection? Chin-Hong said that one of the main concerns for this age group is developing pneumonia, of which a new shortness of breath can be a symptom. Oxygen levels can also be monitored with an at-home pulse oximeter — if a person’s levels drop below 93%, Chin-Hong said that’s a sign to head to the emergency room.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>When RSV means being hospitalized\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What does hospitalization actually mean for infants and older adults with severe RSV?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hospitalization often occurs if the patient is having trouble breathing or has become dehydrated — and once in the hospital, they may require extra oxygen or fluids given through an IV if they can’t eat or drink enough on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A patient might also need to be intubated with a breathing tube inserted through the mouth, and be given mechanical ventilation to help them breathe again. While this sounds scary, hospitalization usually lasts for only a few days “in most of these cases,” according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor6\">\u003c/a>Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In addition to the general benefits of vaccination against the virus, Chin-Hong notes that “there isn’t any good therapy for RSV” currently — making a preventative vaccine even more important.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccine\">approved the first RSV vaccine for older adults\u003c/a>, and, several months later, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-vaccine-pregnant-individuals-prevent-rsv-infants\">approved another one for pregnant people\u003c/a>, as well as a separate preventative antibody treatment for infants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV vaccines for these groups are available through health care providers and pharmacies, with the shots covered partly or fully by most health insurance plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Adults age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends this group “should talk with their health care provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for them.” There is no upper age limit for getting an RSV vaccination, which is given as a single shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/older-adults.html\">Read more about older adults and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vaccinations for pregnant people are one of two ways that infants can be immunized against RSV — in this case, to pass on the benefits to the fetus. The CDC said that a baby born to a mother who got the RSV vaccine “at least two weeks before delivery” will have protection — and “in most cases,” that baby then won’t require a later RSV immunization. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\">Read more about pregnant people and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\"> health insurance coverage for this maternal vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A preventive antibody — not a vaccine — can also be given directly to a baby after birth if a maternal vaccine isn’t an option. This form of immunization is recommended for children younger than 8 months of age during their first RSV season. In some cases, this immunization is extended to children under 24 months of age “with certain conditions that place them at increased risk for severe RSV disease,” the CDC said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/child.html\">Read more about RSV immunization for infants and young children\u003c/a> and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this immunization.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>KQED’s Sara Hossaini and Lesley McClurg contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 11:15 a.m., December 13\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 2023-2024 winter respiratory virus season is here. And alongside \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the latest COVID-19 variant \u003c/a>and\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\"> the return of flu season\u003c/a>, RSV is once again on the rise around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV — which stands for Respiratory Syncytial (\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html\">pronounced “sin-SISH-uhl”\u003c/a>) Virus — usually causes “mild, cold-like symptoms,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in infants, young children and adults over 60, this respiratory virus can attack a weakened immune system to cause severe sickness, leading to hospitalization and even — in serious cases — death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People in these age groups and the people who care for them are often warned by their health care providers about the dangers of RSV transmission and offered vaccination against the virus. However, there are a lot of people who may not even know RSV exists, let alone how dangerous it can be to spread it to others accidentally — even if getting infected themselves only means mild symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about RSV testing, how to spot an RSV infection, incubation periods, and who’s eligible for the new RSV vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor1\">How bad is RSV in the Bay Area now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor2\">Can I get tested?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor3\">How do I know if my “cold” is actually RSV?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor4\">If I get infected but I’m not high risk, what should I do?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor5\">Why are younger and older people more at risk, and when is it time to seek medical attention?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor6\">Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor1\">\u003c/a>How bad is RSV around the Bay Area right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In its weekly report, on Dec. 8, the CDC said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data-research/dashboard/snapshot.html\">the U.S. is “experiencing elevated RSV activity, particularly among young children\u003c/a>” — and that there is currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html\">“high overall respiratory illness activity” in California.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The impacts on the state’s hospital capacity are already being felt, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">three-quarters of intensive care beds around California are full\u003c/a>, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.wastewaterscan.org/en/about\">The WastewaterSCAN project\u003c/a> monitors the presence of viruses — including RSV, COVID-19 and the flu — in wastewater across the U.S. Alexandria Boehm, a Stanford professor of civil and environmental engineering, who helps lead the project, provided KQED with the latest snapshot data on Nov. 30, that found RSV “levels are trending up and high,” and that “all sites in the Bay Area are categorized as in the high wastewater category” for the virus. This upward trend indicates that the Bay Area is “headed towards \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9844019/\">the levels we saw last year”\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">Levels of flu and COVID are also increasing in local wastewater, said Boehm\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "‘If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.’",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Santa Clara County, health officials recently warned of a dramatic increase in winter viruses in the county’s wastewater — and an especially sharp rise in RSV levels, which the county’s Deputy Health Officer Dr. Sarah Rudman said had doubled in the month leading up to Thanksgiving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That worries me,” Rudman told KQED on Monday, “that especially after this holiday weekend with everyone’s travel and gathering there, we’re going to see even higher levels [afterward].”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said that when it comes to lab testing at his hospital right now, more tests are coming back positive for RSV than for the flu or COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor2\">\u003c/a>What about testing for RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At-home testing for RSV isn’t available in the way it is for COVID-19. The only places you’d typically have access to a formal RSV test are at an urgent care center, the emergency room, or elsewhere in a hospital, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think in the future it’d be great to have a home test for COVID, flu and RSV,” he said. “But right now, we just have COVID [testing] at home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong acknowledges the downsides of being unable to access an RSV test outside of these clinical settings. “It’s good to know so that you don’t infect the very young and very old, who can have more serious consequences,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And on that note …\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor3\">\u003c/a>So, what are RSV symptoms? How are they different from COVID-19 or the flu?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>RSV, Chin-Hong said, “seems like a cold for most people. But that ‘cold’ infecting somebody under two, or older than 60, can land them in the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC,\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\"> the symptoms of RSV infection\u003c/a> “usually appear in stages and not all at once,” and can include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Decrease in appetite\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Coughing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sneezing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Wheezing\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>One big exception to this list: In some very young infants with RSV, the CDC said that “the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wheezing could be the particular symptom that might indicate you’ve got RSV rather than another respiratory virus, Chin-Hong said — although wheezing can still be a symptom of those other viruses, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re unlikely to get access to an RSV test, how can you tell if what feels like a bad cold is actually RSV — or the flu? Chin-Hong said there are a few things that might help you tell the difference:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The speed and severity of symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said the onset of symptoms for the flu will be sudden and severe, with fever and muscle pain. “You feel like a garbage truck hits you very suddenly,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Influenza, which, like RSV (and COVID-19), is already spreading throughout the Bay Area this winter, can cause serious problems even in healthy people of any age. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">Some people are also at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick\u003c/a>, including those aged 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant people and children younger than 5 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC estimates that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\"> last year’s flu season resulted in as many as 58,000 deaths from flu\u003c/a> and up to 650,000 flu hospitalizations. WastewaterSCAN’s Boehm noted, in her team’s latest snapshot, that wastewater levels for influenza are “starting to trend up, which suggests influenza infections are starting to rise in our region,” and that based on last year’s records, “we fully expect the levels to keep increasing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you haven’t already, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">consider getting your flu shot as soon as possible\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/treatment.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what to do if you get the flu.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your cold symptoms are more progressive, but you’re repeatedly testing negative for COVID-19, seriously consider the possibility that you have RSV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or, as Chin-Hong puts it: “If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The incubation period\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV has a longer incubation period than COVID-19 or a cold — the amount of time between exposure to the virus and getting sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Right now, the latest COVID-19 subvariants have an incubation period of three to five days, and a cold will take 24 to 72 hours to incubate after exposure. But RSV has a longer incubation period of “four to six days,” Chin-Hong said. So, if you know you’ve been exposed to RSV but haven’t gotten sick after a few days, unfortunately, it’s unwise to presume you’ve escaped infection.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cbr>\nWhile people infected with RSV are usually contagious for “3 to 8 days,” according to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/transmission.html\">they can also “become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness”\u003c/a> — similar to those infected with COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor4\">\u003c/a>What should I do if I have RSV but I’m not at higher risk?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re not at higher risk for severe RSV but you’re pretty sure you’ve got it, what now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manage your symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that antiviral medication is “not routinely recommended” to fight an RSV infection — in contrast to COVID-19, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11966797/paxlovid-free-eligibility-california-2023\">the antiviral drug Paxlovid is often prescribed\u003c/a>, or for the flu, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm\">antiviral drugs like Tamiflu can be taken\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Most RSV infections, the agency said, “go away on their own in a week or two.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re an adult who’s not at higher risk for severe RSV, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\">the CDC recommends managing fever and pain symptoms \u003c/a>with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. It’s also important to drink fluids to prevent getting dehydrated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Stay home as much as you can\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, the big difference between having “just” a cold and having RSV is that if you spread RSV, you’re potentially endangering infants and older people who are at much higher risk from it. The best thing to do is keep away from others as much as possible while you’re sick — especially infants and people aged 60 and older. And “definitely don’t go out if you have a fever,” Chin-Hong said — “that’s probably the highest risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you really can’t stay indoors away from others? Then it’s time to wear a well-fitted face covering like an N95 or KN95 mask, Chin-Hong said. By masking, you’ll reduce the risks of spreading the virus to those around you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor5\">\u003c/a>Why are younger and older people more at risk from RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are two age groups at the highest risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death from RSV:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants and young children\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every year, as many as \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\">80,000 children under 5 years old are hospitalized in the U.S. because of RSV\u003c/a>, according to an estimate from the CDC. Children at the greatest risk from RSV include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Premature infants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Infants up to 12 months, especially (6 months and younger)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children younger than 2 years with chronic lung disease or congenital (present from birth) heart disease\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with weakened immune systems\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with neuromuscular disorders.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Part of the danger of RSV is how it can bring on more severe infections, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Bronchiolitis: when the small airways in the lungs are inflamed\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pneumonia: when the lungs are infected.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that RSV is “the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These statistics can seem scary — and RSV does undoubtedly pose a threat to many younger children. But for context, the CDC notes that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\"> “almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If an infant or young child gets infected with RSV, parents and caregivers can always call their provider’s advice line, added Chin-Hong, who said to watch for red flags, including when a young child is having difficulty feeding or breathing, or is wheezing and lethargic. “Infants with quote-unquote ‘colds’ who have any of those [symptoms] should be brought into the hospital or urgent care or the emergency room for advice,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV poses a particular risk to older people because of how our immune systems weaken with age. Every year, between \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">60,000 and 160,000 older adults in the U.S. are hospitalized with RSV, \u003c/a>and as many as 10,000 die from it, The CDC estimates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to causing more severe infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, the virus can also exacerbate existing health conditions — including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">Some younger adults are also at higher risk from RSV\u003c/a>. These groups include folks with chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems or certain other underlying medical conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When should older adults — or their caregivers — seek medical attention due to a potential RSV infection? Chin-Hong said that one of the main concerns for this age group is developing pneumonia, of which a new shortness of breath can be a symptom. Oxygen levels can also be monitored with an at-home pulse oximeter — if a person’s levels drop below 93%, Chin-Hong said that’s a sign to head to the emergency room.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>When RSV means being hospitalized\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What does hospitalization actually mean for infants and older adults with severe RSV?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hospitalization often occurs if the patient is having trouble breathing or has become dehydrated — and once in the hospital, they may require extra oxygen or fluids given through an IV if they can’t eat or drink enough on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A patient might also need to be intubated with a breathing tube inserted through the mouth, and be given mechanical ventilation to help them breathe again. While this sounds scary, hospitalization usually lasts for only a few days “in most of these cases,” according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor6\">\u003c/a>Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In addition to the general benefits of vaccination against the virus, Chin-Hong notes that “there isn’t any good therapy for RSV” currently — making a preventative vaccine even more important.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccine\">approved the first RSV vaccine for older adults\u003c/a>, and, several months later, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-vaccine-pregnant-individuals-prevent-rsv-infants\">approved another one for pregnant people\u003c/a>, as well as a separate preventative antibody treatment for infants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV vaccines for these groups are available through health care providers and pharmacies, with the shots covered partly or fully by most health insurance plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Adults age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends this group “should talk with their health care provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for them.” There is no upper age limit for getting an RSV vaccination, which is given as a single shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/older-adults.html\">Read more about older adults and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vaccinations for pregnant people are one of two ways that infants can be immunized against RSV — in this case, to pass on the benefits to the fetus. The CDC said that a baby born to a mother who got the RSV vaccine “at least two weeks before delivery” will have protection — and “in most cases,” that baby then won’t require a later RSV immunization. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\">Read more about pregnant people and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\"> health insurance coverage for this maternal vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A preventive antibody — not a vaccine — can also be given directly to a baby after birth if a maternal vaccine isn’t an option. This form of immunization is recommended for children younger than 8 months of age during their first RSV season. In some cases, this immunization is extended to children under 24 months of age “with certain conditions that place them at increased risk for severe RSV disease,” the CDC said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/child.html\">Read more about RSV immunization for infants and young children\u003c/a> and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this immunization.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>KQED’s Sara Hossaini and Lesley McClurg contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv",
"title": "When Should You Get Your 2023 Flu Shot?",
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"content": "\u003cp>We’re over three years into the COVID pandemic. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">as we’ve seen this summer, with the new Eris variant\u003c/a>, COVID continues to infect folks of all ages and still results in severe disease and hospitalization for some.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But please don’t forget: The flu remains a potentially serious threat to your health too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#whenflushot\">When should I get my flu shot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#boosterflushot\">Can I get my new COVID vaccine and my flu shot at the same time? What about the RSV vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#flushotnearme\">Where can I get a flu shot, with or without insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why is the flu so serious?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Back in \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2020-2021.htm\">2020, the U.S. saw a record-low number of flu cases\u003c/a> — most likely due to widespread mask-wearing, increased hygiene, social distancing and remote work and school. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that flu activity has overall “been lower\u003c/a> than observed before the pandemic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nonetheless, the CDC estimates that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\"> last year’s flu season resulted in 19,000–58,000 deaths from flu\u003c/a> and 300,000–650,000 flu hospitalizations. The agency says that the 2022–2023 flu season caused up to 54 million illnesses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the organization says that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-2022estimates.htm\">in the 2021–2022 flu season, just under half of adults got a flu shot\u003c/a> — a slight decrease from the previous season.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why should I get a flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Getting a flu vaccine can prevent you from getting sick with the flu, which is a draining, unpleasant experience even if your symptoms are not severe. And if you \u003cem>do\u003c/em> get the flu, having a flu shot can also stop you from getting sick enough to have to visit the hospital (and be exposed to all the COVID risks hospital settings can still bring).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC says the flu vaccine also offers other potential health impacts, such as being associated with \u003ca class=\"tp-link-policy\" href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150467/\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">lower rates of certain cardiac events\u003c/a> for people who have heart disease. It’s also the best, safest way not only to protect \u003cem>yourself\u003c/em> against the influenza virus, but also to minimize the chance you will spread it to others — folks who could be at far higher risk for serious complications or even death if they were to become infected. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what the flu shot can do for you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to find out whether you should be getting your flu shot right now, and where to find free or low-cost flu shot options near you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"whenflushot\">\u003c/a>Should I get a flu shot now, or wait?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This 2023–2024 season, as with previous seasons, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2022-2023/flu-vaccination-recommendations-adopted.htm\">the CDC says that September and October are “the best times for most people to get vaccinated.”\u003c/a> These recommendations are based on traditional predictions of flu season starting in November and peaking around January or February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11838737\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1900px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11838737\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">It takes 2 weeks after your flu shot for your body to develop the antibodies it needs to protect you from the flu virus. \u003ccite>(Queen's University/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF says that yes, there’s evidence that \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28039340/\">your risk of getting the flu increases every month after your flu shot, due to the antibodies waning over time\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when medical professionals talk about strategically “waiting” to get a flu shot, they’re aiming that advice at those who are at particularly high risk for more serious complications related to the flu. That includes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>People over 65.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Folks with chronic medical conditions.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pregnant people (or those who are planning to become pregnant).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Kids under 5.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Delaying inoculations for these populations is based on the idea of getting the shot at a time Chin-Hong calls “the sweet spot,” around mid-to-late October. Two weeks later, right around early November, the antibodies should have developed, just as flu season is (usually) getting serious. Think of it as getting the “biggest bang for your buck,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re in one of those vulnerable categories, yes, you can think about waiting, says Chin-Hong. People over 65 might also consider requesting special flu vaccines for this age group — read more about this below. As with all health matters, if you’re looking for advice, it’s best to consult your health care provider or someone you see regularly for your medical needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And what if you’re under 65, not pregnant and don’t have other risk factors for severe flu? If you can truly trust yourself to plan ahead and not forget to make the appointment, getting it by Halloween (i.e., before October is up) is best, Chin-Hong said. But remember: Not only are you human, and it might slip your mind, but predictions about how the flu season might behave are just that — predictions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flu cases might start to rise earlier than anticipated, throwing previous notions of a “best time” to get the vaccine into disarray. So, take that “October rule” with “a grain of salt,” Chin-Hong advised, and “get [your flu shot] when you get it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you plan to get your flu shot in October with the best of intentions, but you still forget? If Nov. 1 comes and goes, and you realize you haven’t been vaccinated, all is not lost — since the CDC says that “vaccination after October can still provide protection during the peak of flu season,” which is usually February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, just go get the shot already — whenever that may be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11838740\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"boosterflushot\">\u003c/a>Can I get my new COVID vaccine and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023#shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">It’s totally fine, and safe, to get your flu shot at the same time\u003c/a> as your new COVID vaccine, and you’ll find that COVID vaccine appointments will often prompt you to “add on” a flu shot at the same session — especially at pharmacies. Although, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment too).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if that optimal time to get your flu shot is “sometime before Halloween” according to Chin-Hong — as long as flu season behaves as expected and doesn’t start in earnest before November — should you get your new COVID shot \u003cem>first\u003c/em>, and follow up with a flu shot later?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can trust yourself to remember to seek out your flu shot by the end of October (or schedule an appointment for October in advance), yes: You might consider getting your new COVID vaccine earlier, separately from your flu shot. And if not — or if life is getting hectic, and a two-for-one vaccination appointment ensures that you actually \u003ci>will \u003c/i>get your shots rather than forgetting — just go ahead and get your COVID and flu shots at the same time, when you can.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also the fact that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">you might \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to wait a little longer for your COVID shot anyway\u003c/a>. Public health officials are urging people to first seek out the new vaccine via their health care provider, but supplies haven’t yet reached many providers. Kaiser Permanente, for example, is telling patients that \u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine\">shots of the new COVID vaccine won’t become available through Kaiser until early October\u003c/a>. All this to say: You might not have a choice about waiting to get your new COVID shot — by which time, you might be approaching that optimal October flu shot time anyway, and can choose a double vaccination appointment at that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong reiterated that “if you really wanted to optimize” the timing of your flu shot, yes, “sometime in October \u003cem>is\u003c/em> probably the best.” But ultimately, he says that just \u003cem>getting\u003c/em> the shots is better than not getting them at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">Read more about where to find the new COVID vaccine near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about the RSV vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC says that the respiratory syncytial virus — RSV — is “a common cause of respiratory illness in infants and young children, as well as older adults.” The disease results in up to 160,000 hospitalizations and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/hcp/older-adults-faqs.html\">up to 10,000 deaths annually among adults ages 65 years and older\u003c/a>, says the agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/index.html\">The vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus — RSV — is accordingly recommended by the CDC\u003c/a> for infants, young children and adults ages 60 and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">experts NPR talked to for their fall booster guide\u003c/a> recommended getting the RSV vaccine separately from the COVID and flu vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think the recommendation would be if you’re going in, get your flu and COVID shot. If you’re eligible for RSV, maybe space that out by a week or two,” Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/peter-hotez-23229\">Peter Hotez\u003c/a>, who leads the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told NPR.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID, flu and RSV vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"highrisk\">\u003c/a>If I have risk factors for severe flu, what kind of flu shot should I get?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re age 65 or older, there are now three types of flu vaccines it’s recommended you get — because they’ll be even more effective for you than a regular flu shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said folks in this age group should seek out these three types of vaccines because you’ll be getting “essentially a high-dose shot” or a vaccine that contains an “adjuvant” — which, in simple terms, “makes the flu shot more powerful in terms of waking up the immune system,” he said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the three kinds of flu shots available to people ages 65 and older.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pregnant people can get a regular flu shot, although some types of flu vaccines are off-limits to pregnant people. The CDC says that getting vaccinated when you’re pregnant will not only help protect you from the flu, but also — if your baby is born during the immunity period — protect your infant in the first few months of their life when they’re too young to get vaccinated themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This benefit to the baby is also the reason that pregnant people are one of the few groups who might want to consider getting a flu shot \u003cem>early\u003c/em>, instead of waiting — to ensure their baby isn’t left completely unprotected for those first six months after birth when they can’t get a vaccine. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the benefits of getting a flu shot if you’re pregnant.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children ages 6 months and older can get a regular dose of the flu shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children-high-risk.htm\">Flu can be particularly dangerous for kids\u003c/a>, and the CDC says that a 2022 study showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of severe, life-threatening influenza by 75%.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"flushotnearme\">\u003c/a>Where can I get a flu shot if I have insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is available without extra cost as a preventive service from your usual health care provider, or at most pharmacies (see below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a good idea to wear a mask, maintain social distancing wherever possible while waiting for your shot, and dress in a top with sleeves you can easily pull up to your shoulder, to make receiving the injection even easier (and quicker).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Common places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/\">CDC’s Find Flu Vaccines tool.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California)\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler\">Rite Aid flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/immunizations.html\">Albertsons (Safeway) flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get a flu shot if I \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you want a flu shot but don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to free up these particular resources for those who are not covered.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county’s public health department may also be offering flu shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/\">San Francisco Department of Public Health’s AITC clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinic\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you’re unable to pay).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[ad fullwidth]\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>And a reminder … the flu vaccine can’t give you the flu\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The virus that the flu shot contains has been inactivated or severely weakened, so \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm#:~:text=Can%20a%20flu%20vaccine%20give,protein%20from%20the%20flu%20virus.\">you just aren’t physically able to get the flu from your flu shot\u003c/a>, confirms the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm#side-effects\">The flu vaccine can cause side effects\u003c/a> like any medical product, but they’re “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm\">generally mild and go away on their own within a few days\u003c/a>,” the agency says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Common flu shot side effects can include soreness or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea and muscle aches. (But not the flu.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s Alexander Gonzalez.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>We’re over three years into the COVID pandemic. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">as we’ve seen this summer, with the new Eris variant\u003c/a>, COVID continues to infect folks of all ages and still results in severe disease and hospitalization for some.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But please don’t forget: The flu remains a potentially serious threat to your health too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#whenflushot\">When should I get my flu shot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#boosterflushot\">Can I get my new COVID vaccine and my flu shot at the same time? What about the RSV vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#flushotnearme\">Where can I get a flu shot, with or without insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why is the flu so serious?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Back in \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2020-2021.htm\">2020, the U.S. saw a record-low number of flu cases\u003c/a> — most likely due to widespread mask-wearing, increased hygiene, social distancing and remote work and school. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that flu activity has overall “been lower\u003c/a> than observed before the pandemic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nonetheless, the CDC estimates that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\"> last year’s flu season resulted in 19,000–58,000 deaths from flu\u003c/a> and 300,000–650,000 flu hospitalizations. The agency says that the 2022–2023 flu season caused up to 54 million illnesses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the organization says that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-2022estimates.htm\">in the 2021–2022 flu season, just under half of adults got a flu shot\u003c/a> — a slight decrease from the previous season.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why should I get a flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Getting a flu vaccine can prevent you from getting sick with the flu, which is a draining, unpleasant experience even if your symptoms are not severe. And if you \u003cem>do\u003c/em> get the flu, having a flu shot can also stop you from getting sick enough to have to visit the hospital (and be exposed to all the COVID risks hospital settings can still bring).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC says the flu vaccine also offers other potential health impacts, such as being associated with \u003ca class=\"tp-link-policy\" href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150467/\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">lower rates of certain cardiac events\u003c/a> for people who have heart disease. It’s also the best, safest way not only to protect \u003cem>yourself\u003c/em> against the influenza virus, but also to minimize the chance you will spread it to others — folks who could be at far higher risk for serious complications or even death if they were to become infected. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what the flu shot can do for you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to find out whether you should be getting your flu shot right now, and where to find free or low-cost flu shot options near you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"whenflushot\">\u003c/a>Should I get a flu shot now, or wait?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This 2023–2024 season, as with previous seasons, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2022-2023/flu-vaccination-recommendations-adopted.htm\">the CDC says that September and October are “the best times for most people to get vaccinated.”\u003c/a> These recommendations are based on traditional predictions of flu season starting in November and peaking around January or February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11838737\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1900px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11838737\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">It takes 2 weeks after your flu shot for your body to develop the antibodies it needs to protect you from the flu virus. \u003ccite>(Queen's University/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF says that yes, there’s evidence that \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28039340/\">your risk of getting the flu increases every month after your flu shot, due to the antibodies waning over time\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when medical professionals talk about strategically “waiting” to get a flu shot, they’re aiming that advice at those who are at particularly high risk for more serious complications related to the flu. That includes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>People over 65.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Folks with chronic medical conditions.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pregnant people (or those who are planning to become pregnant).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Kids under 5.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Delaying inoculations for these populations is based on the idea of getting the shot at a time Chin-Hong calls “the sweet spot,” around mid-to-late October. Two weeks later, right around early November, the antibodies should have developed, just as flu season is (usually) getting serious. Think of it as getting the “biggest bang for your buck,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re in one of those vulnerable categories, yes, you can think about waiting, says Chin-Hong. People over 65 might also consider requesting special flu vaccines for this age group — read more about this below. As with all health matters, if you’re looking for advice, it’s best to consult your health care provider or someone you see regularly for your medical needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And what if you’re under 65, not pregnant and don’t have other risk factors for severe flu? If you can truly trust yourself to plan ahead and not forget to make the appointment, getting it by Halloween (i.e., before October is up) is best, Chin-Hong said. But remember: Not only are you human, and it might slip your mind, but predictions about how the flu season might behave are just that — predictions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flu cases might start to rise earlier than anticipated, throwing previous notions of a “best time” to get the vaccine into disarray. So, take that “October rule” with “a grain of salt,” Chin-Hong advised, and “get [your flu shot] when you get it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you plan to get your flu shot in October with the best of intentions, but you still forget? If Nov. 1 comes and goes, and you realize you haven’t been vaccinated, all is not lost — since the CDC says that “vaccination after October can still provide protection during the peak of flu season,” which is usually February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, just go get the shot already — whenever that may be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11838740\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"boosterflushot\">\u003c/a>Can I get my new COVID vaccine and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023#shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">It’s totally fine, and safe, to get your flu shot at the same time\u003c/a> as your new COVID vaccine, and you’ll find that COVID vaccine appointments will often prompt you to “add on” a flu shot at the same session — especially at pharmacies. Although, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment too).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if that optimal time to get your flu shot is “sometime before Halloween” according to Chin-Hong — as long as flu season behaves as expected and doesn’t start in earnest before November — should you get your new COVID shot \u003cem>first\u003c/em>, and follow up with a flu shot later?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can trust yourself to remember to seek out your flu shot by the end of October (or schedule an appointment for October in advance), yes: You might consider getting your new COVID vaccine earlier, separately from your flu shot. And if not — or if life is getting hectic, and a two-for-one vaccination appointment ensures that you actually \u003ci>will \u003c/i>get your shots rather than forgetting — just go ahead and get your COVID and flu shots at the same time, when you can.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also the fact that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">you might \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to wait a little longer for your COVID shot anyway\u003c/a>. Public health officials are urging people to first seek out the new vaccine via their health care provider, but supplies haven’t yet reached many providers. Kaiser Permanente, for example, is telling patients that \u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine\">shots of the new COVID vaccine won’t become available through Kaiser until early October\u003c/a>. All this to say: You might not have a choice about waiting to get your new COVID shot — by which time, you might be approaching that optimal October flu shot time anyway, and can choose a double vaccination appointment at that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong reiterated that “if you really wanted to optimize” the timing of your flu shot, yes, “sometime in October \u003cem>is\u003c/em> probably the best.” But ultimately, he says that just \u003cem>getting\u003c/em> the shots is better than not getting them at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">Read more about where to find the new COVID vaccine near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about the RSV vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC says that the respiratory syncytial virus — RSV — is “a common cause of respiratory illness in infants and young children, as well as older adults.” The disease results in up to 160,000 hospitalizations and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/hcp/older-adults-faqs.html\">up to 10,000 deaths annually among adults ages 65 years and older\u003c/a>, says the agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/index.html\">The vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus — RSV — is accordingly recommended by the CDC\u003c/a> for infants, young children and adults ages 60 and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">experts NPR talked to for their fall booster guide\u003c/a> recommended getting the RSV vaccine separately from the COVID and flu vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think the recommendation would be if you’re going in, get your flu and COVID shot. If you’re eligible for RSV, maybe space that out by a week or two,” Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/peter-hotez-23229\">Peter Hotez\u003c/a>, who leads the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told NPR.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID, flu and RSV vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"highrisk\">\u003c/a>If I have risk factors for severe flu, what kind of flu shot should I get?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re age 65 or older, there are now three types of flu vaccines it’s recommended you get — because they’ll be even more effective for you than a regular flu shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said folks in this age group should seek out these three types of vaccines because you’ll be getting “essentially a high-dose shot” or a vaccine that contains an “adjuvant” — which, in simple terms, “makes the flu shot more powerful in terms of waking up the immune system,” he said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the three kinds of flu shots available to people ages 65 and older.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pregnant people can get a regular flu shot, although some types of flu vaccines are off-limits to pregnant people. The CDC says that getting vaccinated when you’re pregnant will not only help protect you from the flu, but also — if your baby is born during the immunity period — protect your infant in the first few months of their life when they’re too young to get vaccinated themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This benefit to the baby is also the reason that pregnant people are one of the few groups who might want to consider getting a flu shot \u003cem>early\u003c/em>, instead of waiting — to ensure their baby isn’t left completely unprotected for those first six months after birth when they can’t get a vaccine. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the benefits of getting a flu shot if you’re pregnant.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children ages 6 months and older can get a regular dose of the flu shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children-high-risk.htm\">Flu can be particularly dangerous for kids\u003c/a>, and the CDC says that a 2022 study showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of severe, life-threatening influenza by 75%.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"flushotnearme\">\u003c/a>Where can I get a flu shot if I have insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is available without extra cost as a preventive service from your usual health care provider, or at most pharmacies (see below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a good idea to wear a mask, maintain social distancing wherever possible while waiting for your shot, and dress in a top with sleeves you can easily pull up to your shoulder, to make receiving the injection even easier (and quicker).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Common places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/\">CDC’s Find Flu Vaccines tool.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California)\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler\">Rite Aid flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/immunizations.html\">Albertsons (Safeway) flu shots.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get a flu shot if I \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you want a flu shot but don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to free up these particular resources for those who are not covered.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county’s public health department may also be offering flu shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/\">San Francisco Department of Public Health’s AITC clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinic\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you’re unable to pay).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>And a reminder … the flu vaccine can’t give you the flu\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The virus that the flu shot contains has been inactivated or severely weakened, so \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm#:~:text=Can%20a%20flu%20vaccine%20give,protein%20from%20the%20flu%20virus.\">you just aren’t physically able to get the flu from your flu shot\u003c/a>, confirms the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm#side-effects\">The flu vaccine can cause side effects\u003c/a> like any medical product, but they’re “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm\">generally mild and go away on their own within a few days\u003c/a>,” the agency says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Common flu shot side effects can include soreness or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea and muscle aches. (But not the flu.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s Alexander Gonzalez.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "After Leading Decongestant Found Ineffective, Many Doctors Say 'Not Much' Works for Treating Common Cold",
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"content": "\u003cp>When you stroll down the cold and flu aisle in a drugstore it’s easy to get lost in the dizzying array of products promising to clear sinus pressure, dry up sniffles and stop plaguing coughs. Some concoctions even offer it all in one magical pill. However, a government panel has found the evidence behind some of these claims is lackluster — and doctors say that could extend all the way down the aisle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s just not much that’s very effective for treating the common cold,” said Dr. Lauren Eggert, clinical assistant professor in the Pulmonary Allergy and Critical Care Division at Stanford University. “Most of the things out there — antihistamines, decongestants, cough medicines — none of them have a lot of evidence that they’re super effective at improving cough or common cold symptoms.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=science_1936021 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/12/iStock-912854994-1180x787.jpg']This week the Food and Drug administration determined the country’s leading decongestant is really no better than a sugar pill. \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-clarifies-results-recent-advisory-committee-meeting-oral-phenylephrine\">In a unanimous vote Tuesday\u003c/a>, advisers to the agency said the key drug, phenylephrine, found in Sudafed P.E., Mucinex Sinus Max, Dayquil and other oral medications is simply not effective. The review was prompted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/02/21/fda-overhauling-over-the-counter-regulations/5704165/\">inquiries dating back nearly a decade\u003c/a>. And experts warn the ineffectiveness is not limited to just that one drug. More reviews of over-the-counter drugs are expected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eggert pointed to the database \u003ca href=\"https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/uptodate\">UpToDate\u003c/a>. Physicians use the resource when they want to see the summary of evidence for a group of medications. The conclusions for cold and flu remedies are disconcerting:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Antihistamines, vitamins and herbal remedies are deemed \u003cem>ineffective\u003c/em>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cough syrups, decongestants, expectorants, and zinc may have \u003cem>minimal or uncertain benefits\u003c/em>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nasal sprays and analgesics like Tylenol and ibuprofen \u003cem>may be effective\u003c/em>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>So, why are there so many cold and flu products on store shelves making big promises with little evidence to back them up?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The FDA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/drugs/otc-drug-review-process-otc-drug-monographs#:~:text=An%20OTC%20drug%20monograph%20establishes,GRASE)%20for%20its%20intended%20use.\">over-the-counter drug list\u003c/a> has not been updated since 1995. And many of the drugs sold today were grandfathered during the ’60s and ’70s when scientific studies were much less rigorous.[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Dr. Shalini Lynch, health sciences clinical professor, UCSF School of Pharmacy\"]‘You want to feel better instantly. But the reality is most cough and cold, viral types of upper respiratory infections, they just take time to go away.’[/pullquote]“Back in those days, statistics were not very developed,” said \u003ca href=\"https://pharmacy.ufl.edu/profile/hendeles-leslie/\">Dr. Leslie Hendeles\u003c/a>, PharmD, professor emeritus at the University of Florida in Gainesville, who was one of the petitioners who prompted this week’s FDA review. “The whole concept of clinical trials and study design was in its infancy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And since then the system for updating the drug list has traditionally taken many years or even decades, requiring multiple rounds of review and public comments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The passage of \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/exciting-new-chapter-otc-drug-history-otc-monograph-reform-cares-act#:~:text=The%20beginning%20of%20an%20exciting,regulated%20in%20the%20United%20States.\">the 2020 CARES Act\u003c/a> should improve what’s available by streamlining the laborious process that may have allowed unchecked medications on the market. This week’s vote on phenylephrine, which was based on the latest scientific evidence, is the first test case for the law. But the FDA has not yet issued a final decision on whether the product will be removed from store shelves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The message here is that there are a lot of products on the market that fall into the same category as phenylephrine,” said Hendeles. “They’re not for diseases where people die or have to go to an emergency room. So they have not gotten the attention — even from the FDA — until now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hendeles believes regulators are likely to ultimately find that many other over-the-counter drugs are futile, too. “I know for sure that the cough suppressants and the expectorants are next in line.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He points to a compilation of data he presented in \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29669663/\">a 2018 paper\u003c/a> published in the journal Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, where he concluded the marketing claims on products designed for respiratory symptoms are overblown. And the evidence for decongestants, expectorants and cough suppressants does not “justify their use.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Industry groups like the Consumer Healthcare Products Association maintain that phenylephrine has provided the public with clear health benefits for years. They asked the FDA not to remove it from a list of safe and effective over-the-counter drugs, arguing it provides the public with accessible treatment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Simply put, the burdens created from decreased choice and availability of these products would be placed directly onto consumers and an already-strained U.S. healthcare system, which is why CHPA encourages the panel to consider the real-world experience and needs of consumers when making decisions that will have such broad implications,” said Marcia Howard, the association’s vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs, \u003ca href=\"https://www.chpa.org/news/2023/09/statement-sept-11-12-2023-meeting-fda-ndac-evaluate-efficacy-oral-pe\">in a statement\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>So, what can help your runny nose?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Hendeles recommends steroidal nasal sprays for people suffering from allergies. Look for fluticasone (Flonase) or triamcinolone (Nascort). One squirt in each nostril. Evidence suggests Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride (Afrin or Sinex) is the best nasal spray for people who are sick with a respiratory illness.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about the rest of the meds lining your medicine cabinet?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“If you’ve used something and you felt like it was helpful, I don’t think there’s a problem with that,” said Eggbert. “There’s little harm for people who are looking for relief. And I do believe in the placebo effect.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But don’t look for a magical concoction. Single-ingredient products will help lower the possibility for side effects, according to Dr. Shalini Lynch, PharmD, health sciences clinical professor at UCSF’s School of Pharmacy. She says it should be obvious in a day or two if the product is relieving a desired symptom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Science also supports some natural remedies. Saline nasal rinses may help clear your sinuses and \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22869830/\">honey can quell your cough\u003c/a>. Additionally, it may be worth standing in a steamy shower or filling your humidifier to open your nasal passages. However, Lynch’s best advice is simply to lay low and hydrate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The common cold is something that pretty much needs to run its course,” she said. “You want to feel better instantly. But the reality is most cough and cold, viral types of upper respiratory infections, they just take time to go away.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When you stroll down the cold and flu aisle in a drugstore it’s easy to get lost in the dizzying array of products promising to clear sinus pressure, dry up sniffles and stop plaguing coughs. Some concoctions even offer it all in one magical pill. However, a government panel has found the evidence behind some of these claims is lackluster — and doctors say that could extend all the way down the aisle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s just not much that’s very effective for treating the common cold,” said Dr. Lauren Eggert, clinical assistant professor in the Pulmonary Allergy and Critical Care Division at Stanford University. “Most of the things out there — antihistamines, decongestants, cough medicines — none of them have a lot of evidence that they’re super effective at improving cough or common cold symptoms.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>This week the Food and Drug administration determined the country’s leading decongestant is really no better than a sugar pill. \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-clarifies-results-recent-advisory-committee-meeting-oral-phenylephrine\">In a unanimous vote Tuesday\u003c/a>, advisers to the agency said the key drug, phenylephrine, found in Sudafed P.E., Mucinex Sinus Max, Dayquil and other oral medications is simply not effective. The review was prompted by \u003ca href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/02/21/fda-overhauling-over-the-counter-regulations/5704165/\">inquiries dating back nearly a decade\u003c/a>. And experts warn the ineffectiveness is not limited to just that one drug. More reviews of over-the-counter drugs are expected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eggert pointed to the database \u003ca href=\"https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/uptodate\">UpToDate\u003c/a>. Physicians use the resource when they want to see the summary of evidence for a group of medications. The conclusions for cold and flu remedies are disconcerting:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Antihistamines, vitamins and herbal remedies are deemed \u003cem>ineffective\u003c/em>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cough syrups, decongestants, expectorants, and zinc may have \u003cem>minimal or uncertain benefits\u003c/em>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nasal sprays and analgesics like Tylenol and ibuprofen \u003cem>may be effective\u003c/em>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>So, why are there so many cold and flu products on store shelves making big promises with little evidence to back them up?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The FDA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/drugs/otc-drug-review-process-otc-drug-monographs#:~:text=An%20OTC%20drug%20monograph%20establishes,GRASE)%20for%20its%20intended%20use.\">over-the-counter drug list\u003c/a> has not been updated since 1995. And many of the drugs sold today were grandfathered during the ’60s and ’70s when scientific studies were much less rigorous.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“Back in those days, statistics were not very developed,” said \u003ca href=\"https://pharmacy.ufl.edu/profile/hendeles-leslie/\">Dr. Leslie Hendeles\u003c/a>, PharmD, professor emeritus at the University of Florida in Gainesville, who was one of the petitioners who prompted this week’s FDA review. “The whole concept of clinical trials and study design was in its infancy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And since then the system for updating the drug list has traditionally taken many years or even decades, requiring multiple rounds of review and public comments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The passage of \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/exciting-new-chapter-otc-drug-history-otc-monograph-reform-cares-act#:~:text=The%20beginning%20of%20an%20exciting,regulated%20in%20the%20United%20States.\">the 2020 CARES Act\u003c/a> should improve what’s available by streamlining the laborious process that may have allowed unchecked medications on the market. This week’s vote on phenylephrine, which was based on the latest scientific evidence, is the first test case for the law. But the FDA has not yet issued a final decision on whether the product will be removed from store shelves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The message here is that there are a lot of products on the market that fall into the same category as phenylephrine,” said Hendeles. “They’re not for diseases where people die or have to go to an emergency room. So they have not gotten the attention — even from the FDA — until now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hendeles believes regulators are likely to ultimately find that many other over-the-counter drugs are futile, too. “I know for sure that the cough suppressants and the expectorants are next in line.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He points to a compilation of data he presented in \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29669663/\">a 2018 paper\u003c/a> published in the journal Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, where he concluded the marketing claims on products designed for respiratory symptoms are overblown. And the evidence for decongestants, expectorants and cough suppressants does not “justify their use.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Industry groups like the Consumer Healthcare Products Association maintain that phenylephrine has provided the public with clear health benefits for years. They asked the FDA not to remove it from a list of safe and effective over-the-counter drugs, arguing it provides the public with accessible treatment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Simply put, the burdens created from decreased choice and availability of these products would be placed directly onto consumers and an already-strained U.S. healthcare system, which is why CHPA encourages the panel to consider the real-world experience and needs of consumers when making decisions that will have such broad implications,” said Marcia Howard, the association’s vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs, \u003ca href=\"https://www.chpa.org/news/2023/09/statement-sept-11-12-2023-meeting-fda-ndac-evaluate-efficacy-oral-pe\">in a statement\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>So, what can help your runny nose?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Hendeles recommends steroidal nasal sprays for people suffering from allergies. Look for fluticasone (Flonase) or triamcinolone (Nascort). One squirt in each nostril. Evidence suggests Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride (Afrin or Sinex) is the best nasal spray for people who are sick with a respiratory illness.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about the rest of the meds lining your medicine cabinet?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“If you’ve used something and you felt like it was helpful, I don’t think there’s a problem with that,” said Eggbert. “There’s little harm for people who are looking for relief. And I do believe in the placebo effect.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But don’t look for a magical concoction. Single-ingredient products will help lower the possibility for side effects, according to Dr. Shalini Lynch, PharmD, health sciences clinical professor at UCSF’s School of Pharmacy. She says it should be obvious in a day or two if the product is relieving a desired symptom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Science also supports some natural remedies. Saline nasal rinses may help clear your sinuses and \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22869830/\">honey can quell your cough\u003c/a>. Additionally, it may be worth standing in a steamy shower or filling your humidifier to open your nasal passages. However, Lynch’s best advice is simply to lay low and hydrate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The common cold is something that pretty much needs to run its course,” she said. “You want to feel better instantly. But the reality is most cough and cold, viral types of upper respiratory infections, they just take time to go away.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>As Thanksgiving fast approaches and the holiday season gets underway, California public health leaders are urging folks to bolster protections against a triple threat of respiratory viruses: RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), flu and COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In every category that we track — whether it’s test positivity, case rate numbers, wastewater surveillance, hospitalizations — we’re seeing increases for RSV, flu and COVID,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California Health and Human Services, during a news conference last week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Ghaly, COVID transmission — both in test positivity and case rates — was up by 25% over the past one to two weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is further compounded by an alarming uptick in cases of flu and RSV, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1980524/bay-area-childrens-hospitals-strained-as-rsv-surge-arrives\">a respiratory virus that primarily affects infants and has been straining hospitals across the region\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another concerning statewide trend? The vaccine uptake for the bivalent booster is low. \u003ca href=\"https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccination-progress-data/#overview\">Only around 16% of eligible Californians have gotten a second booster.\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[aside postID='news_11924327,news_11914514' label='Resources for staying safe this holiday season']\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think people are kind of tired of talking about getting boosted, and this is another reason why we need to talk about this,” said Dr. Kavita Trivedi, communicable disease controller for Alameda County’s public health department. “We know that these boosters are still really good at preventing severe disease and hospitalization.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along with rapid testing and the expansion of treatment options like Paxlovid, boosters can help lower the risk of gathering together, said Dr. Mychi Nguyen, chief medical officer at Asian Health Services, a community health provider with sites across Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would tell folks, ‘Have a plan,'” for gathering over the holidays, she said. “It’s very important to make one before, during and after.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nguyen talked with KQED’s Brian Watt about how to reduce the health risks of gathering this Thanksgiving — for yourself and your loved ones. Keep reading for the highlights of their conversation, which have been edited for length and clarity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BRIAN WATT: Are you concerned hospitals and clinics will be overwhelmed in the coming weeks?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DR. MYCHI NGUYEN:\u003c/strong> As we’re approaching the holiday season, we do expect respiratory viruses to increase as people gather with their loved ones and celebrate more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We know that both flu and RSV are circulating earlier this year, with right now not a lot of folks getting boosters or their flu shots. And with the workforce shortage, we’re seeing that hospitals are getting overwhelmed with the number of cases.\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[pullquote size='medium' align='right' citation=\"Dr. Mychi Nguyen, chief medical officer, Asian Health Services\"]‘I would say ‘yes’ to celebrating — with some precautions.’[/pullquote]\u003c/span>\u003cstrong>Given all this, is it a good idea for folks to be getting together for Thanksgiving — in the way we’re used to doing that?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I would say “yes” to celebrating — with some precautions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I would recommend that folks get tested the morning of, if you’re going to have a holiday dinner. And limit your interactions with folks the weeks and days coming up for the holidays. Something that you may consider is limiting your interactions in crowds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We know that in California — in the Bay Area in particular — if you can have good weather, dine outdoors if possible. Or if it is indoors, have really good ventilation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And even despite your best efforts, if someone does get ill or if you have symptoms, then make sure that you \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">get tested right away and seek treatment\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Is COVID testing something you should factor into a plan?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, you don’t want to be the dreaded spreader, especially to a vulnerable loved one. So I would recommend testing the day of or the morning of, if you’re going to gather later that day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It will allow for folks who do test positive to know right away — even if you don’t have symptoms — to know to stay home, and probably join in via Zoom, or other ways. And if you’re \u003cem>having\u003c/em> symptoms, if you’re feeling ill, definitely stay home and don’t gather and find other ways to celebrate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you do get infected with COVID, tell us more about the treatment options.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As soon as you have symptoms, it is important to test right away, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">if you are positive, it’s important to seek treatment\u003c/a>. Most adults and some children 12 years and above are eligible. And a lot of folks do not know that they’re eligible for treatment.\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[pullquote size='medium' align='right' citation=\"Dr. Mychi Nguyen, chief medical officer, Asian Health Services\"]‘You don’t want to be the dreaded spreader, especially to a vulnerable loved one. So I would recommend testing the day of or the morning of, if you’re going to gather later that day.’[/pullquote]\u003c/span>Treatment and the medications can prevent risk of hospitalizations and death up to 88%. You must act quickly for the effectiveness to take. It’s usually within the first five to seven days of symptom onset. Treatment is free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How useful is it to get boosted right before the holidays? Are we talking about some immediate protection if someone goes and gets boosted right away?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Full immunity will occur in about two weeks. So really, as we’re approaching the holidays, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11924327/where-can-i-find-a-new-omicron-covid-booster-shot-near-me\">getting vaccinated as soon as possible is very important\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>You mentioned not a lot of folks have gotten their booster. Do you get this sense as well that there is vaccine fatigue?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is a sense of vaccine fatigue that I’m seeing in the clinic. One of the things that I do [with patients] is exploring \u003cem>why\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of the concerns are perhaps side effects. And so I would ask them what happened at their previous vaccination, and we would talk about making a plan if there’s some pain or a fever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Usually those symptoms last for a couple days. We tell folks that getting COVID creates potentially more illness and [they] also [could] develop long COVID. And so the short-term benefits outweigh a lot of getting sick from COVID long-term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Is it concerning that you’re still hearing some of this hesitation as we enter the third year of this pandemic?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is concerning. One thing that we know is that COVID is still with us. It is something that we are learning to live with, and it is very different from before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We are in a much better place with vaccines, with testing, with treatment and really getting that information out there. Those strategies should continue to be strategies that help to fight against COVID.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How do you get the word out at this moment about the importance of getting the bivalent booster? What is this outreach looking like on the ground?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At Asian Health Services, we serve patients in English and 14 Asian languages. And we know that if folks do not have access in language, it is very, very difficult to even get testing, or vaccinations, or treatment or to learn how to prevent or take care of themselves if they do get sick. So we really provide that cultural competency, that language outreach in different ethnic media. We send patient newsletters. We go and do outreach into the community, and make sure that websites are translated into the different languages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing we also know is that in addition to the language barrier, there is a digital divide. Anyone who has helped a family member navigate online accounts or get to a website knows that if you are not tech-savvy, you can get left behind in terms of accessing a lot of these resources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As Thanksgiving fast approaches and the holiday season gets underway, California public health leaders are urging folks to bolster protections against a triple threat of respiratory viruses: RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), flu and COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In every category that we track — whether it’s test positivity, case rate numbers, wastewater surveillance, hospitalizations — we’re seeing increases for RSV, flu and COVID,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California Health and Human Services, during a news conference last week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Ghaly, COVID transmission — both in test positivity and case rates — was up by 25% over the past one to two weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is further compounded by an alarming uptick in cases of flu and RSV, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1980524/bay-area-childrens-hospitals-strained-as-rsv-surge-arrives\">a respiratory virus that primarily affects infants and has been straining hospitals across the region\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another concerning statewide trend? The vaccine uptake for the bivalent booster is low. \u003ca href=\"https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccination-progress-data/#overview\">Only around 16% of eligible Californians have gotten a second booster.\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think people are kind of tired of talking about getting boosted, and this is another reason why we need to talk about this,” said Dr. Kavita Trivedi, communicable disease controller for Alameda County’s public health department. “We know that these boosters are still really good at preventing severe disease and hospitalization.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along with rapid testing and the expansion of treatment options like Paxlovid, boosters can help lower the risk of gathering together, said Dr. Mychi Nguyen, chief medical officer at Asian Health Services, a community health provider with sites across Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would tell folks, ‘Have a plan,'” for gathering over the holidays, she said. “It’s very important to make one before, during and after.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nguyen talked with KQED’s Brian Watt about how to reduce the health risks of gathering this Thanksgiving — for yourself and your loved ones. Keep reading for the highlights of their conversation, which have been edited for length and clarity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BRIAN WATT: Are you concerned hospitals and clinics will be overwhelmed in the coming weeks?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DR. MYCHI NGUYEN:\u003c/strong> As we’re approaching the holiday season, we do expect respiratory viruses to increase as people gather with their loved ones and celebrate more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We know that both flu and RSV are circulating earlier this year, with right now not a lot of folks getting boosters or their flu shots. And with the workforce shortage, we’re seeing that hospitals are getting overwhelmed with the number of cases.\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003cstrong>Given all this, is it a good idea for folks to be getting together for Thanksgiving — in the way we’re used to doing that?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I would say “yes” to celebrating — with some precautions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I would recommend that folks get tested the morning of, if you’re going to have a holiday dinner. And limit your interactions with folks the weeks and days coming up for the holidays. Something that you may consider is limiting your interactions in crowds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We know that in California — in the Bay Area in particular — if you can have good weather, dine outdoors if possible. Or if it is indoors, have really good ventilation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And even despite your best efforts, if someone does get ill or if you have symptoms, then make sure that you \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">get tested right away and seek treatment\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Is COVID testing something you should factor into a plan?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, you don’t want to be the dreaded spreader, especially to a vulnerable loved one. So I would recommend testing the day of or the morning of, if you’re going to gather later that day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It will allow for folks who do test positive to know right away — even if you don’t have symptoms — to know to stay home, and probably join in via Zoom, or other ways. And if you’re \u003cem>having\u003c/em> symptoms, if you’re feeling ill, definitely stay home and don’t gather and find other ways to celebrate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you do get infected with COVID, tell us more about the treatment options.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As soon as you have symptoms, it is important to test right away, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">if you are positive, it’s important to seek treatment\u003c/a>. Most adults and some children 12 years and above are eligible. And a lot of folks do not know that they’re eligible for treatment.\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How do you get the word out at this moment about the importance of getting the bivalent booster? What is this outreach looking like on the ground?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At Asian Health Services, we serve patients in English and 14 Asian languages. And we know that if folks do not have access in language, it is very, very difficult to even get testing, or vaccinations, or treatment or to learn how to prevent or take care of themselves if they do get sick. So we really provide that cultural competency, that language outreach in different ethnic media. We send patient newsletters. We go and do outreach into the community, and make sure that websites are translated into the different languages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing we also know is that in addition to the language barrier, there is a digital divide. Anyone who has helped a family member navigate online accounts or get to a website knows that if you are not tech-savvy, you can get left behind in terms of accessing a lot of these resources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 21\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to claim lives across the country, the flu remains a potentially serious threat to your health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#whenflushot\">When should I get my flu shot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#boosterflushot\">Can I get a COVID booster and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#highrisk\">Which flu shot should I get if I’m 65 and older, I’m pregnant, or I need a shot for my kids?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#flushotnearme\">Where can I get a flu shot, with or without insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that, annually, the flu caused 140,000-710,000 hospitalizations and 12,000-52,000 deaths between 2010 and 2020. But the organization says that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-2021estimates.htm\">in the 2020-2021 flu season, only around half of adults got a flu shot\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Getting a flu vaccine can prevent you from getting sick with the flu, which is a draining, unpleasant experience even if your symptoms are not severe. And if you \u003cem>do\u003c/em> get the flu, having a flu shot can also stop you from getting sick enough to have to go to the hospital (and be exposed to all the COVID risks hospital settings can bring).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC says the flu vaccine also offers other potential health impacts, such as being associated with \u003ca class=\"tp-link-policy\" href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150467/\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">lower rates of certain cardiac events\u003c/a> for people who have heart disease. It’s also the best, safest way not only to protect \u003cem>yourself\u003c/em> against the influenza virus, but also to minimize the chance you will spread it to others — folks who could be at far higher risk for serious complications or even death if they were to become infected. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what the flu shot can do for you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And read on to find out whether you should be getting your flu shot right now, and where to find free or low-cost flu shot options near you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will this flu season be bad?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s true that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2020-2021.htm\">2020 saw a record-low number of flu cases\u003c/a> — most likely due to widespread mask-wearing, increased hygiene, social distancing and remote work and school.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year’s flu season also “didn’t surge in the numbers that people expected,” said UCSF professor of medicine Dr. Peter Chin-Hong — but “it did drag on for much longer.” Whereas a typical flu season peaks in February, Chin-Hong said that last year’s “went from October of 2021 to June of 2022 — so, a much longer tail than usually we would expect.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what about this winter’s flu risks? Chin-Hong said he and other medical professionals are “worried for several reasons.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along with the lifting of COVID restrictions, there’s the fact that \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/australia-flu-season-warning-sign-us-this-year-rcna40123\">Australia has just had its worst flu season in five years\u003c/a>. Because the continent’s winter happens during the United States’ summer, Australia’s flu season is traditionally an indicator of how bad ours might be — and, of concern, it was as “robust as any of the pre-pandemic flu seasons,” said Chin-Hong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Michael Kim, vice president of medical affairs for MarinHealth, echoes these particular worries in the context of the lifting of COVID safety measures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think we’re all concerned that flu season this year might be particularly severe, especially since people are not masking as much, as well as people haven’t been exposed to flu as much in the last couple of years,” said Kim.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"whenflushot\">\u003c/a>Should I get a flu shot now, or wait?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This flu season, the CDC says that September and October are “generally good times to be vaccinated against flu,” and that “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2022-2023.htm\">ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11838737\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1900px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11838737\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">It takes two weeks after your flu shot for your body to develop the antibodies it needs to protect you from the flu virus. \u003ccite>(Queen's University/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Yes, there’s evidence, says Chin-Hong, that \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28039340/\">your risk of getting the flu increases every month after your flu shot, due to the antibodies waning over time\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when medical professionals talk about strategically “waiting” to get a flu shot, they’re aiming that advice at those who are at particularly high risk for more serious complications related to the flu. That includes people over 65, those with chronic medical conditions, people who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, and kids under 5.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Delaying inoculations for these populations is based on the idea of getting the shot at a time Chin-Hong calls “the sweet spot,” around mid-to-late October. Two weeks later, right around early November, the antibodies should have developed, just as flu season is getting serious. Think of it as getting the “biggest bang for your buck,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you’re in one of those vulnerable categories? Yes, you can think about waiting, says Chin-Hong. People over 65 might also consider requesting the special flu vaccines for this age group — read more about this below. As with all health matters, if you’re looking for advice, it’s best to consult your health care provider or someone you see regularly for your medical needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And what if you’re under 65, not pregnant and don’t have other risk factors for severe flu? If you can truly trust yourself to plan ahead and not forget to make the appointment, “getting it before the end of October is probably the best,” said Chin-Hong. But remember: Not only are you human and it might slip your mind, but predictions about how the flu season might behave are just that — predictions. The timing of this year’s flu season might surprise us, and throw previous notions of a “best time” to get the vaccine into disarray.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just like we can’t predict the next COVID surge, we don’t know if influenza will have a different pattern this year,” said Chin-Hong, noting how Australia’s particularly bad flu season started earlier than expected. So take that “October rule” with “a grain of salt,” he advised, and “get it [your flu shot] when you get it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you plan to get your flu shot in October with the best of intentions, but you still forget? If November 1 comes and goes and you realize you haven’t been vaccinated, all is not lost — since the CDC says that “vaccination after October can still provide protection during the peak of flu season,” which is usually February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, just go get the shot already — whenever that may be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11838740\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"boosterflushot\">\u003c/a>Can I get my COVID booster and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, you can. Ashish Jha, White House COVID response coordinator, went so far in a September 6 briefing as to tell the audience “\u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2022/09/06/press-briefing-by-white-house-covid-19-response-team-and-public-health-officials-88/\">I really believe this is why God gave us two arms\u003c/a> — one for the flu shot and the other one for the COVID shot.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That “COVID shot” is the newly available COVID booster — that is, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0901-covid-19-booster.html\">new Moderna and Pfizer booster shots of the reformulated COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a>. The updated shots, called bivalent vaccines, target both the original strain of the coronavirus and the widespread BA.4/BA.5 omicron subvariants that have largely evaded previous boosters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anyone age 12 and up who got their last COVID vaccine shot at least two months ago — whether that was their primary vaccination series or their last booster shot — can now get an updated COVID booster. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11924327/where-can-i-find-a-new-omicron-covid-booster-shot-near-me\">Read more about how to find an updated COVID booster near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2022-2023.htm#Flu-Vaccine-and-COVID-19-Vaccine-Coadministration\">The CDC confirms that it’s safe to get both the flu shot and the bivalent COVID booster at the same time\u003c/a> “if you are eligible and the timing coincides.” Several pharmacy chains are prompting those making an online appointment for a bivalent COVID booster to also “add on” a flu shot at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Getting both shots simultaneously certainly offers you convenience, said Chin-Hong: “It’s one-stop shopping and again: out of sight, out of mind.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The only thing that might give you pause about getting your COVID bivalent booster and your flu shot: If you want to get your booster ASAP, some experts believe that \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2022/09/09/doubling-up-on-covid-booster-flu-shot-may-have-downside/\">it might be slightly too early right now to get your flu shot\u003c/a>, considering how immunity from the vaccine wanes. That said, other medical professionals say that \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2022/09/09/doubling-up-on-covid-booster-flu-shot-may-have-downside/\">the benefits of folks remembering to actually \u003cem>get\u003c/em> both their booster and their flu shot probably outweigh the downsides\u003c/a>, even if it means the timing of their flu vaccine is a little early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong reiterated that “if you really wanted to optimize” the timing of your flu shot, yes, “sometime in October \u003cem>is\u003c/em> probably the best.” But ultimately, he says that just \u003cem>getting\u003c/em> the shots is better than not getting them at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"highrisk\">\u003c/a>If I have risk factors for severe flu, what kind of flu shot should I get?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re age 65 or older, there’s something new for you to know this flu season: There are now three types of flu vaccines it’s recommended you get, because they’ll be even more effective for you than a regular flu shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said folks in this age group should seek out these three types of vaccines because you’ll be getting “essentially a high-dose shot” or a vaccine that contains an “adjuvant” — which, in simple terms, “makes the flu shot more powerful in terms of waking up the immune system,” he said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the three kinds of flu shots available to people age 65 and older.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pregnant people can get a regular flu shot, although there are some types of flu vaccine that are off-limits to pregnant people. The CDC says that getting vaccinated when you’re pregnant will not only help protect you from the flu, but also — if your baby is born during the immunity period — protect your infant in the first few months of their life, when they’re too young to get vaccinated themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This benefit to the baby is also the reason that pregnant people are one of the few groups who might want to consider getting a flu shot \u003cem>early\u003c/em>, instead of waiting — to ensure their baby isn’t left completely unprotected for those first six months after birth, when they can’t get a vaccine. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the benefits of getting a flu shot if you’re pregnant.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children age 6 months and older can get a regular dose of the flu shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children-high-risk.htm\">Flu can be particularly dangerous for kids\u003c/a>, and the CDC says that a 2022 study showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of severe, life-threatening influenza by 75%.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"flushotnearme\">\u003c/a>Where can I get a flu shot if I have insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is available without extra cost as a preventive service from your usual health care provider, or at most pharmacies (see below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a good idea to wear a mask, maintain social distancing wherever possible while waiting for your shot, and dress in a top with sleeves you can easily pull up to your shoulder, to make receiving the injection even easier (and quicker).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Common places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/\">CDC’s Find Flu Vaccines tool\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California) \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler\">Rite Aid flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/immunizations.html\">Albertsons (Safeway) flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get a flu shot if I \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you want a flu shot but don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to free up these particular resources for those who are not covered.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county’s own public health department may also be offering flu shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/\">San Francisco Department of Public Health’s AITC clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option, and says nobody will be refused for inability to pay)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinic\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you’re unable to pay)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[ad fullwidth]\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>And a reminder … the flu vaccine can’t give you the flu\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The virus that the flu shot contains has been inactivated or severely weakened, so \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm#:~:text=Can%20a%20flu%20vaccine%20give,protein%20from%20the%20flu%20virus.\">you just aren’t physically able to get the flu from your flu shot\u003c/a>, confirms the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm#side-effects\">The flu vaccine can cause side effects\u003c/a> like any medical product, but they’re “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm\">generally mild and go away on their own within a few days\u003c/a>,” the agency says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Common flu shot side effects can include soreness or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea and muscle aches. (But not the flu.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s Alexander Gonzalez.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 21\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to claim lives across the country, the flu remains a potentially serious threat to your health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#whenflushot\">When should I get my flu shot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#boosterflushot\">Can I get a COVID booster and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#highrisk\">Which flu shot should I get if I’m 65 and older, I’m pregnant, or I need a shot for my kids?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#flushotnearme\">Where can I get a flu shot, with or without insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that, annually, the flu caused 140,000-710,000 hospitalizations and 12,000-52,000 deaths between 2010 and 2020. But the organization says that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-2021estimates.htm\">in the 2020-2021 flu season, only around half of adults got a flu shot\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Getting a flu vaccine can prevent you from getting sick with the flu, which is a draining, unpleasant experience even if your symptoms are not severe. And if you \u003cem>do\u003c/em> get the flu, having a flu shot can also stop you from getting sick enough to have to go to the hospital (and be exposed to all the COVID risks hospital settings can bring).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC says the flu vaccine also offers other potential health impacts, such as being associated with \u003ca class=\"tp-link-policy\" href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150467/\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">lower rates of certain cardiac events\u003c/a> for people who have heart disease. It’s also the best, safest way not only to protect \u003cem>yourself\u003c/em> against the influenza virus, but also to minimize the chance you will spread it to others — folks who could be at far higher risk for serious complications or even death if they were to become infected. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what the flu shot can do for you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And read on to find out whether you should be getting your flu shot right now, and where to find free or low-cost flu shot options near you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will this flu season be bad?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s true that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2020-2021.htm\">2020 saw a record-low number of flu cases\u003c/a> — most likely due to widespread mask-wearing, increased hygiene, social distancing and remote work and school.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year’s flu season also “didn’t surge in the numbers that people expected,” said UCSF professor of medicine Dr. Peter Chin-Hong — but “it did drag on for much longer.” Whereas a typical flu season peaks in February, Chin-Hong said that last year’s “went from October of 2021 to June of 2022 — so, a much longer tail than usually we would expect.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what about this winter’s flu risks? Chin-Hong said he and other medical professionals are “worried for several reasons.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along with the lifting of COVID restrictions, there’s the fact that \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/australia-flu-season-warning-sign-us-this-year-rcna40123\">Australia has just had its worst flu season in five years\u003c/a>. Because the continent’s winter happens during the United States’ summer, Australia’s flu season is traditionally an indicator of how bad ours might be — and, of concern, it was as “robust as any of the pre-pandemic flu seasons,” said Chin-Hong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Michael Kim, vice president of medical affairs for MarinHealth, echoes these particular worries in the context of the lifting of COVID safety measures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think we’re all concerned that flu season this year might be particularly severe, especially since people are not masking as much, as well as people haven’t been exposed to flu as much in the last couple of years,” said Kim.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"whenflushot\">\u003c/a>Should I get a flu shot now, or wait?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This flu season, the CDC says that September and October are “generally good times to be vaccinated against flu,” and that “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2022-2023.htm\">ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11838737\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1900px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11838737\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots2-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">It takes two weeks after your flu shot for your body to develop the antibodies it needs to protect you from the flu virus. \u003ccite>(Queen's University/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Yes, there’s evidence, says Chin-Hong, that \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28039340/\">your risk of getting the flu increases every month after your flu shot, due to the antibodies waning over time\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when medical professionals talk about strategically “waiting” to get a flu shot, they’re aiming that advice at those who are at particularly high risk for more serious complications related to the flu. That includes people over 65, those with chronic medical conditions, people who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, and kids under 5.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Delaying inoculations for these populations is based on the idea of getting the shot at a time Chin-Hong calls “the sweet spot,” around mid-to-late October. Two weeks later, right around early November, the antibodies should have developed, just as flu season is getting serious. Think of it as getting the “biggest bang for your buck,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you’re in one of those vulnerable categories? Yes, you can think about waiting, says Chin-Hong. People over 65 might also consider requesting the special flu vaccines for this age group — read more about this below. As with all health matters, if you’re looking for advice, it’s best to consult your health care provider or someone you see regularly for your medical needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And what if you’re under 65, not pregnant and don’t have other risk factors for severe flu? If you can truly trust yourself to plan ahead and not forget to make the appointment, “getting it before the end of October is probably the best,” said Chin-Hong. But remember: Not only are you human and it might slip your mind, but predictions about how the flu season might behave are just that — predictions. The timing of this year’s flu season might surprise us, and throw previous notions of a “best time” to get the vaccine into disarray.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just like we can’t predict the next COVID surge, we don’t know if influenza will have a different pattern this year,” said Chin-Hong, noting how Australia’s particularly bad flu season started earlier than expected. So take that “October rule” with “a grain of salt,” he advised, and “get it [your flu shot] when you get it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you plan to get your flu shot in October with the best of intentions, but you still forget? If November 1 comes and goes and you realize you haven’t been vaccinated, all is not lost — since the CDC says that “vaccination after October can still provide protection during the peak of flu season,” which is usually February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In other words, just go get the shot already — whenever that may be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11838740\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots3-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"boosterflushot\">\u003c/a>Can I get my COVID booster and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, you can. Ashish Jha, White House COVID response coordinator, went so far in a September 6 briefing as to tell the audience “\u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2022/09/06/press-briefing-by-white-house-covid-19-response-team-and-public-health-officials-88/\">I really believe this is why God gave us two arms\u003c/a> — one for the flu shot and the other one for the COVID shot.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That “COVID shot” is the newly available COVID booster — that is, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0901-covid-19-booster.html\">new Moderna and Pfizer booster shots of the reformulated COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a>. The updated shots, called bivalent vaccines, target both the original strain of the coronavirus and the widespread BA.4/BA.5 omicron subvariants that have largely evaded previous boosters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anyone age 12 and up who got their last COVID vaccine shot at least two months ago — whether that was their primary vaccination series or their last booster shot — can now get an updated COVID booster. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11924327/where-can-i-find-a-new-omicron-covid-booster-shot-near-me\">Read more about how to find an updated COVID booster near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2022-2023.htm#Flu-Vaccine-and-COVID-19-Vaccine-Coadministration\">The CDC confirms that it’s safe to get both the flu shot and the bivalent COVID booster at the same time\u003c/a> “if you are eligible and the timing coincides.” Several pharmacy chains are prompting those making an online appointment for a bivalent COVID booster to also “add on” a flu shot at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Getting both shots simultaneously certainly offers you convenience, said Chin-Hong: “It’s one-stop shopping and again: out of sight, out of mind.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The only thing that might give you pause about getting your COVID bivalent booster and your flu shot: If you want to get your booster ASAP, some experts believe that \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2022/09/09/doubling-up-on-covid-booster-flu-shot-may-have-downside/\">it might be slightly too early right now to get your flu shot\u003c/a>, considering how immunity from the vaccine wanes. That said, other medical professionals say that \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2022/09/09/doubling-up-on-covid-booster-flu-shot-may-have-downside/\">the benefits of folks remembering to actually \u003cem>get\u003c/em> both their booster and their flu shot probably outweigh the downsides\u003c/a>, even if it means the timing of their flu vaccine is a little early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong reiterated that “if you really wanted to optimize” the timing of your flu shot, yes, “sometime in October \u003cem>is\u003c/em> probably the best.” But ultimately, he says that just \u003cem>getting\u003c/em> the shots is better than not getting them at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"highrisk\">\u003c/a>If I have risk factors for severe flu, what kind of flu shot should I get?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re age 65 or older, there’s something new for you to know this flu season: There are now three types of flu vaccines it’s recommended you get, because they’ll be even more effective for you than a regular flu shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said folks in this age group should seek out these three types of vaccines because you’ll be getting “essentially a high-dose shot” or a vaccine that contains an “adjuvant” — which, in simple terms, “makes the flu shot more powerful in terms of waking up the immune system,” he said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the three kinds of flu shots available to people age 65 and older.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pregnant people can get a regular flu shot, although there are some types of flu vaccine that are off-limits to pregnant people. The CDC says that getting vaccinated when you’re pregnant will not only help protect you from the flu, but also — if your baby is born during the immunity period — protect your infant in the first few months of their life, when they’re too young to get vaccinated themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This benefit to the baby is also the reason that pregnant people are one of the few groups who might want to consider getting a flu shot \u003cem>early\u003c/em>, instead of waiting — to ensure their baby isn’t left completely unprotected for those first six months after birth, when they can’t get a vaccine. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm\">Read more about the benefits of getting a flu shot if you’re pregnant.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children age 6 months and older can get a regular dose of the flu shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children-high-risk.htm\">Flu can be particularly dangerous for kids\u003c/a>, and the CDC says that a 2022 study showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of severe, life-threatening influenza by 75%.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"flushotnearme\">\u003c/a>Where can I get a flu shot if I have insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is available without extra cost as a preventive service from your usual health care provider, or at most pharmacies (see below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a good idea to wear a mask, maintain social distancing wherever possible while waiting for your shot, and dress in a top with sleeves you can easily pull up to your shoulder, to make receiving the injection even easier (and quicker).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Common places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/\">CDC’s Find Flu Vaccines tool\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California) \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler\">Rite Aid flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/immunizations.html\">Albertsons (Safeway) flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get a flu shot if I \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you want a flu shot but don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to free up these particular resources for those who are not covered.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county’s own public health department may also be offering flu shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/\">San Francisco Department of Public Health’s AITC clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option, and says nobody will be refused for inability to pay)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinic\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you’re unable to pay)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>And a reminder … the flu vaccine can’t give you the flu\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The virus that the flu shot contains has been inactivated or severely weakened, so \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm#:~:text=Can%20a%20flu%20vaccine%20give,protein%20from%20the%20flu%20virus.\">you just aren’t physically able to get the flu from your flu shot\u003c/a>, confirms the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm#side-effects\">The flu vaccine can cause side effects\u003c/a> like any medical product, but they’re “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm\">generally mild and go away on their own within a few days\u003c/a>,” the agency says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Common flu shot side effects can include soreness or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea and muscle aches. (But not the flu.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s Alexander Gonzalez.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "When to Get Your 2021 Flu Shot (And How It Works With COVID Vaccines)",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Go straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#time\">When’s the best time to get a flu shot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covid\">How does the flu shot work with the COVID vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#pregnancy\">What if I’m pregnant or have allergies?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I get a flu shot near me in the Bay Area — with or without insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>With all the talk about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11885531/covid-booster-shots-to-roll-out-in-september-in-the-u-s-health-officials-say\">COVID-19 vaccines and boosters\u003c/a>, it’s easy to forget that there’s another respiratory virus poised to strike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, it’s that familiar winter nemesis, the flu. And there are vaccines to help ward it off — but also misinformation and fears circulating. “We’ve been concerned about vaccine fatigue and that people will be confused about whether or when they need the flu shot, and not very eager to once again roll up their sleeve,” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.nfid.org/about-nfid/board-of-directors/william-schaffner-md/\">Dr. William Schaffner\u003c/a>, medical director of the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases. “Flu is a nasty virus and worth protecting against.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Two reasons make getting vaccinated against the flu the wise choice,” he says. “First, it’s been proven year after year that you’re in better shape to fight off the flu if you get the vaccine. Second, by getting vaccinated against the flu, you help protect the people around you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a guide to getting yourself vaccinated against another potentially fatal virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>I heard the flu essentially disappeared last year. Do I really need a flu shot this year?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Yes. Last year saw a record-low number of flu cases, likely thanks to widespread mask wearing, remote work and school, and physical distancing. But this year, experts fear that the reopening of schools, decreased adherence to pandemic precautions and surging delta variant infections could create a double whammy: a very serious flu and COVID-19-season. Already, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html\">cases of RSV, a serious respiratory virus in children, are spiking.\u003c/a> “This suggests that flu will be back [too],” says\u003ca href=\"https://www.immunize.org/aboutus/litjen_tan_bio.asp\"> LJ Tan,\u003c/a> executive director of the\u003ca href=\"https://www.immunize.org/\"> Immunization Action Coalition\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>Who should get a flu shot?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Anyone 6 months and older, unless your doctor has specifically recommended that you not get a flu shot because of a prior, rare, severe reaction, says Dr. Lisa Grohskopf, a medical officer in the influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003ca id=\"time\">\u003c/a>When’s the best time to get the flu shot?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Why not now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flu season starts in October in the U.S. While there’s some concern that immunity might wane before the end of flu season in May if you get the vaccine too early, there’s not enough data to know the optimal time to get the shot, Grohskopf says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2021-2022.htm\">The CDC says aim to get your flu vaccine by the end of October\u003c/a>. By then, cases will have started to mount, and many people will be just a few weeks away from travel for Thanksgiving and Christmas. That said, “getting vaccinated at any time during the flu season [can] still be beneficial,” says \u003ca href=\"https://healthcare.utah.edu/fad/mddetail.php?physicianID=u0028338&name=andrew-t-pavia\">Dr. Andrew Pavia, chief of the pediatric infectious diseases division at the University of Utah Health\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Why do I hear folks talking about ‘waiting’ to get their flu shot?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>As Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, UCSF professor of medicine, told KQED last year, the recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is evidence, Chin-Hong said, that \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28039340/\">your risk of getting the flu increases every month after your flu shot\u003c/a>, due to the antibodies waning over time. But when medical professionals talk about strategically “waiting” to get a flu shot, they’re aiming that advice at those who are at particularly high risk for more serious complications related to the flu. That includes people over 65, those with chronic medical conditions, people who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and kids under 5. \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#pregnancy\">Read more about pregnancy and the flu shot. \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Delaying inoculations for these populations is based on the idea of getting the shot at a time Chin-Hong called “the sweet spot,” around mid-to-late October. Two weeks later, right around early November, the antibodies should have developed, just as flu season is getting serious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Think of it as getting the “biggest bang for your buck,” Chin-Hong said. But ultimately, he added, “Don’t hem and haw about when to get it,” — because there’s a risk you may wind up forgetting to get it at all. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11838604/when-should-you-get-your-flu-shot\">Read more about who might consider delaying their flu shot.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>Will the flu vaccine definitely keep me from getting the flu? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>No. No vaccine is 100% effective. But if you do get the flu, the vaccine is likely to reduce your chance of getting very sick, being hospitalized or dying, Pavia says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before last year,\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html\"> tens of thousands of people\u003c/a> were hospitalized or died from the flu each year, usually people who weren’t vaccinated.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003ca id=\"covid\">\u003c/a>Can I get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Absolutely. The CDC had previously recommended spacing out the timing of the COVID-19 vaccine and other immunizations because the vaccines were so new, but “that guidance has changed,” says Grohskopf. The CDC now says it’s safe to get both vaccines at once, she says. “The body’s immune response and side effects are generally the same as when getting one vaccine alone.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do get two shots on the same day, expect to get each vaccine in a different arm, which may reduce any pain and swelling that might occur.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>What about my COVID-19 booster shot — can I get that at the same time as my flu shot?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Right now, third doses of COVID-19 vaccine are authorized only for people with certain immunocompromised conditions. If you qualify, you can get that extra dose and the flu shot on the same day. Once boosters are more broadly authorized, “we’ll be able to co-administer those shots with flu shots as well,” said Lisa Kalajian, a district manager for CVS Health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11838735\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1900px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11838735\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots.png\" alt=\"A person is seated receiving their flu shot from a medical professional\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Where can you get a free flu shot near you? And when should you get it? \u003ccite>(Homeless Coalition Flu Shot Clinic/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>The delta variant is making me anxious about going to the doctor’s office or pharmacy for a flu shot this year. Are there other choices?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned, aim for an off hour and call to make sure the provider (as well as you) will be masked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re still worried, check with local clinics to see if there are any outdoor flu shot clinics in your area.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>How do I make sure I get the right flu shot for me and my family?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>“While the most important thing is to get any flu shot, there are some specialized flu shots for specific groups,” says Pavia. The key is usually age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kids 8 and younger who are getting the flu shot for the first time need two doses, given a month apart, says \u003ca href=\"https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/flor-munoz-rivas-27227\">Dr. Flor Munoz-Rivas,\u003c/a> a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Baylor College of Medicine. Strong immunity doesn’t kick in until two weeks after the second shot, “so parents should be scheduling these shots now,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Immune systems weaken with age. That’s why the CDC recommends that adults 65 and older get vaccinated with one of two souped-up flu shots: either the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine or the FLUAD Quadrivalent vaccine. Both are designed to elicit a more robust immune response. If neither is available, then any flu shot is a good choice.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003ca id=\"pregnancy\">\u003c/a>I’m pregnant. Should I get a flu shot?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Yes. And if you’re in your third trimester, the CDC advises you get a flu shot ASAP so you can pass on the protection to your newborn from day 1. “Babies can’t get the flu shot until they are 6 months old but are protected by their mother’s antibodies from a flu shot — if she gets the shot — until 6 months, when they can get their own flu vaccine,” says Grohskopf. Just be sure to get the shot, not the nasal spray.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>I have an allergy to eggs and heard I can’t get a flu shot. Is that true?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Not really, says the CDC’s Grohskopf.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s true that most flu shots and one nasal spray flu vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration are manufactured using egg-based technology, so they contain a small amount of egg proteins. But studies of both the nasal spray and the shots found that allergic reactions are very rare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two egg-free vaccines are available: Flublok Quadrivalent (for people 18 and older) and Flucelvax Quadrivalent (which is approved for ages 2 and up this season). But the CDC says people with a history of egg allergy can get any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine. If you have a history of severe allergic reaction to eggs, the CDC recommends you get your shot at a location where the staff can treat you if a rare allergic reaction does occur.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>I’m willing to take my chances, so why should I get the flu vaccine?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>With the pandemic still raging, skipping the flu shot is a much riskier proposition, says Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/bernard-camins\">Bernard Camins, \u003c/a>an infectious disease physician at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. “You could get the flu and need care but find hospitals overwhelmed because of COVID, or get the flu and get COVID. And especially if you are not vaccinated against the coronavirus, [you] run the risk of your immune system being overwhelmed by two viruses at the same time.” Getting back-to-back infections could result in more serious illness, since the first infection may have already weakened your lungs, says \u003ca href=\"https://einsteinmed.org/faculty/13966/priya-nori/#:~:text=Nori%20is%20associate%20professor%20of,surgery%20at%20Einstein%20and%20Montefiore.&text=Nori%20is%20associate%20professor%20of%20medicine%20and%20of%20orthopaedics%20at,antimicrobial%20stewardship%20program%20at%20Montefiore.\">Dr. Priya Nori\u003c/a>, an infectious disease specialist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>If I’m already vaccinated against COVID-19, does getting the flu shot mean I’m doubly protected and no longer have to wear a mask?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Not at all. “Don’t stop the public health measures,” says Pavia. Distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands, especially after coughs and sneezes, can improve the chances that you and others will not get the flu — or COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003ca id=\"where\">\u003c/a>Where can I get a flu shot if I have insurance?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is available free without cost as a preventive service from your usual doctor or most pharmacies. (See below.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Make sure you’re wearing your mask, maintain social distancing wherever possible while waiting for your shot and dress in a top with sleeves you can easily pull up to your shoulder to make receiving the injection even easier (and quicker.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Common places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://vaccinefinder.org/find-vaccine\">CDC’s Vaccine Finder tool\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California) \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch3>Where can I get a flu shot if I \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have health insurance?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>If you want a flu shot but don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to free up these particular resources for those who are not covered.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For a start, your county’s own public health department might offer them. For example, Santa Clara County is once again offering \u003ca href=\"https://publichealth.sccgov.org/disease-information/influenza-flu\">free flu shots at the County Fairgrounds in San Jose this year\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anyone can walk or bike up to the fairgrounds (parking is also available for those with disabilities) without an appointment and get vaccinated, regardless of insurance or immigration status. The county says that \u003ca href=\"https://publichealth.sccgov.org/disease-information/influenza-flu\">free flu shots will also soon become available at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Centers.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/low-cost-or-free-vaccines-at-aitc/#stategf\">San Francisco Public Health’s AITC Immunization & Travel Clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option, and says that nobody will be refused for inability to pay)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinics\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you’re unable to pay)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[ad fullwidth]\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>And a reminder … the flu vaccine can’t ‘give you the flu’\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>The virus that the flu shot contains has been inactivated or severely weakened, so \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm#:~:text=Can%20a%20flu%20vaccine%20give,protein%20from%20the%20flu%20virus.\">you just aren’t physically able to “get the flu” from your flu shot, says the CDC\u003c/a>. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm\">flu vaccine can cause side effects like any medical product\u003c/a>, but they’re “generally mild and go away on their own within a few days,” the agency says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Common flu shot side effects can include soreness or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea and muscle aches. But not flu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Carly Severn contributed to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=It%27s+Time+For+A+Flu+Shot.+Here%27s+What+You+Need+To+Know&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Go straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#time\">When’s the best time to get a flu shot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covid\">How does the flu shot work with the COVID vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#pregnancy\">What if I’m pregnant or have allergies?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I get a flu shot near me in the Bay Area — with or without insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>With all the talk about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11885531/covid-booster-shots-to-roll-out-in-september-in-the-u-s-health-officials-say\">COVID-19 vaccines and boosters\u003c/a>, it’s easy to forget that there’s another respiratory virus poised to strike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, it’s that familiar winter nemesis, the flu. And there are vaccines to help ward it off — but also misinformation and fears circulating. “We’ve been concerned about vaccine fatigue and that people will be confused about whether or when they need the flu shot, and not very eager to once again roll up their sleeve,” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.nfid.org/about-nfid/board-of-directors/william-schaffner-md/\">Dr. William Schaffner\u003c/a>, medical director of the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases. “Flu is a nasty virus and worth protecting against.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Two reasons make getting vaccinated against the flu the wise choice,” he says. “First, it’s been proven year after year that you’re in better shape to fight off the flu if you get the vaccine. Second, by getting vaccinated against the flu, you help protect the people around you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a guide to getting yourself vaccinated against another potentially fatal virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>I heard the flu essentially disappeared last year. Do I really need a flu shot this year?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Yes. Last year saw a record-low number of flu cases, likely thanks to widespread mask wearing, remote work and school, and physical distancing. But this year, experts fear that the reopening of schools, decreased adherence to pandemic precautions and surging delta variant infections could create a double whammy: a very serious flu and COVID-19-season. Already, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html\">cases of RSV, a serious respiratory virus in children, are spiking.\u003c/a> “This suggests that flu will be back [too],” says\u003ca href=\"https://www.immunize.org/aboutus/litjen_tan_bio.asp\"> LJ Tan,\u003c/a> executive director of the\u003ca href=\"https://www.immunize.org/\"> Immunization Action Coalition\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>Who should get a flu shot?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Anyone 6 months and older, unless your doctor has specifically recommended that you not get a flu shot because of a prior, rare, severe reaction, says Dr. Lisa Grohskopf, a medical officer in the influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003ca id=\"time\">\u003c/a>When’s the best time to get the flu shot?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Why not now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flu season starts in October in the U.S. While there’s some concern that immunity might wane before the end of flu season in May if you get the vaccine too early, there’s not enough data to know the optimal time to get the shot, Grohskopf says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2021-2022.htm\">The CDC says aim to get your flu vaccine by the end of October\u003c/a>. By then, cases will have started to mount, and many people will be just a few weeks away from travel for Thanksgiving and Christmas. That said, “getting vaccinated at any time during the flu season [can] still be beneficial,” says \u003ca href=\"https://healthcare.utah.edu/fad/mddetail.php?physicianID=u0028338&name=andrew-t-pavia\">Dr. Andrew Pavia, chief of the pediatric infectious diseases division at the University of Utah Health\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Why do I hear folks talking about ‘waiting’ to get their flu shot?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>As Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, UCSF professor of medicine, told KQED last year, the recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is evidence, Chin-Hong said, that \u003ca href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28039340/\">your risk of getting the flu increases every month after your flu shot\u003c/a>, due to the antibodies waning over time. But when medical professionals talk about strategically “waiting” to get a flu shot, they’re aiming that advice at those who are at particularly high risk for more serious complications related to the flu. That includes people over 65, those with chronic medical conditions, people who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and kids under 5. \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#pregnancy\">Read more about pregnancy and the flu shot. \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Delaying inoculations for these populations is based on the idea of getting the shot at a time Chin-Hong called “the sweet spot,” around mid-to-late October. Two weeks later, right around early November, the antibodies should have developed, just as flu season is getting serious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Think of it as getting the “biggest bang for your buck,” Chin-Hong said. But ultimately, he added, “Don’t hem and haw about when to get it,” — because there’s a risk you may wind up forgetting to get it at all. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11838604/when-should-you-get-your-flu-shot\">Read more about who might consider delaying their flu shot.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>Will the flu vaccine definitely keep me from getting the flu? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>No. No vaccine is 100% effective. But if you do get the flu, the vaccine is likely to reduce your chance of getting very sick, being hospitalized or dying, Pavia says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before last year,\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html\"> tens of thousands of people\u003c/a> were hospitalized or died from the flu each year, usually people who weren’t vaccinated.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003ca id=\"covid\">\u003c/a>Can I get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Absolutely. The CDC had previously recommended spacing out the timing of the COVID-19 vaccine and other immunizations because the vaccines were so new, but “that guidance has changed,” says Grohskopf. The CDC now says it’s safe to get both vaccines at once, she says. “The body’s immune response and side effects are generally the same as when getting one vaccine alone.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do get two shots on the same day, expect to get each vaccine in a different arm, which may reduce any pain and swelling that might occur.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>What about my COVID-19 booster shot — can I get that at the same time as my flu shot?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Right now, third doses of COVID-19 vaccine are authorized only for people with certain immunocompromised conditions. If you qualify, you can get that extra dose and the flu shot on the same day. Once boosters are more broadly authorized, “we’ll be able to co-administer those shots with flu shots as well,” said Lisa Kalajian, a district manager for CVS Health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11838735\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1900px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11838735\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots.png\" alt=\"A person is seated receiving their flu shot from a medical professional\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1267\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots.png 1900w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/09/shots-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Where can you get a free flu shot near you? And when should you get it? \u003ccite>(Homeless Coalition Flu Shot Clinic/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>The delta variant is making me anxious about going to the doctor’s office or pharmacy for a flu shot this year. Are there other choices?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned, aim for an off hour and call to make sure the provider (as well as you) will be masked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re still worried, check with local clinics to see if there are any outdoor flu shot clinics in your area.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>How do I make sure I get the right flu shot for me and my family?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>“While the most important thing is to get any flu shot, there are some specialized flu shots for specific groups,” says Pavia. The key is usually age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kids 8 and younger who are getting the flu shot for the first time need two doses, given a month apart, says \u003ca href=\"https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/flor-munoz-rivas-27227\">Dr. Flor Munoz-Rivas,\u003c/a> a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Baylor College of Medicine. Strong immunity doesn’t kick in until two weeks after the second shot, “so parents should be scheduling these shots now,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Immune systems weaken with age. That’s why the CDC recommends that adults 65 and older get vaccinated with one of two souped-up flu shots: either the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine or the FLUAD Quadrivalent vaccine. Both are designed to elicit a more robust immune response. If neither is available, then any flu shot is a good choice.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003ca id=\"pregnancy\">\u003c/a>I’m pregnant. Should I get a flu shot?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Yes. And if you’re in your third trimester, the CDC advises you get a flu shot ASAP so you can pass on the protection to your newborn from day 1. “Babies can’t get the flu shot until they are 6 months old but are protected by their mother’s antibodies from a flu shot — if she gets the shot — until 6 months, when they can get their own flu vaccine,” says Grohskopf. Just be sure to get the shot, not the nasal spray.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>I have an allergy to eggs and heard I can’t get a flu shot. Is that true?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Not really, says the CDC’s Grohskopf.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s true that most flu shots and one nasal spray flu vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration are manufactured using egg-based technology, so they contain a small amount of egg proteins. But studies of both the nasal spray and the shots found that allergic reactions are very rare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two egg-free vaccines are available: Flublok Quadrivalent (for people 18 and older) and Flucelvax Quadrivalent (which is approved for ages 2 and up this season). But the CDC says people with a history of egg allergy can get any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine. If you have a history of severe allergic reaction to eggs, the CDC recommends you get your shot at a location where the staff can treat you if a rare allergic reaction does occur.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>I’m willing to take my chances, so why should I get the flu vaccine?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>With the pandemic still raging, skipping the flu shot is a much riskier proposition, says Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/bernard-camins\">Bernard Camins, \u003c/a>an infectious disease physician at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. “You could get the flu and need care but find hospitals overwhelmed because of COVID, or get the flu and get COVID. And especially if you are not vaccinated against the coronavirus, [you] run the risk of your immune system being overwhelmed by two viruses at the same time.” Getting back-to-back infections could result in more serious illness, since the first infection may have already weakened your lungs, says \u003ca href=\"https://einsteinmed.org/faculty/13966/priya-nori/#:~:text=Nori%20is%20associate%20professor%20of,surgery%20at%20Einstein%20and%20Montefiore.&text=Nori%20is%20associate%20professor%20of%20medicine%20and%20of%20orthopaedics%20at,antimicrobial%20stewardship%20program%20at%20Montefiore.\">Dr. Priya Nori\u003c/a>, an infectious disease specialist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003cstrong>If I’m already vaccinated against COVID-19, does getting the flu shot mean I’m doubly protected and no longer have to wear a mask?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Not at all. “Don’t stop the public health measures,” says Pavia. Distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands, especially after coughs and sneezes, can improve the chances that you and others will not get the flu — or COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>\u003ca id=\"where\">\u003c/a>Where can I get a flu shot if I have insurance?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, a flu shot is available free without cost as a preventive service from your usual doctor or most pharmacies. (See below.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Make sure you’re wearing your mask, maintain social distancing wherever possible while waiting for your shot and dress in a top with sleeves you can easily pull up to your shoulder to make receiving the injection even easier (and quicker.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Common places to find a flu shot appointment, walk-in site or drive-thru flu shot:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://vaccinefinder.org/find-vaccine\">CDC’s Vaccine Finder tool\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/cold-and-flu/prevention#/prevention\">Kaiser Permanente flu shots (Northern California) \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/flu\">CVS flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/seasonal-flu.jsp?ban=flu_fy21_influenzapage\">Walgreens flu shots \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Costco Pharmacy flu shots\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch3>Where can I get a flu shot if I \u003cem>don’t\u003c/em> have health insurance?\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>If you want a flu shot but don’t have health insurance, you can get the vaccine free of charge from several providers and community clinics around the Bay Area. (You can also technically use these free services even if you do have insurance, but you may consider choosing to free up these particular resources for those who are not covered.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For a start, your county’s own public health department might offer them. For example, Santa Clara County is once again offering \u003ca href=\"https://publichealth.sccgov.org/disease-information/influenza-flu\">free flu shots at the County Fairgrounds in San Jose this year\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anyone can walk or bike up to the fairgrounds (parking is also available for those with disabilities) without an appointment and get vaccinated, regardless of insurance or immigration status. The county says that \u003ca href=\"https://publichealth.sccgov.org/disease-information/influenza-flu\">free flu shots will also soon become available at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Centers.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Places to get a free or low-cost flu shot in the Bay Area include:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc/aitc-regular-prices-low-cost-or-free-vaccines/low-cost-or-free-vaccines-at-aitc/#stategf\">San Francisco Public Health’s AITC Immunization & Travel Clinic\u003c/a> (offers a pay-what-you-can option, and says that nobody will be refused for inability to pay)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/immunization/clinics.php#Uninsured\">Contra Costa Public Health Immunization Clinics\u003c/a> (flu shots are $15 for adults over 19, but fees may be waived if you’re unable to pay)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acphd.org/clinics/\">Alameda County Immunization Clinics\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>And a reminder … the flu vaccine can’t ‘give you the flu’\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>The virus that the flu shot contains has been inactivated or severely weakened, so \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/misconceptions.htm#:~:text=Can%20a%20flu%20vaccine%20give,protein%20from%20the%20flu%20virus.\">you just aren’t physically able to “get the flu” from your flu shot, says the CDC\u003c/a>. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/general.htm\">flu vaccine can cause side effects like any medical product\u003c/a>, but they’re “generally mild and go away on their own within a few days,” the agency says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Common flu shot side effects can include soreness or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea and muscle aches. But not flu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Carly Severn contributed to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=It%27s+Time+For+A+Flu+Shot.+Here%27s+What+You+Need+To+Know&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"radiolab": {
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},
"selected-shorts": {
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"title": "Selected Shorts",
"info": "Spellbinding short stories by established and emerging writers take on a new life when they are performed by stars of the stage and screen.",
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"title": "Snap Judgment",
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