It is that time of year to strengthen our immune systems by getting current on various vaccines, including flu, COVID-19, RSV, shingles, and more. The time to act is now, given that the spread of flu in Nevada has just reached high levels, according to UnitedHealthcare data. Here are some strategies to help people stay as healthy as possible during the holiday season:
- Get this year’s flu shot. While flu is most serious for older Americans and individuals with certain chronic conditions, it can affect people of all ages. Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and up, except for a few exceptions, such as people with severe allergies or individuals who are immunocompromised. Data shows the flu vaccine reduces the risk of the illness by up to 60%.
- Get this year’s COVID-19 shot. Like the flu, the coronavirus changes from year to year, which means the vaccine is reformulated annually to better target current strains. While almost 50% of the U.S. population received the flu vaccine last year, fewer (29%) got the COVID-19 shot. If you want protection from both, you can get the flu and COVID-19 shots at the same time, along with additional vaccinations.
- Get vaccinated against RSV and shingles. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is another infectious disease that spreads this time of year and can lead to severe illness, especially for older adults and young children. The CDC recommends vaccination against RSV for people 60 and older and babies and toddlers up to 2 years old. For people 50 and older, it’s important also to get the shingles vaccine, something that only 18% of Americans in that age group have done. Shingles can cause significant, red, fluid-filled blisters, resulting in long-term pain or even hearing or vision loss.
UnitedHealthcare makes it easy to find many locations in your area offering flu shots. Just go to www.UHCFluLocator.com and enter your zip code.
