Public well being mavens are urging folks to benefit from the truth that this yr, for the primary time, vaccines are to be had for 3 primary respiration viruses: flu, COVID and RSV.
SARAH MCCAMMON, HOST:
As iciness approaches, public well being government are anxious that too few American citizens are making plans to get vaccinated in opposition to 3 primary respiration viruses. That is consistent with a brand new document launched the day before today. NPR well being correspondent Rob Stein has extra.
ROB STEIN, BYLINE: For years, everybody may get a flu shot each fall. And the COVID vaccines have helped offer protection to hundreds of thousands throughout the pandemic. Now, for the primary time, someone age 60 and older too can get vaccinated in opposition to RSV, which may also be existence threatening. So CDC Director Mandy Cohen is urging everybody who is eligible to benefit from this trio of vaccines.
MANDY COHEN: For the primary time in historical past, we’ve vaccines in opposition to all 3 of those primary viruses that may offer protection to us from severe sickness, hospitalization and demise.
STEIN: However a brand new survey reveals that a large number of folks are not making plans to get the photographs. The survey of one,000 adults discovered most effective about part of the ones ages 18 to 64 need a flu shot. Most effective 40% of adults are making plans to get an up to date COVID vaccine. And most effective 40% of eligible adults say they are going to get the RSV jab. Patsy Stinchfield heads the Nationwide Basis for Infectious Illnesses, which carried out the survey.
PATSY STINCHFIELD: Many U.S. adults are underestimating the seriousness of flu, COVID-19 and RSV.
STEIN: Which might be particularly unhealthy for older folks and the ones with different well being issues. In the meantime, the survey discovered many of us overestimate the dangers related to the vaccines, despite the fact that they’re very secure and efficient. The CDC says the present COVID wave that began in July is also cresting, however some other wave is predicted this iciness. RSV is already on the upward thrust once more, and flu season is coming. About 2 million folks have already rolled up their sleeves for COVID photographs. And the company is operating to check out to assist get to the bottom of issues of insurance coverage and provide that experience annoyed others who do wish to get vaccinated. Rob Stein, NPR Information.
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