Published September 30, 2024

Note: This article contains information that was accurate upon publication. We encourage you to visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and your state and local government for the most updated information and consult your primary care provider to receive personalized recommendations.

With flu-season fast approaching, staying up to date with the latest vaccines is especially important for older adults. This season, vaccines for influenza (flu), COVID-19, and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Read below for more details on how to protect yourself from sickness this year.

Flu Vaccine

Vaccines remain the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the annual flu (CDC, August 25, 2023a). Given the unpredictable nature of flu season, it’s important to stay proactive about your health by getting vaccinated. The best time to get vaccinated is in September or October, as receiving the vaccine too early could reduce its effectiveness in protecting you during peak flu season (CDC, June 27, 2024). This timing allows your body to build the necessary immunity before flu activity picks up, ensuring you are best protected when it matters most.

As we age, our immune system weakens, making it harder to fight off infections such as the flu. Complications, hospitalizations, and deaths due to influenza are generally most common among people 65 years and older (CDC, August 25, 2023b). In the case of a vaccine shortage, people 50 years and older are prioritized for flu vaccines as they are more likely to have chronic medical conditions that put them at higher risk of severe influenza illness (CDC, August, 25, 2023b).

For those 65 and older, the CDC recommends a higher dosage or adjuvanted flu vaccine as studies suggest that such vaccines are potentially more effective than standard dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines for this age category (CDC, March 21, 2024). If these are not available at the time of administration, older adults can receive a standard-dose unadjuvanted inactivated flu vaccine but should not get a nasal spray vaccine (CDC, March 21, 2024). Nasal sprays contain weakened viruses that may be difficult for those with weakened immune systems, such as older adults, to fight off (CDC, August 25, 2022; Lee et al., May 29, 2022).

COVID-19 Vaccine

Similarly to the flu vaccine, the CDC recommends all those 6 months and older to receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves against the potentially serious consequences of COVID-19 (CDC, June 27, 2024). Medical professionals recommend those 65 and older to get the updated vaccine as soon as possible (LA Times, August 29, 2024). Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccination is a key part of preventing the spread of the virus and maintaining public health.

As of August 22, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approved the Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines for everyone ages 12 and older, both of which target the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 strain, KP.2. (FDA, August 22, 2024). These shots are expected to provide protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death related to COVID. Note that this is an updated vaccine designed to target a new strain rather than a booster which is an additional dose meant to prolong the immunity of an initial vaccination.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine

From late summer to early fall, the CDC recommends a single dose of the RSV vaccine for all adults 75 and older as well as people ages 60-75 who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease (CDC, July 3, 2024). Some risk factors include: cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus with end-organ damage, neurological conditions. For a full list of risk factors, see this CDC webpage.

For those ages 60 and above, the best route is to consult with your primary care provider about the RSV vaccine. A personalized approach is crucial, as individual health conditions and risk factors play a significant role in the decision to vaccinate. Preliminary studies show that the vaccine would be effective for two seasons (every other year), however studies are ongoing (CDC, July 3, 2024).

The vaccine has been available since mid-August of 2023, providing older adults with an additional tool to protect themselves against threats to their health. Despite its recent vaccine development, RSV is one of the most common viral respiratory infections in the world (Kaler et al., March 15, 2023). While infections cause mostly mild, cold-like symptoms (runny nose, decreased appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever, wheezing) and go away on their own, they can be serious for young children and older adults (CDC, August 30, 2024).

Co-administration of COVID and Flu Vaccines

For convenience, the CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine during the same visit. Such co-administration is safe, however, it increases the likelihood of having mild and very temporary reactions such as fatigue, headaches, and muscle aches (CDC, December 8, 2023).

Co-administration of Flu, COVID, and RSV Vaccines

The CDC recommends consulting your health care provider before planning to receive all three vaccines at once, as well as the RSV vaccine with other vaccines. Those who are only able to make one trip for their fall and winter vaccines are eligible for co-administration of all three in one visit (CDC, December 8, 2023).
To schedule a vaccine appointment, you can visit Vaccines.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). If you are homebound, the CDC has a list of resources including The Aging Network and Eldercare Locator that can be found here.