Why (and When) You Should Get Your COVID and Flu Shots This Fall

The 2021 COVID shots — and even the bivalent booster therapy you may have received recently — are no longer suitable for common strains of the virus. Fortunately, new versions of the vaccine will appear this fall. Flu shots are also still important, and RSV shots are available for both the youngest and the elderly. Here’s your quick look at this fall’s vaccines and when you should get them.

What frames do I need and when?

Fall is the start of flu season, as well as a surge in other respiratory illnesses. To better protect yourself, you can get:

• Flu shot , preferably in September or October (for everyone aged 6 months and over).
• Vaccination against COVID , if possible, with a new composition (for everyone aged 6 months and older). The new ones will be available at the end of September.
• RSV vaccine for adults if you are 60 or older and if your doctor thinks it makes sense for you (there is also an RSV vaccine for children under 8 months of age ).

If you are pregnant, the CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine, COVID vaccine, and pertussis vaccine (TDaP) in the third trimester. The baby will be born with antibodies to these diseases, protecting them for about the first six months of life .

How is the new vaccine different from COVID?

The first generation of COVID vaccines used the spike protein mRNA of the virus’ original flavor. Later bivalent boosters appeared, using the original strain along with the Omicron version. Only one strain will be used in vaccines this year, this time the XBB variant . Eris, one of the dominant strains currently circulating, is a close relative of XBB.

The new COVID vaccines are not yet on pharmacy shelves, but are expected to be available by the end of September 2023.

Can I receive vaccines at the same time?

You can get multiple shots in one visit, although the CDC has in the past recommended giving the COVID shot in one arm and the flu shot in the other if you are using one of the high-dose or adjuvant flu shots (this applies to older people , but not middle-aged and young people).

Otherwise, it’s up to you. Each shot can cause arm pain, so you may prefer to get both at once, or you may find it more convenient to go to the pharmacy one week for a COVID booster and the next week for a flu shot.

The CDC states that the RSV vaccine is safe to take with COVID, influenza, or other vaccines. If you receive multiple vaccines, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether it makes sense to give them all together.