In an effort to prevent a repeat of last winter's "tripledemic" of respiratory illnesses, public health officials are encouraging Americans to get not only a flu shot but also a COVID-19 vaccine and a new vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, The New York Times reported July 5.
In June, the CDC endorsed an advisory panel's recommendation that Americans 60 and older may get the RSV vaccine in consultation with their physicians. The FDA approved both Pfizer and GSK's RSV shots in May.
The trio of vaccines may help reduce hospitalizations and deaths if the U.S. sees a resurgence of COVID-19, flu and RSV this fall and winter.
Some scientists and vaccine experts have advocated for administering all three vaccines during a single clinic or pharmacy visit to encourage more immunizations. However, others have been more hesitant, citing a lack of data on the safety and effectiveness of giving three vaccines at the same time. Some evidence suggests the flu and RSV vaccine may work against each other when administered at the same time, resulting in lower antibody levels.
"I would say, when possible, it might be good to spread them out," Camille Kotton, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital and a member of the CDC's scientific advisory panel, told the Times.