Health officials recommend Stanislaus County residents get respiratory virus vaccinations
Health officials are recommending vaccines for Stanislaus County residents as the colder months approach.
The California Department of Public Health hopes to minimize the spread of respiratory viruses, including seasonal flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus.
The benefits are fewer sick days and more quality time with family. "We are stronger when we are all protected against respiratory diseases," Dr. Tomas Aragon, state public health officer, said in a news release.
The updated COVID-19 vaccines are available, with the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna designed for the KP.2 strain, which surpassed JN.1 as the dominant strain in the United States six months ago. The updated vaccines are expected to be effective against newer related strains.
CVS announced in late August that the updated COVID vaccines and flu shots are available at its pharmacies, and other pharmacies are scheduling people for appointments. For many people, their health care providers are the source of vaccinations. The flu and COVID vaccines should be covered through insurance, Medicare or Medi-Cal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People running into financial barriers are advised to ask their health care provider or contact their county health department about low-cost or no-cost vaccinations. The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency is planning flu and COVID vaccine clinics with schools and community organizations and will post dates and times on social media later this month.
The annual flu vaccine is engineered to cover the strains expected to circulate in late fall and winter.
Kaiser Permanente has flu shot clinics open for its members in Modesto, Stockton, Manteca and Tracy. No appointments are necessary at the walk-in clinics . Kaiser patients also can receive an updated COVID vaccination at the walk-in locations.
Health officials talk more about RSV immunizations after some difficult years with the virus. For infants and toddlers, RSV may cause severe runny nose and a cough that may lead to wheezing, difficulty breathing and dehydration.
Adults 60 and older contracting RSV usually have coldlike symptoms but it can develop into pneumonia or worsening conditions for those with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or heart failure.
The CDPH said an RSV vaccination is not necessary every year. Adults previously vaccinated don't need another dose. The one-time shot is recommended for people 75 or older and adults in the 60-to-74 age group who live with certain chronic health conditions.
It's recommended that pregnant women ask their doctors about an RSV immunization between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. If their mothers were not vaccinated in pregnancy, babies younger than 8 months should be immunized against RSV, as well as children 8 to 19 months old who are at high risk for severe RSV, health officials said.
Residents are advised to ask their doctors about vaccines that are right for them and family members. People who suffered a severe allergic reaction to a flu shot, which is rare, should not receive flu vaccine again but can talk with their physician about possible options, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"It is important to discuss allergies that you have with your health care provider," the CDC says.
The high-dose seasonal flu vaccine for people 65 and older and standard flu shots will be provided free Oct. 11 at the Senior Summit, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Modesto Centre Plaza, at 10th and K streets, the county health agency said.
