Flu Vaccination Toolkit
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RSV Immunization for Older Adults
Background Information on RSV Immunization for Older Adults
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory, contagious virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. RSV can cause severe infections; it is contagious and a health concern and can lead to hospitalization.
RSV disease can be harmful to premature infants, babies, toddlers, and older adults 60 years and older.
On September 22, 2023, the CDC recommended the first RSV vaccine for pregnant people to protect their newborns from severe RSV illness. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for U.S. infants.
The new vaccine is manufactured by Pfizer. It is a bivalent RSVpreF vaccine (trade name Abrysvo TM). It has been shown to reduce the risk of RSV hospitalization for babies by 57% in the first six months after birth. To maximize protection for babies after birth, the CDC recommends seasonal administration (September through March) of one dose of RSV vaccine for pregnant people during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy.
Each year in the United States, RSV leads to approximately:
60,000-160,000 hospitalizations among adults 65 years and older.
6,000-10,000 deaths among adults 65 years and older.
In the United States, two RSV vaccines are licensed for use in people 60 years and older: RSVPreF3 (Arexvy, GSK) and RSVpreF (Abrysvo, Pfizer).
CDC recommends that adults 60 years of age and older receive one dose of the RSV vaccine using shared clinical decision-making (SCDM). This means that healthcare providers and their patients should discuss whether RSV vaccination will be beneficial for the patient.
People 60 years and older at the highest risk for severe RSV disease and who might most likely benefit from RSV vaccination include those with chronic medical conditions.
Social Media Messages Encouraging RSV Vaccination in Older Adults
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All it takes is one sneeze to spread the flu. You can easily pass the flu to others even before you know you have it. Getting vaccinated is not just for you, it’s for your household and community. Choose to protect those around you by getting your flu vaccine. Learn where you can get your vaccine at vaccines.gov. www.vaccines.gov/findvaccines
Vaccines can’t keep you from getting the flu, but they can lower your risk for getting seriously sick. It can take up to two weeks for protection to kick in, so get your flu vaccine sooner than later! Learn where you can get vaccinated at vaccines.gov. www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines
Suggested Post Ideas
It only takes one sneeze to spread the #flu. Choose to protect your household and community by getting vaccinated. Learn where: www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines
Vaccines may not stop the #flu, but they can keep you from getting super sick. Get vaccinated ASAP to allow time for protection to kick in. www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines
Flu Vaccination Posters for Adults & Children
Poster Sizes are 8.5 × 11 in or 16 x 20 in.
Click Here To Order Posters
Talking Points: Flu Vaccination for Adults
Anyone can get seriously sick from the flu. Some people, because of their age or certain health issues they might have, are more likely to get seriously sick. That can mean they end up getting pneumonia, being hospitalized, or dying from the flu. People who live in crowded places can also be more likely to get the flu, like people in elderly care homes, nursing homes, and homes with people who are all different ages.
People from certain racial and ethnic groups are at a higher risk of serious flu complications for many different reasons, including historic inequalities. Black, Latino, and American Indian and Alaska Native people have had severe flu outcomes for many years, including being hospitalized and going to the ICU more. All people 6 months old to older adults should get a flu vaccine–every year. For people who are from these racial and ethnic backgrounds, getting a flu vaccine each year is even more important.
Older adults, especially people 65 years and older, are more likely to deal with complications from the flu. Older adults may develop pneumonia, may suffer a heart attack, be hospitalized, or even die from the flu, especially if they have underlying health conditions.
People who are 65 years and older should get what we call a high-dose or adjuvanted(“boosted)” flu vaccine. The high-dose vaccine has a higher dose of the main ingredient that protects us from the flu. The adjuvanted (“boosted”) version has an added ingredient that makes the vaccine perform better. As we get older, our immune systems need more support to protect us from illnesses like the flu. These stronger flu vaccines do just that. If you or someone you know is 65 years and older, ask a healthcare provider about getting a high dose or adjuvanted (boosted) flu vaccine.
Flu season is usually from late summer/early fall through the Spring. It can take up to two weeks for protection from the flu vaccine to kick in, so get your flu vaccine early enough to be protected through the season. Everyone 6 months and older who can get the flu vaccine should, including pregnant people, children, teens, young adults, middleaged and older adults.
If you’re someone who is more likely to have serious problems from the flu, know that antiviral prescription medicines are available if you get sick. Taking these medicines within the first few days of being sick can shorten the amount of time you’re sick and lower your risk of being hospitalized or dying. If you get the flu, don’t wait–reach out to your doctor about getting a prescription.
Flu Vaccination for Children
Background Information on Flu Vaccination for Children
During the 2022-2023 flu season, 66 percent of children 0 to 17 years old hospitalized with the flu had at least one underlying health condition, such as asthma, neurologic disease, obesity, or immune suppression.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children 6 months of age and older (who do not have a contradiction) get a flu vaccine every year. Some children 6 months through 8 years of age, may require more than 1 dose of flu vaccine in a season.
Flu vaccines can be administered on the same clinic day as other live and inactivated vaccines. Providing children with all the vaccines they are recommended to receive per the CDC’s Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule during a single visit has important benefits of protecting children and adolescents against many infectious diseases, and it also cuts down on the number of visits that patients and their caregivers must make to the provider’s office.
The AAP recommends antiviral prescription medications to children with suspected (e.g., influenza-like illness [fever with either cough or sore throat]) or confirmed influenza who are hospitalized, have severe or progressive disease, or have underlying conditions that increase their risk of complications of influenza, regardless of the duration of illness. Antiviral treatment should be started as soon as possible during a flu illness.
Antiviral treatment may also be considered in outpatient settings for children who are not at high risk for influenza complications but have flu-like symptoms or have confirmed influenza disease. Again, initiating treatment within the first 48 hours of illness onset is best.
Social Media Messages Encouraging Flu Vaccination in Children
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Suggested Post Ideas
Children under 5 are at risk for serious health problems when they get the flu, especially children under 2. Getting a flu vaccine won’t stop your child from getting the flu, but it will lower their risk for those serious problems. Choose the best option to protect your child: get their flu vaccine this winter season.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children 6 months and older who can get the flu vaccine get it. Paediatricians say it is safe for children to receive their flu and COVID-19 vaccines in one appointment. Reach out to your doctor or speak to a pharmacist to get answers to your questions.
Suggested Post Ideas
It only takes one sneeze to spread the #flu. Choose to protect your household and community by getting vaccinated. Learn where: www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines
Vaccines may not stop the #flu, but they can keep you from getting super sick. Get vaccinated ASAP to allow time for protection to kick in. www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines
Flu Vaccination Posters
for Adults & Children
Poster Sizes are 8.5 × 11 in or 16 x 20 in.
Click Here To Order Posters
Talking Points: Flu Vaccination for Children
Having the flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children. Children under five years old are at risk for serious issues from the flu, especially children under two. Children with certain health conditions like heart disease, liver or kidney disease, and immunocompromised conditions can become seriously sick, have to be hospitalized, or even die from the flu.
Getting a flu vaccine won’t stop your child/children from getting sick, but it will lower their risk of getting seriously sick and having to go to the hospital.
Children, especially a child who goes to school in person, is likely to bring the flu home. Getting a flu vaccine not only lowers the risk of your child getting sick, but also family members and others in your home.
It’s safe and recommended that children six months and older who can get the flu vaccine get it. Some children also need two doses of the flu vaccine.