RSV Campaign Toolkit
You Have the Power to Protect Your Family
Get your RSV Immunization Shot
RSV Immunization for Older Adults
Background Information on Flu Vaccination
Studies show that there is an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke after contracting the flu illness. A 2018 study found that the risk of having a heart attack was six times higher within a week of a confirmed flu infection. This increased risk was seen particularly among older adults and people who were experiencing their first heart attack.
Another 2020 study noted that in over eight flu seasons from 2010-11 through 2017-18, one out of every eight patients (approximately 12% of patients) who had the flu were noted to have sudden, serious heart complications. People with certain medical conditions are at higher risk of flu complications and getting seriously ill from the flu.
In previous years, nine out of 10 adults hospitalized with the flu were noted to have at least one underlying medical condition. People with underlying conditions are more likely to get severely ill with the flu and end up being hospitalized due to the flu.
Diabetes, asthma, chronic lung disease and chronic heart disease are among the most common long-term medical conditions that complicate a flu infection. Having the flu can make these chronic conditions flare up or worsen.
Social Media Messages Encouraging Flu Vaccination in Older Adults
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Like COVID-19 and flu, RSV can cause older adults with underlying health conditions to be hospitalized. Adults 60 years and older can now protect themselves from RSV by getting vaccinated. Contact your healthcare provider to see if the RSV vaccine is an option for you.
RSV doesn’t just affect babies; it can make older adults seriously sick. The CDC recommends that adults 60 and older may get vaccinated against RSV. Get ahead of RSV this winter. Contact your healthcare provider to see if the RSV vaccine is an option for you.
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Like COVID, #RSV can send older adults with underlying health conditions to the hospital. Older adults should talk to their doctor to see if the RSV vaccine is an option for them.
#RSV doesn’t just affect babies, it can make older adults seriously sick. Get ahead of RSV this winter, talk to your doctor to see if the RSV vaccine is an option for you.
Flu Vaccination Posters for Adults
Poster Sizes are 8.5 × 11 in or 16 x 20 in.
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Talking Points: RSV Vaccination for Older Adults
Like COVID, older adults, adults with chronic heart or lung disease, adults with weakened immune systems, adults with certain other underlying medical conditions, and adults living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities are more likely to have serious issues with RSV.
RSV in older adults can lead to serious illnesses like pneumonia, and RSV can cause underlying medical conditions like asthma, heart disease, and lung or kidney disease to worsen.
Community members 60 years and older should ask their healthcare provider if RSV vaccine is right for them. The CDC recommends that adults 60 years of age and older may receive one dose of the RSV vaccine after a discussion with their provider.
We now have other ways to protect our older adults from RSV. Particularly those with a higher chance of getting really sick from RSV (for example, people with chronic medical conditions like heart, lung, or kidney disease those who live in long-term care senior living and facilities).
Adults 60 years and older can now choose to get a vaccine that protects them from RSV. Encourage these adults to talk to a healthcare provider to see if the RSV vaccine is an option for them.
RSV Immunization in Infants
Background Information on Flu Vaccination for Infants
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 Infants
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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.
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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
RSV Immunization Posters for Infants
Poster Sizes are 8.5 × 11 in or 16 x 20 in.
Click Here To Order Posters
Talking Points: RSV Immunization Options for Infants
RSV can be dangerous for infants and young children. RSV is the top health condition infants are hospitalized with. Each year in the United States, several thousands of children 5 years and younger are hospitalized because of RSV.
Some children are more likely to get seriously sick from RSV, including:
Premature babies
Babies under 12 months of age, especially those 6 months and younger 29 10.30.23
Children younger than 2 years with chronic lung disease or congenital (present from birth) heart disease
Children with weakened immune systems
Children with neuromuscular disorders, including those who have a hard time swallowing or clearing out mucus.
Talk to your provider about how best to protect your child from complications from RSV.
If you’re pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about receiving the RSV vaccine. Getting vaccinated around the start of your third trimester (32-36 weeks) can protect you and your unborn baby.
Most people get better pretty quickly from RSV. But some people don’t, mainly babies and older adults. RSV is the number one reason babies end up in the hospital yearly. It can cause them to wheeze really badly or end up needing oxygen. Two new tools can protect babies from getting severe illness from RSV: getting vaccinated during pregnancy and an RSV immunization that provides antibodies to your baby after birth. If you receive RSV vaccine while pregnant, your baby will have protection and, in most cases, should not need an RSV immunization later.