Flu, updated COVID-19 and RSV vaccines are here. Here's who should get them, and when

Cooler temperatures, vibrant foliage and festivals usher in the fall season, but the change in seasons means stuffy noses, coughs, fevers and fatigue are on the way, too.

Flu season peaks in winter months, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend everyone age 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine.

The Knoxville County Health Department, based on CDC guidelines, recommends most people get their flu shots in September or October.

“Although it is difficult to predict, Knoxville usually sees flu cases beginning to rise during the holidays and it generally peaks in January to February,” Dena Mashburn, Knoxville County Health Department director of nursing, said in an email to Knox News.

Flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are all in the mix during the cooler months. The CDC expects hospitalizations caused by these viruses will be similar to last year.

While flu activity was still low and COVID-19 cases were on a slight uptick across the country as of mid-September, the total number of hospitalizations due to respiratory illness complications is expected to be higher than levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the CDC.

Mashburn noted flu shots take about two weeks to become effective, and then recipients have the strongest protection for about eight weeks afterward.

“To be covered during the holidays, mid to late October may give you the maximum protection. Taking it at this time may also help keep you covered in the event of a spring flu surge,” she explained.

The Knox County Health Department planned to begin providing flu vaccines as soon as the supply arrives, which should be around late September.

Flu shots already are available at CVS, Kroger, Publix and Walgreens pharmacies.

Who should get the flu shot and COVID vaccine?

Vaccines are available for the flu, COVID-19 and RSV. The convergence of these three major respiratory illnesses during the colder months has led to the term “tripledemic,” but the updated vaccines can reduce hospitalizations.

The CDC recommends people age 6 months and older get the flu shot and, if eligible, the updated COVID-19 boosters, which target Omicron variants and subvariants. People age 60 and older should get the RSV vaccine, the CDC recommends.

Dr. Robert Wilson of Covenant Health especially encourages high-risk patients and those who live and work with high-risk people to get all the available vaccinations. High-risk groups include children, people over 65, pregnant women and those who are immunosuppressed with ailments such as asthma, chronic lung disease and heart problems.

“(If you’re) young and healthy and you get the flu, you get COVID, you're probably gonna feel bad for five to seven days, miss a few days at work and you'll be fine. But that's not the case for those vulnerable populations,” Wilson said. “We don't want our loved ones to end up in the hospital for something that could have been easily prevented."

When is the best time to get a flu shot and updated COVID vaccine?

Wilson used to tell his patients they could wait as late as Halloween to get their flu shots. Not anymore.

“Nowadays I tell them to get it as soon as possible in case you do have an early flu season,” he told Knox News. “The immunity is going to last all the way through the spring of the next year.”

Experts say it's safe to get the flu shot and the updated COVID-19 vaccine at the same time, according to a USA TODAY report.

Wilson suggests getting all three vaccines at the same time, or at least within a week or two if it makes people more comfortable to space them out.

“My concern is that people may get the first shot (and then plan to get another) shot the next week, but they don't go back,” he said. “Anytime you have to do something more than once, there's always some attrition, and compliance falls off."

Following the data is helpful in determining which vaccines to prioritize. Flu activity and COVID-19 activity are both low in Tennessee, according to mid-September CDC data. But if one illness has a notable increase, Wilson suggests getting that vaccine as soon as possible.

Where can you get the flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccine?

In addition to your primary doctor’s office, CVS, Kroger, Publix and Walgreens pharmacies accept walk-in appointments for vacinations for the flu, the updated COVID-19 and RSV.

Flu shots and the updated COVID-19 vaccine are covered by most health insurance plans. The RSV shot could be free or cost up to $295 a shot depending on insurance coverage, USA TODAY reported.

Those without insurance can get free or low-cost vaccines at local health centers and pharmacies participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program, according to the CDC.

The vaccine finder on vaccines.gov can be used to find availability closest to you.

Is it the flu or COVID?

Say you get a sore throat, with fatigue and fever. The big question is: is it the flu or COVID-19? Unfortunately, there are a lot of overlapping symptoms among the big three respiratory illnesses.

A helpful difference is the onset of symptoms. Flu symptoms can begin one to four days after infection, while it could take COVID-19 symptoms five to 14 days to show, according to the CDC.

But there’s only one way to be sure.

“Really, the only way to tell is to test,” Wilson said. “I would encourage people to get tested as soon as possible. And the reason for that is because we have antiviral treatments that we can give you for COVID and for the flu.”

Every U.S. household can again order four more free COVID-19 rapid tests through covid.gov/tests beginning Sept. 25. The tests will be delivered directly to your home.

And before you throw out “expired" at-home COVID-19 tests, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended the expiration dates for some. You can check to see if expiration dates for your at-home tests have been extended at fda.gov.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. Twitter @dturner1208.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: When and where to get the flu shot and RSV, COVID vaccines