March 2026
As temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, many people experience sniffles, coughs, and runny noses. While some cold-weather bugs are mild, others — like COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — can lead to hospitalization or even death.
The good news? Vaccines are available to help prevent serious illness. While no vaccine guarantees you won’t catch the virus, they significantly reduce your risk of getting sick and lower the chances of severe complications, hospitalization, or death if you do become infected.
Here’s what you need to know about the COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines.
Flu vaccines: Protect yourself against influenza
The flu vaccine is recommended annually for everyone aged six months and older. While flu symptoms may resemble those of a common cold, the flu is far more dangerous and varies in severity from year to year.
For example, the CDC estimates that roughly 51,000 died from the flu during the 2017-2018 flu season, compared to approximately 21,000 during the 2022-2023 flu season.
Who is at higher risk for flu complications?
Those at highest risk for severe flu and its complications include:
- Adults ages 65 and older, children under the age of two, and pregnant women.
- People with chronic health issues, especially asthma, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, liver disease, and neurologic conditions.
- People who are immunocompromised (e.g., from HIV/AIDS, diseases like cancer, and medications such as corticosteroids that suppress the immune system).
- People with a BMI of 40 or higher.
- People with disabilities.
Special considerations
- Children: Kids ages 6 months through 8 years who have not yet received two doses of the flu vaccine in a season should get two doses. After that, kids only need one shot per year. And anyone nine and older only needs one shot — even if it’s the first year they’re receiving the flu shot.
- Adults ages 65 and older: Older adults should get one of the three vaccines designed specifically to give more protection to older adults because the immune system gets weaker with age:
- The high-dose quadrivalent vaccine contains four times more antigen than standard flu vaccines.
- The recombinant quadrivalent vaccine is egg-free and more effective in older adults than standard flu vaccines.
- The adjuvanted quadrivalent vaccine contains an adjuvant, an extra ingredient made of naturally occurring oil, that strengthens a person’s immune response to the vaccine.
Nasal spray flu vaccine
People who want a needle-free option can get the live nasal spray flu vaccine, approved for ages 2 to 49.
Even if you’re within the approved age range, you still cannot get the nasal spray flu vaccine if you:
- Are pregnant.
- Have a history of severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of the vaccine (except for egg protein) or to a previous dose of any flu vaccine.
- Are four years old or younger and have asthma.
- Have a weakened immune system — or care for a severely immunocompromised person who needs a protected environment
- Do not have a functioning spleen.
- Have a cochlear implant.
- Have recently taken flu antiviral drugs within a certain amount of time.
COVID-19 vaccines: Annual protection
Like the flu vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine is updated annually to target the most prevalent variants for the upcoming season.
Who should get the annual COVID-19 vaccine?
For the 2025-2026 season, the CDC recommends the annual COVID-19 vaccine for those 65+ based on individual decision-making.
The CDC also recommends the vaccine for individuals ages 6 months through 64 years, based on individual decision-making, with an emphasis on those with an underlying condition that puts them at higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19 infection. These risk factors include (but are not limited to):
- Asthma
- Diabetes (both type 1 and type 2)
- Heart disease (including heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- Obesity (BMI of 30+; for children, those in the 95th percentile or greater for BMI)
- Pregnancy
- Smoking (currently or in the past)
- Weakened immune system
Premature babies (born before 37 weeks) are also at higher risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization between the ages of six and 23 months.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) continues to recommend that all individuals 18 and older receive an updated COVID shot each year. The AAFP, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recommends COVID vaccinations for all infants and toddlers ages six months through 23 months due to their higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19 infection.
Most people only need one shot, but you may need more depending on your age, prior vaccinations, and whether you are immunocompromised. To learn more about available vaccines and the appropriate protocol for your specific situation, visit this COVID-19 vaccine FAQ.
RSV vaccines: Protecting older adults and infants
RSV typically feels like an ordinary cold, with a runny nose, reduced appetite, coughing, sneezing, and maybe a fever. But RSV can be especially dangerous, and even deadly, in babies, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
The CDC estimates that roughly 60,000 to 160,000 adults aged 65+ are hospitalized from RSV in the U.S. each year, and approximately 6,000 to 10,000 adults aged 65+ die from the disease annually. For children under the age of six months, the CDC estimates that two to three out of every 100 are hospitalized with RSV each year.
RSV vaccines for older adults
The CDC recommends the RSV vaccine for all adults who are 75+. They also recommend it for adults aged 50 through 74 who are at high risk for severe complications from RSV infection.
Risk factors include:
- Chronic heart, lung, or liver disease
- Moderate to severely weakened immune system
- Severe obesity (BMI 40+)
- Living in a nursing home
- Diabetes that requires insulin and/or presents with complications (such as diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, kidney disease, etc.)
RSV vaccines for pregnant women: A way to protect babies
While no RSV vaccines are approved for infants, the CDC recommends that pregnant women receive the RSV vaccine between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect their babies. Maternal antibodies made by the mother in response to the vaccine cross the placenta to the developing baby. This vaccine is about 82% effective in preventing lung infections for a baby’s first three months and about 69% effective for their first six months.
To learn more about the RSV vaccine, including how to protect higher-risk young children who aren’t eligible for the vaccine or whose mothers didn’t get the RSV vaccine, check out this page.
Can you get the COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines at the same time?
Yes, according to the CDC, if you are eligible for all three vaccines, it’s safe to get them at the same time. Since the RSV vaccine is mainly for older adults (65+) and only needed once, most people will likely face the option of getting the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same.
If you receive the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time, you might be slightly more likely to have side effects. One study found that people who received both shots together were somewhat more likely to experience fatigue, headaches, and muscle aches than those who received the COVID-19 vaccine alone. But getting your flu and COVID-19 vaccines together can also save time.
If you decide to get them separately, you don’t need to wait between them.
Why vaccines matter this winter
Vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV are essential tools for protecting yourself and your loved ones during the colder months. They reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and complications, helping you stay healthy and active throughout the season.
Visit your local Good Neighbor Pharmacy to learn more about vaccine options and availability.
