The doctors have spoken, and the science is sound. When it comes to influenza, COVID-19 and RSV recommendations, SSM Health stands in agreement alongside the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
“Our goal as physicians is to keep our patients healthy, and that means trusting the vaccines that scientists have spent years developing,” said Dr. Shephali Wulff, an infectious disease specialist and SSM Health’s Vice President of Quality and Safety.
The American Medical Association worked with the Vaccine Integrity Project to launch spreadthefacts.org, a website that compiled the recommendations of the medical groups, who teamed up to demonstrate that vaccines are safe and effective for all age groups.
More than 100 studies were examined to confirm the value of the vaccines. Here are the recommendations:
For adults:
- COVID-19: Vaccination is recommended for patients 19 and up. Seniors over age 65 should get a second dose after six months.
- Influenza: Flu shots recommended for everyone 6 months old and up. Adults over 65 should get an enhanced flu vaccine (high dose, adjuvanted, recombinant, mRNA)
- RSV: Adults 50-74 with high-risk conditions should get it once, as should everyone over 75.
For kids:
- COVID-19: All children 6–23 months old, as well as children 2–18 years old who are at risk for severe COVID-19 disease or if desired
- Influenza: Recommended for 6 months and up.
- RSV: Recommended for kids under 8 months old during their first RSV season unless the maternal RSV vaccine was given. Also, children 8–19 months old in certain risk groups.
In pregnancy:
- COVID-19: Yes. COVID has been around for more than five years and millions of vaccines have been given safely. There is no increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, small-for-gestational age birth or birth defects. If you get COVID-19 while pregnant, the risks of complications are high.
- Flu: Yes, recommended.
- RSV: Abrysvo is the vaccine for pregnancy. It should be given between Sep. 1 and Mar. 1.
For patients with immunocompromised conditions:
- COVID-19: Yes, for patients 6 months old and up. A second dose two to six months later should be discussed with your physician.
- Flu: Recommended for patients 6 months old and up.
- RSV: Yes, for adults 18 or older. For children under 18 with immunocompromised conditions, a vaccines should be discussed with your physician.
Call your primary care physician to schedule an appointment, or find a doctor.
