Winter spikes of the flu, COVID-19, and RSV; expert offers tips and advice for staying healthy

Federal officials are describing a ‘tripledemic’ of respiratory infections on the rise. Flu, COVID-19, and RSV are spiking, as expected, as we are in the mid-winter months.

Lisa M. Lee, a professor of public health at Virginia Tech, answered questions about factors for concern and the importance of vaccination. Lee is an epidemiologist and bioethicist who has worked in public health and ethics for 25 years, including 14 years with CDC.

Q: Is it too late to get a vaccine?

No, it’s not too late. Respiratory illness season lasts until springtime, so an annual flu and COVID-19 vaccine can help reduce serious symptoms to quite mild. Taking the vaccine now can help avoid a late-season illness. And, you can get both the flu and covid-19 vaccines at the same time.

Q: The last time I had COVID-19, I hardly noticed—do I still need a vaccine?

Yes, even if you do not get very ill from having a respiratory infection, a vaccine can help you avoid getting it at all and help you avoid spreading it to someone who could get seriously ill. Vaccines work at both the individual and group levels by reducing the number of circulating cases. Less viruses floating around means fewer other people will get sick, which is important to the most vulnerable in our communities—newborns, older adults, and people with other medical conditions.

Q: Who should get the RSV vaccine?

There are two types of RSV immunizations—one for each high-risk group. One type is recommended for adults over 60 years of age because of the high risk of severe illness among older adults, and pregnant people at 32-36 weeks gestation because protection will be passed on to the newborn who is also at high risk of severe disease.

The other immunization is for the youngest children—less than 8 months of age who are born during RSV season and were not exposed to a parental vaccine during pregnancy. This antibody immunization is also recommended for children younger than 18 months of age who are heading into their second RSV season.

The bottom line, older adults and young children are at the highest risk for severe RSV and even death, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which vaccine is right for you or your child.

About Lisa M. Lee

Lee serves as associate vice president for research and innovation, and director of the division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance, at Virginia Tech. She is also a research professor for the Department of Population Health Sciences in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. During the Obama administration, she served as director of the presidential bioethics commission and, most recently, served as the inaugural Chief of Bioethics at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

Schedule an interview

To secure an interview, contact Margaret Ashburn in the media relations office at mkashburn@vt.edu or 540-529-0814.