September is upon us, and with it comes new vaccines for the fall season. Every year there’s something new and I want to highlight a few things to consider for us all.
Remember that vaccination is the mainstay of preventing illness, along with good handwashing and staying out of public if you’re sick. It won’t be long before the weather changes and we will be back in the usual Chicago “soup” of things not to catch.
Firstly, the flu vaccine is going to be out in a couple of weeks at the pharmacies and most of our group will need the higher dose version (65+) to get maximal protection. There are always three new strains of influenza covered, based on the predicted types of viruses out there. It’s an educated guess, but still good to have on board even if the strains are not exactly what show up locally.
Secondly, a new version of COVID vaccine is going to be released covering newer strains of the virus. It doesn’t matter if you switch between Pfizer and Moderna, but make sure it’s the newest version to expand your protection.
Lastly, RSV vaccine will soon be another way to prevent serious respiratory infection in adults over age 60. RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a germ that affects small children causing a flu-like illness with wheezing and cough. Unfortunately, it can also infect older and more vulnerable adults and cause serious breathing problems. The vaccine is not new, but the expanded indication to give the shot to older adults is new this year.
We hope to see our local members in person for our annual Breakthrough Karate Labor Day class and social outing. Visit the Events page for dates, times and location. There will be refreshments served after class.
Ossu!
Sensei Steve