Vaccines against COVID-19, flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) will soon be available to help Utahns avoid winter respiratory infections.

“We want to encourage everyone to get vaccinated and protect themselves against flu and COVID-19. No one wants to be sick at home, and these vaccines help everyone avoid those sick days. It is vitally important that people who are at risk of getting severely ill from respiratory illnesses get vaccinated. These include really young children, pregnant women, adults aged 65 and older, and people who are immunocompromised. Many of these high risk people can get the RSV vaccine or antibodies in addition to the flu and COVID vaccine,” said Leisha Nolen, state epidemiologist for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. 

Utahns are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider or pharmacist to see which vaccines are right for them. Current recommendations for COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccination are:

COVID-19

• People ages 6 months and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, at least 2 months after any dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
• The COVID-19 vaccine has been updated to offer better protection against common circulating strains in the U.S. right now. This is similar to flu vaccines in that vaccines are updated each year to protect against the expected circulating strains of the virus. This vaccine will be available in the coming weeks.
• Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.

Flu

• Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year. 
• Utahns should get vaccinated before the end of October to give them the best chance at protecting themselves from getting sick before flu activity peaks (usually between December and February). 
• The flu vaccine protects you against 4 different strains of influenza. It’s updated each year to protect against the virus strains most likely to circulate in the U.S. that fall and winter.
• Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.

RSV

• There are 2 RSV vaccines available for adults aged 60 and older. An RSV vaccine for pregnant women is expected sometime in October. 
• There are also 2 approved monoclonal antibodies expected to be available in October that can help protect infants from respiratory disease caused by RSV. Monoclonal antibodies target a specific virus or bacteria. They provide antibodies directly to the person rather than causing the body to make antibodies as occurs in vaccination. These antibodies help the immune system fight the disease. 
  • Children younger than 8 months of age should get a monoclonal antibody called nirsevimab during RSV season. For some children between the ages of 8 and 19 months who are at a higher risk of severe RSV disease, nirsevimab may also be recommended during their 2nd RSV season. 
  • Children younger than 24 months of age with certain medical conditions should get a monoclonal antibody called palivizumab. It’s given once a month during RSV season. 
• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to see if an RSV vaccine is right for you. 
• Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/prevention.html. 

Vaccines will be available in the coming weeks at healthcare provider offices, pharmacies, and local health departments. Community vaccine clinics may also be held at worksites, schools, health clinics, and other locations. Check with your health insurance or the vaccine provider about any costs before receiving the vaccines.

The federal COVID-19 Public Health Service Act officially expires May 11. With the end of the emergency order, we’ll archive this newsletter, and our social media profiles (@UtahCoronavirus).

Thank you for doing your part to stay safe and healthy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic! We’d also like to thank the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (Utah DHHS) and our colleagues in healthcare for their tireless efforts to keep Utahns informed.

Keep up with health news by subscribing to the Utah DHHS newsletter. Follow @UtahDHHS on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Utah DHHS shares information to help you and your family live safe and healthy lives.

Travel vaccines: Your ticket to safe and fun travel

Are you planning a trip outside of the United States? It’s a good idea to find out the recommended immunizations for the place you’re visiting. 

To find out which vaccines are needed for your destination, go to:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers’ Health

You’ll find a wealth of travel information at this site: food and water recommendations, disease outbreak areas, recommended precautions, and much more. It’s a great place to start when planning a trip.

Follow @UtahDHHS or subscribe to their emails for updates about vaccines for travelers.

Taking long COVID one day at a time

One of the downsides of getting COVID is the risk of long-term health effects. Long COVID has a wide range of symptoms and can last for weeks, months, and even years. It can happen to anyone infected with COVID. It’s more common among people who were not vaccinated, are in high-risk groups, or experienced severe illness from COVID.
 
Common symptoms of long COVID (not a complete list):

• Body aches
• Changes in menstrual cycles
• Cough
• Depression or anxiety
• Diarrhea 
• Dizziness when standing
• Fatigue
• Fast or pounding heart (heart palpitations)
• Fever
• Hair loss
• Headache
• Loss or change in taste or smell
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sleep problems
• Stomach pain
• Rash
• Symptoms that worsen after physical or mental activities (post-exertional malaise)

If you have long COVID symptoms, it’s a good idea to visit a doctor. They can diagnose long COVID or rule out other causes of your symptoms, and they can help develop a treatment plan for you. Under certain circumstances, long COVID may be classified as a disability.

Some clinics in Utah are studying the effects of long COVID. Your doctor may refer you to one of these speciality clinics. Clinic visits and treatment may not be covered by your health insurance. You should ask your insurance company about potential costs before you go.

Support groups are a great resource for people with long COVID. People with chronic conditions like long COVID can experience distress, anxiety, and depression. There are local groups providing peer support with people who share similar experiences. Some meet in person, and some exist on social media.

For more information about long COVID clinics or support groups, visit:
https://coronavirus.utah.gov/covid19-long-haulers/

In the future, you can find news about COVID by following @UtahDHHS or subscribing to their email list.
 
Thanks again for all you’ve done these past few years to keep yourself and others healthy!  
 
Sincerely,
The Utah Department of Health & Human Services
and the Utah COVID-19 Response Team

1. Your immune system weakens as you age

Did you know that your immune system weakens as you age? That’s one of the reasons diseases like shingles and the flu are more common among older adults. Since it becomes harder to fight off infections, older adults are also more likely to experience long-term illness, require hospitalization, or encounter other complications from getting sick.

No doubt, there are many other things you’d rather do than be stuck at home, sick. Spending time with loved ones can be much more fun when you and they are healthy.

2. Immunizations prevent serious and life-threatening illness

Staying up-to-date (and making sure your older loved ones are up-to-date) on immunizations can prevent serious and life-threatening illness. Even if you get sick with the disease you’ve been vaccinated against, your illness will likely be less severe. For example, studies show that people who’ve had the flu vaccine but get sick with the flu have a lower risk of hospitalization.

3. Diseases can be harder on older adults with chronic health conditions

Many older adults have chronic health conditions. That makes immunizations especially important. A chronic condition can make it harder to fight off infection, and can make complications from illness even more severe. For example, flu increases the risk of heart attack if you have heart disease, can raise blood sugar if you have diabetes, and can lead to pneumonia or other respiratory problems if you have chronic lung disease (Source: Alliance for Aging Research).

Vaccines that most older adults need:

• Shingles or recombinant zoster (called Shingrix)
• Flu
• COVID
• Pneumococcal (pneumonia)

4. Immunizations keep your loved ones safe

Staying up-to-date on your immunizations can also keep other people safe. For example, half of the infants who get whooping cough are hospitalized. You protect your grandchildren and other small children when you stay current on the pertussis vaccine (administered in the Tdap vaccine).

5. Immunizations are available at low or no out-of-pocket cost

As of January 1st, Medicare Part D now covers all routine vaccines with no out-of-pocket cost, including the pneumococcal and shingles vaccines. Medicare also covers many health screenings and preventive services. Flu and pneumococcal vaccines are also covered by Medicare Part B. Most private insurance plans provide for routine immunizations at no or low cost.

6. Immunizations protect you when you travel

Nobody wants to get sick on their dream vacation! Some diseases that no longer occur here are still present in other countries. Preparing for your trip should include getting up-to-date on your vaccines, and checking on whether additional vaccines are needed or advised based on your destination and your individual needs. Learn more about travel vaccines here and here.

Medicare also covers many health screenings and preventive services so you can stay healthy and keep from getting sick.Health screenings can find health problems early before something becomes serious and when treatment works best.

Talk to your doctor or go to https://dhhs.utah.gov/up2date/ to make sure you’re up-to-date on the recommended health screenings and immunizations for your age.

Stay up-to-date on immunizations

Available flu vaccines have been updated this season to help protect against 4 different flu viruses expected to circulate in Utah and the rest of the U.S. Flu vaccines are widely available and many times are provided at no cost to you. To find a flu provider near you, search your ZIP code at https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/. To see what’s happening with flu in Utah, visit https://epi.health.utah.gov/influenza-reports/. Numbers are updated weekly, generally on Wednesday.

The new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine contains 2 components to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant. To find a COVID-19 vaccine in Utah, visit https://coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine-distribution/.

While flu numbers are still low in Utah, an increase is being seen in many other parts of the country and is expected to arrive in Utah in coming weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already reported two pediatric flu deaths in the 2022-23 season. And if an anticipated COVID-19 surge folllows, resulting in a so-called tripledemic, hospitals could be overwhelmed this winter. Vaccination against both flu and COVID-19 can help Utah avert this crisis.

Janelle Delgadillo, an epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) says, “Flu severity in Utah is low right now, but we have seen a growing trend in residents who seek treatment for flu and flu-like illness. There is not vaccine for RSV, but there are vaccines for flu and COVID-19. Getting a flu vaccine and being up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to reduce your risk of illness.”

While some people who get a flu or COVID-19 vaccine may still get sick, vaccination can make their illness less severe. Being up-to-date on your immunizations not only protects you but may also help protect those around you who are at higher risk for becoming seriously ill with respiratory illness such as babies, young children, older adults, people who are pregnant, and those who have chronic health conditions.

Stay up-to-date on immunizations

Available flu vaccines have been updated this season to help protect against 4 different flu viruses expected to circulate in Utah and the rest of the U.S. Flu vaccines are widely available and many times are provided at no cost to you. To find a flu provider near you, search your ZIP code at https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/, To see what’s happening with flu in Utah, visit https://epi.health.utah.gov/influenza-reports/. Numbers are updated weekly, generally on Wednesday.

The new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine contains 2 components to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant. To find a COVID-19 vaccine in Utah, visit https://coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine-distribution/.

Protect young children from RSV

While there is no vaccine available for RSV at this time, parents and those who care for young children should take extra precautions, such as:

• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes and use masks if appropriate.
• Wash their hands (and yours) often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces.
• Avoid touching their face (and yours) with unwashed hands.
• Limit the time they spend in childcare centers or other potentially contagious settings when RSV activity is high.
• Stay home when you’re sick.

Call your healthcare provider if your child has trouble breathing, isn’t drinking enough fluids, or symptoms are getting worse.

Stay healthy this season

Fall and winter are full of fun with holidays, sports, outdoor activities, and family gatherings. Whatever is on your bucket list for this season, don’t miss out by getting sick! The public health pros at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services offer 6 tips for staying healthy:

Get your flu shot

Flu vaccination prevents illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. It can also reduce the severity of illness if you do get sick. 

You can find flu vaccines at most doctor’s offices and clinics, pharmacies, or even your local health department. Find a flu vaccine near you here:

Vaccines.Gov

Get your updated COVID-19 booster shot

The COVID-19 vaccines reduce your risk of illness, especially severe illness, and can reduce the risk of long-term complications. The updated booster doses work against the original virus and Omicron variants. Adults and children older than 5 are eligible for the updated booster. Learn more here: 

COVID Vaccine Providers

Stay home if you’re sick

One of the most important reasons to stay home when you’re sick is to prevent others from getting sick. What feels like a mild illness to you might have more serious outcomes for others. Staying home also gives you a chance to rest and recover so you can jump back into your routine with renewed energy.

• If it’s a cold or the flu, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever goes away. But remember, symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to a cold or flu. To be safe, we recommend you get tested for COVID-19 if you do have any cold or flu-like symptoms. You can find COVID-19 testing locations here.
• If it’s COVID, brush up on isolation guidelines here.

Wash your hands

Washing hands can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of disease and infections. Go here for tips on key times to wash your hands.

Stay up-to-date on your health screenings and wellness checks

Your body doesn’t always give alerts to health problems. It’s important to get a wellness checkup every year because many health conditions don’t cause symptoms until they’re serious.

Most serious health conditions and diseases can be prevented or are easier to treat if you catch them early. Your doctor or healthcare provider can also tell you what immunizations you or your child needs to get caught up on at a wellness checkup.

And remember, wellness checks are for kids AND adults!

Check here for health screening and immunization recommendations, based on your age:

Up2Date.Utah.Gov

Keep a healthy lifestyle

When we take care of our bodies in general – eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, exercising and being physically active – our bodies are better able to fight off germs. This time of year can be stressful, so be sure to take care of your mental health as well. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider for ideas on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

For the last 2+ years, the COVID-19 hotline has been answered by a dedicated team at the Utah Poison Control Center. On Thursday, October 6, the hotline will switch over to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The new hotline number will be 385-273-7878. 
 
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) staff will answer calls Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can call this number if you need to talk with a contact tracer, get test results from a DHHS COVID-19 testing location, or with general questions on COVID-19 including where to find testing or vaccinations. 
 
The website https://coronavirus.utah.gov, its webchat feature, and the @UtahCoronavirus social media channels are still up and running with the latest information on COVID-19, safety measures, and available treatments and vaccines. 
 
We can’t thank the team at the Utah Poison Control Center enough for their dedication to helping Utahns find accurate, timely information on COVID-19. Since March 2020, they’ve answered more than 368,000 phone calls!

THANK YOU

“The COVID-19 Information Line team has been a lifesaver, both literally and figuratively. The team has allowed the Utah Department of Health to connect with the Utah community in ways that would be completely impossible without them. They have served as our voice and our hands, reaching out to thousands of Utahns with information and help. There is no doubt they have saved lives by providing people with information and getting them connected to resources across the state. The COVID-19 Information Line team should be extremely proud of the work they have done over these last two years.”
—Dr. Leisha Nolen, MD, PhD, State Epidemiologist
Utah Department of Health and Human Services

Check to see if you’re up-to-date on all immunizations, whether for yourself or your children, as well as health screenings and well-child checks:

The updated boosters could begin shipping to states as early as Friday; however, most providers will start to see vaccines arrive next week. “Utahns should be able to access vaccinations soon after Labor Day. We should have more than 100,000 doses in Utah within the next week,” said Rich Lakin with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) immunization program. Providers such as local health departments, pharmacies, and doctor’s offices will begin offering these boosters over the next several days to weeks. “Please be patient as providers begin to receive the updated booster doses and update their systems to reflect current inventory.”

Utahns who are eligible to receive a bivalent booster dose right now include:

• Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for the updated Moderna booster if it has been at least 2 months since they completed their primary vaccination series or received a booster dose.
• Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for the updated Pfizer-BioNTech booster if it has been at least 2 months since they completed their primary vaccination series or received a booster dose.
• Anyone who has an appointment to get a monovalent booster should reschedule for when bivalent doses are in stock and can be administered.

Individuals may choose to receive either the Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster, regardless of which primary series vaccine or original booster dose they had previously. The current monovalent booster will no longer be available to people 12 and older; the FDA is removing authorization for those boosters to reduce provider confusion for staff administering vaccines. However, children ages 5-11 may still get the monovalent boosters at this time, and until a bivalent vaccine is authorized and recommended for this age group.

“We encourage all Utahns to stay up-to-date on their immunizations. As fall approaches, it’s important that you have as much protection from vaccine-preventable illnesses like flu and COVID-19 as possible,” said Dr. Leisha Nolen, state epidemiologist at DHHS. “Data from the southern hemisphere suggests the flu season may hit us hard this winter at the same time we expect transmission of COVID-19 to increase. The updated COVID-19 vaccine can help protect us all.”

A list of vaccine providers is available on the state’s coronavirus webpage or vaccines.gov.

>> Get your booster

Utah children missed nearly 340,000 routine immunizations in 2020 and 2021. Missing immunizations leave children and families vulnerable to infections and outbreaks of preventable diseases. 
 
Many kids also missed their well-child visits during the pandemic. If your child hasn’t had a well check in the last year or two, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor. 
 
Wellness checkups are more than just checkups for babies or a schedule of when to get shots. Kids grow and develop quickly, and need to learn to do many new things during childhood and adolescence. You know your child best—and doctors know that. Wellness checkups are how you and a healthcare provider you trust can work together as a team to keep your child or teen safe, healthy, and developing the skills needed at different times in life. 
 
See what checkups and immunizations your child needs based on their age:

Adults need to stay up-to-date on immunizations, too.

Falling behind on immunizations puts you at risk for serious diseases that are still common in the United States. Getting sick can cause you to miss work or prevent you from being able to care for your family or other responsibilities. Immunizations lower your chances of getting sick, spreading certain diseases, and are one of the safest ways to protect your health.

Check in with your doctor.

Most chronic diseases and health conditions can be prevented, or are much easier to treat if found early. Your body doesn’t always give you warning signs, but your healthcare provider has the tools to help identify health problems and conditions.  
 
Most preventive health checkups and screenings are covered by insurance. Make an appointment to get a checkup and talk to your doctor about which health screenings and immunizations you need for your age.
 
See what health screenings and immunizations are recommended for you:

Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized both the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines for use with all ages (6 months and older) eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. Previously, only the Pfizer vaccine was available for children younger than 18. 

Vaccines for this youngest age group will begin to arrive in Utah the week of June 20th. The first batch of doses is expected early in the week and another batch of doses is expected later in the week. According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), providers have already ordered 32,300 doses of the vaccines. 

Providers such as local health departments, select pharmacies, and doctor’s offices will begin offering vaccinations to the youngest Utahns over the next several days to weeks. “We encourage parents to reach out to their child’s healthcare provider if they have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines and to find out when they can get their children vaccinated. Please be patient with vaccine providers over the next couple of weeks as they receive vaccines and prepare to administer them to our youngest children,” said Dr. Leisha Nolen, a pediatrician and the state epidemiologist at the DHHS.

A list of vaccine providers is available on the state’s coronavirus webpage. Vaccines will not be available for this youngest age group at all locations right away. Parents can visit vaccines.gov to verify which providers have younger pediatric vaccines available or call their child’s doctor’s office or local health department for information on scheduling a vaccination.  

Vaccine dosage is based on the brand of the vaccine and a person’s age the day they receive the vaccine, not weight. Depending on the type of vaccine given, children younger than 5 may need 2 or 3 doses.

• Pfizer vaccine: Children ages 6 months through 4 years of age will need 3 doses to complete their primary vaccine series. The 2nd dose should be given 21 days after the 1st dose and then a 3rd dose 2 months after the 2nd dose.
• Moderna vaccine: Children ages 6 months through 5 years of age will need 2 doses to complete their primary vaccine series. The 2nd dose should be given at least 28 days after the 1st dose. 

“We strongly encourage healthcare providers to familiarize themselves with the CDC recommendations and begin immunizing these children immediately,” said Nolen. “Doctors, and especially pediatricians, will play a critical role in vaccinating this population. We hope doctors will proactively reach out to their patients with the information they need to make the decision to vaccinate their children.” 

The DHHS is also launching a public awareness campaign with television commercials, digital videos, radio commercials, social media advertising, and outdoor advertising encouraging parents to talk to their child’s doctor about the vaccine. 

“The clinical trials showed these vaccines are safe for young children and can prevent them from getting sick or suffering from long-term impacts of COVID-19,” said Nolen. “Children have not been exempt from this pandemic. The Omicron wave this winter sent a number of our very youngest kids to the hospital; one-quarter of whom ended up in intensive care. Most tragically, COVID-19 has killed more children younger than 5 than flu would during 2 normal flu seasons. I think we can all agree, this is tragic. We need to help keep kids out of the hospital and now we can through vaccination. ”

For more information visit https://coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine/ or call the COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-456-7707.