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.

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.

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

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.

We are seeing an increase of COVID-19 across the state right now as well as an increase in the number of people who are being hospitalized. Given trends in other areas of the country, we expect to see sustained increases over the coming weeks. 

This is a good reminder that if you aren’t up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations, including getting a booster dose, now is the time to do so. The vaccines provide protection from COVID-19 and can protect you from serious illness and the inconveniences of missed work and other activities.

Everyone 5 and older is now eligible to receive a booster dose of the COVID vaccine. 

Research from CDC shows that a booster shot dramatically reduces your risk for severe illness from COVID, especially if you’re at high-risk for serious disease. In fact, data shows that the booster dose is actually more effective at reducing risk in vulnerable people than in average, healthy people. 

And, a booster dose could save your life. CDC says “Protection against infection and death during the Delta-predominant period and against infection during the Omicron emergence were higher among booster vaccine dose recipients…” 

If you’re 50 or older or are at risk for severe illness from COVID, get a 2nd booster at the appropriate time. Talk to your doctor if you have questions or need help deciding when it’s best to get a 2nd booster dose.

(Source: CDC)

Though almost 70% Utahns have received at least one dose of a vaccine, too many people have not finished their vaccine series and only 28% of Utahns have received a booster, meaning they do not have the best protection from COVID-19.

If you feel sick

Stay home until you feel better. Get tested for COVID-19. You can use an at-home test or find testing locations at https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-covid-19-testing-locations/.  

If you were exposed to COVID-19

Visit our Protect Yourself page. Monitor for symptoms. Be cautious and wear a mask around others. Consider getting tested 5 days after you were exposed to COVID-19. If you’re not up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations, including having a booster dose if eligible for one, you should quarantine at home. 

Vaccine and booster dose recommendations

If you’ve waited to get your booster dose, now is the time. Studies show that getting the recommended vaccines, even if you’ve had a COVID-19 infection before, offers the greatest protection against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines are a safer and more consistent way to build immunity than getting infected. 

People ages 5 and older are recommended to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines are safe and effective, and provide the greatest protection against serious illness. 

• If you are 5 to 17 years old, you can only get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine right now. If you are 12 to 17 years old, you can only get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for your booster dose right now. 
• If you are immunocompromised, you should get 3 primary doses, and, depending on your age, 2 booster doses. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html.  
• If you are 50 or older, you can get a 2nd booster dose. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html. 

The CDC allows mixing-and-matching of COVID-19 vaccines to help provide greater flexibility and increased protection for people getting booster shots. Most people can get a different type of booster vaccine than the type of vaccine they originally received.

COVID-19 treatments

If you are at higher risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19, get tested for COVID-19 right away if you have symptoms. Older people and people of all ages with severe, long lasting (chronic) medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes, are at higher risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19.There are medicines to help prevent serious illness but they must be given within 5-10 days from when your symptoms start to work. 

Talk to your doctor, a pharmacist, or healthcare provider if you test positive for COVID-19 about which medicine will work best for you. You can also visit a Test to Treat pharmacy to get tested for COVID-19 and a prescription for an antiviral pill. There are many other infusion sites, clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies across the state which also have these medicines. 

Learn more at https://coronavirus.utah.gov/treatments/. 

• Anyone age 12 and older who is moderately or severely immunocompromised, and 
• Anyone age 50 and older, regardless of health condition. 

This additional booster dose can be given at least 4 months after a person’s last booster dose. People who are immunocompromised were already recommended to receive an additional primary dose, in addition to booster doses. The CDC also provided clarification for people who received the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) for their primary dose followed by a J&J booster dose. They also qualify for a 2nd booster dose. For some people, this means the 2nd booster dose will be their 5th dose of a mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or 3rd dose of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine.

Studies reviewed by the CDC indicate people who are boosted have greater protection against COVID-19 than those who have not received a booster dose or who remain unvaccinated. Data in Utah shows this same trend. During the omicron wave in January, Utahns who were unvaccinated were at a 18.9 times greater risk of dying from COVID-19, 7.3 times greater risk of being hospitalized due to COVID-19, and 2.9 times greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19 than boosted people. We encourage people to get boosters so that they are as protected as possible for any future waves. 

We recommend vaccine providers become familiar with the CDC recommendations and begin offering 2nd booster doses as soon as they are able. Vaccines are available at healthcare provider offices, pharmacies, local health departments, and other community locations. Please be patient if you are trying to get a 2nd booster dose as some vaccine providers may need to update their systems to allow for this. 

If you still haven’t received your 1st booster dose, now is a good time to get one. 

Given the widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, the UDOH is making these changes to bring the COVID-19 response more in line with responses to other infectious diseases.  The changes will encourage individuals to seek care for COVID-19 through their traditional healthcare providers and  allow public health staff and resources to focus on other chronic and serious issues that challenge the health of Utahns. While this step is an important move forward, the UDOH recognizes there will likely be times when COVID-19 response efforts need to ramp up again, or specific recommendations will be provided to populations and communities based on their risk level.

“The pandemic is not over but we are in a new phase. We have safe and effective vaccines, tests, treatments that work, and most Utahns have some immunity from vaccines or past infection,” said Dr. Leisha Nolen, state epidemiologist at the UDOH. “Living with COVID-19 will require us to use all we have learned over the past two years. We will use local data to understand what the case and hospitalization trends are in Utah. If these trends become concerning, we may need to consider protective strategies to prevent severe COVID-19 illnesses and to stop our hospitals from being overwhelmed. Our guidance will continue to change and adapt as we learn more and the pandemic progresses.”

Key changes Utahns can expect beginning tomorrow, March 31:

• The COVID-19 data dashboard will update weekly, instead of daily, on Thursdays. This is similar to how often data on other respiratory diseases, like flu, are reported. The UDOH will watch the data closely and monitor trends of COVID-19 by tracking wastewater, clinic and ER visits, hospitalizations, and deaths.
• State-sponsored community (free) COVID-19 testing sites will close. This includes all Mako Medical, Nomi Health (TestUtah), TourHealth,and travel testing lanes at the Cannon Health building and St. George locations. Testing from these providers will no longer be paid by the UDOH. Some may switch to a for-pay, private business model in the same locations and begin billing a patient’s health insurance. Testing providers will decide the types of tests offered, hours and locations, registration processes, and any costs for testing.
• The state will no longer provide free travel testing. People seeking COVID-19 travel testing will need to find a testing provider that offers the type of test required by their travel destination. Travel testing can be found by searching under “test type” here; contacting the travel agent, airline, or travel destination; or searching online for private travel testing options. Many vendors provide options for travel testing; costs vary by vendor and test type, and range from approximately $75-$320 per test.
• The Utah Transmission Index will be retired. Communities and individuals should begin using the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels to guide decision making. The data dashboard includes a map of Utah using the CDC Community Level metrics.
• The COVID-19 hotline (1-800-456-7707) will reduce hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, closed Sunday.
• The UDOH monoclonal antibody infusion site has closed. Patients seeking treatment for COVID-19 should talk to their doctor or search the Federal COVID-19 therapeutics locator to find treatment providers in Utah. Some pharmacies and community health centers will also participate in the federal Test to Treat program. Patients should also expect their health insurance to be billed or to be charged out-of-pocket expenses for treatment now, given recent changes to the HRSA healthcare provider claims reimbursement programs.  

“We know there are communities that need additional support during this transition, including people who face health, financial, educational, or housing barriers and other inequities that make it difficult to get health coverage and basic healthcare services. We are committed to working with our healthcare partners to identify alternative sources of funding and innovative ways underserved communities can continue to access testing, treatments, and vaccinations,”

Dr. Michelle Hofmann, UDOH medical director.

Additional details of what changes to expect in a “steady state” COVID-19 response can be found at https://coronavirus.utah.gov/steady-state.

Steady State information