DOH: Get immunized against COVID, RSV
The state Department of Health recommends the recently updated 2024-2025 flu and COVID-19 vaccines for all people 6 months of age and older, as well as the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization for newborns and infants, pregnant women, adults over 75, and those 60-74 with certain chronic medical conditions.
“Getting the updated 2024-2025 flu and COVID-19 vaccines as well as RSV immunization are important steps in staying safe from respiratory viruses and will helping minimize the impacts of these diseases in our communities,” said State Health Director Kenneth S. Fink in a statement. “This is especially important as we approach the holiday season.”
In addition to immunization, U.S. households will once again be able to request four free COVID-19 self-test kits this season starting Sept. 23 at www.COVIDTests.gov.
Both 2024-2025 flu and COVID-19 vaccines have been updated to protect against strains likely to be circulating during the approaching respiratory virus season, according to the DOH.
The updated seasonal flu vaccines are a trivalent formulations that protects against H1N1, H3N2, and B/Victoria flu strains likely to circulate.
The updated COVID-19 vaccines address recent strains of the Omicron variant and include the mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna, as well as the protein antigen-based vaccine produced by Novavax.
As of this week, 290 Hawaii Island residents have died from COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic.
RSV vaccination is recommended for individuals 75 and older, or ages 60-74 who have certain chronic medical conditions.
RSV immunization also is recommended to protect infants against RSV infection and severe disease. Without immunization, almost all children by age 2 will develop an RSV infection which even in healthy infants and children too often causes difficulty breathing and hospitalizations, the DOH said.
Highly effective RSV immunization is recommended for newborns and pregnant women, because this will provide protection to the newborn at birth.
People can receive the COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines during the same visit.
Vaccination providers in Hawaii have already begun receiving the updated vaccines. However, not all providers will have vaccines available at the same time, as shipping timeframes will vary between manufacturers, vaccine distributors, vaccine formulations and provider locations.
Please contact your vaccination provider for availability of the updated 2024-2025 vaccines.
