Respiratory Illness Season Resource Center: Help Prevent and Protect Against Flu, COVID-19 and RSV

Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. People 65 years and older, young children, pregnant people, and people with certain health conditions are at higher risk of developing serious complications from flu infection.

How it spreads: Flu can spread by breathing in droplets carrying virus from an infected person when they cough, sneeze, or talk. Flu may also spread by people touching a contaminated surface or object that has flu virus on it, then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes.

Treatment: Flu can be treated with antiviral drugs your doctor can prescribe when illness is caught early.

COVID-19 is still circulating in communities and can still cause serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

People with certain medical conditions are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Everyone should prepare for potential increases through the fall and winter and take preventive action to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19.

How it spreads: COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses, or mouth. In some circumstances, they may contaminate surfaces they touch.

Testing and treatment: If you or a loved one have a fever, cough or any other symptoms associated with COVID-19 or were exposed to someone with COVID-19, we recommend that you schedule a Virginia Mason Franciscan Health virtual urgent care visit today, visit one of our Urgent and Walk-in Care clinics, or contact your primary care provider to be assessed for COVID-19. At-home testing kits are also available at local retail pharmacies. Learn more about testing for COVID-19.

If you test positive for COVID-19, treatments are available and should be taken early. The FDA has authorized certain antiviral medications to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people who are more likely to get very sick.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that usually causes mild cold-like symptoms like cough, runny nose, and low-grade fever. It can also cause wheezing. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially in babies and children under 5 years old and in older adults. Severe infections can include bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) or pneumonia (infection of the lungs). RSV can also worsen conditions like asthma. RSV can be prevented by vaccination in older adults, vaccination in pregnant people, and by preventive antibodies in neonates and infants during their first two RSV seasons.

How it spreads: RSV can be spread through coughs, sneezes, direct contact with the virus (like kissing the face of a child with RSV), and touching contaminated surfaces.

Treatment: While there’s no specific treatment for RSV infection, you can take over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to relieve symptoms. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Talk to your health care provider before giving your child non-prescription cold medicines. Call your health care provider or visit one of our Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Urgent Care clinics if you or your child is having difficulty breathing, not drinking enough fluids, or experiencing worsening symptoms.

Though there is no vaccine for the common cold, there is a yearly vaccine for the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu shot every year. The best time to get vaccinated is October or November before flu season is in full swing.

Anyone with a chronic health condition should be especially vigilant about getting vaccinated. In 2023, the CDC estimates that over 44,900 people died from flu complications, so prevention is critical for anyone at high risk, such as individuals with asthma, diabetes or heart disease, pregnant people, and everyone 65 and older.

Certain groups should not get the flu shot:

• Children under the age of 6 months
• Anyone severely allergic to ingredient(s) in the flu vaccine
• Anyone with a history of allergic reaction to a previous flu vaccine

If you have an allergy to an ingredient in the flu vaccine or a reaction to a previous flu vaccine, talk to your doctor about alternatives.

See the section above where to get your flu vaccine. 

More flu resources: 

• Flu Guide for Parents (CDC)
• Flu Guide for Pregnancy (CDC)
• About Vaccines and Pregnancy (CDC)
• If you’re ill and need medical attention, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has primary care, women’s care and urgent care clinic locations throughout the Puget Sound. And if it’s after hours, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Virtual Urgent Care is just a call or click away.
• Visit cdc.gov/flu for more information on influenza (flu).
   

Read more about what the CDC and Washington Department of Health recommend for who should receive the RSV vaccine and when.

Adults 50 years old and over

• Routine, one-time RSV vaccination of all previously unvaccinated adults age 75 years and older, and vaccination of adults age 50–74 years with specific risk conditions only.
• Adult RSV vaccination can be obtained from community pharmacy retail sites.

Infants and young children

• Newborn babies may be vaccinated before being discharged from their birth center, or at their routine pediatrician appointment post discharge.
• 1 dose of nirsevimab for all infants younger than 8 months born during or entering their first RSV season.
• 1 dose of nirsevimab for infants and children 8–19 months old who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season.
• Note: A different monoclonal antibody, palivizumab, is limited to children under 24 months of age with certain conditions that place them at high risk for severe RSV disease. It must be given once a month during RSV season. Please see AAP guidelines for palivizumab.

Pregnant people

• 1 dose of maternal RSV vaccine during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy, administered immediately before or during RSV season at a routine prenatal care visit. Abrysvo is the only RSV vaccine recommended during pregnancy.