Why doctors are urging people to act now

October is a key time to think about protection against seasonal respiratory viruses (viruses that infect the lungs and airways). Medical experts recommend getting a flu shot soon, before influenza begins spreading widely. Waiting until cases are rising may mean facing greater exposure before you are protected.

The advice is not limited to flu. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available, and shots against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV (a virus that can cause breathing problems, especially in some older adults and young children), are also available for people who are particularly vulnerable. Which vaccines are appropriate can depend on a person’s age and health circumstances.

Flu can be more than a few miserable days

Many people recover from these infections after several days of feeling unwell. But flu can also lead to severe complications, including illness that requires hospital care. Each year in the United States, influenza alone causes hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths.

Those figures help explain why doctors encourage prevention even when someone considers themselves generally healthy. A respiratory infection can disrupt work, school, and family life; for people at higher risk, it can become a serious medical emergency. Vaccination is one way to reduce the chance that an infection will have the worst consequences.

“Vaccination isn’t a guarantee that we’re going to prevent illness. But just like the seat belt in your car, it decreases risk” of the worst outcomes, said Dr. Ryan Stanton of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

What vaccines can—and cannot—do

A vaccine trains the immune system (the body’s defense network) to recognize a disease and respond to it. It does not promise that a person will never become infected. Instead, the goal is to lower the risk of severe illness and other serious outcomes.

The seat-belt comparison is useful: wearing a seat belt does not prevent every crash, just as a vaccine does not prevent every infection. But both are protective measures intended to reduce harm when a risk cannot be eliminated completely. That distinction matters when deciding whether vaccination is worthwhile.

Protection against several winter viruses

Flu, COVID-19, and RSV are different infections, so protection against one does not automatically protect against the others. People may want to review their vaccination status for each virus and ask a health professional which recommendations apply to them.

  • Flu: Doctors recommend getting vaccinated before influenza spreads widely.
  • COVID-19: Updated shots are available, according to the information provided in the report.
  • RSV: Shots are available for people who are especially vulnerable to this winter illness.

Why this year’s guidance is unusual

In a typical year, flu-vaccine advice is issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. public health agency, and its independent advisory panel (a group that reviews evidence and makes recommendations). The panel’s recommendations can influence state policies and decisions by insurance providers about vaccine coverage.

This year, the advisory panel is caught in a court battle, and the CDC has not updated its flu advice. As a result, doctors’ organizations are helping fill the information gap by encouraging people to consider seasonal protection. The report identifies the American College of Emergency Physicians among the medical groups involved; it does not provide further details about the organizations mentioned in the incomplete source text.

Practical steps for readers

If you are considering a fall vaccine, check which shots are recommended for you and whether you are eligible for an RSV shot. A doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified health professional can help answer questions based on your age and health situation.

  • Ask about the flu vaccine before influenza begins spreading widely.
  • Check whether an updated COVID-19 shot is appropriate for you.
  • Ask whether you fall into a group for whom an RSV shot is recommended.
  • Remember that vaccination lowers risk but does not guarantee that you will avoid infection.

The takeaway

The central message from medical experts is straightforward: do not wait for flu to become widespread before thinking about protection. Flu can cause substantial illness in the United States each year, while vaccines offer a way to reduce the risk of the most serious outcomes.

Seasonal vaccination is not a guarantee, and recommendations can vary by person. But reviewing your options now can help you make an informed decision before winter respiratory viruses become more common.