With Thanksgiving solely a few weeks away, state well being officers are once more encouraging residents to get a COVID booster and flu shot earlier than the vacation gatherings.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health can be urging eligible residents to get the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine — together with those that are pregnant, newborns, and many individuals 60-plus.
“With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, now is a great time for those preparing to celebrate with friends and loved ones to get vaccinated for flu, COVID-19, and RSV, if eligible,” stated Public Health Commissioner Robert Goldstein.
“Getting vaccinated now will maximize protection against these respiratory viruses,” Goldstein added. “We want Massachusetts residents to have a safe, healthy, and fun holiday season and part of that is getting vaccinated to protect yourself and those around you.”
The seasonal flu vaccine and up to date COVID booster each take as much as two weeks for full safety.
COVID, flu and RSV are the three viruses which can be most definitely to trigger extreme illness leading to hospitalization and generally dying.
“Adding vaccinations to your holiday season to-do list is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and people you’ll gather with, especially older adults, people who are immunocompromised, and pregnant people, who are at higher risk for severe complications,” stated State Epidemiologist Catherine Brown.
“While it’s never too late to get your COVID or flu shots, getting vaccinated sooner rather than later will provide increased protection ahead of holiday celebrations, the start of winter, and peak respiratory disease season,” Brown added.
In the final week, 13% of hospital admissions within the Bay State have been because of acute respiratory illness.
COVID vaccine location data is on the market at mass.gov/CovidVaccine. Residents who can’t get to a vaccination location can schedule an appointment for in-home COVID and flu vaccination by going to mass.gov/VaccinesAtHome or calling 833-983-0485.
DPH can be holding COVID and flu clinics in lots of neighborhood places and at upcoming cultural occasions. A list of those neighborhood clinics which can be accepting appointments and, in some places, walk-ins, is up to date weekly and may be discovered at mass.gov/MobileVax.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
