As we quickly approach winter, health officials are warning it will be a difficult season due to three viruses spreading at the same time and an uptick in cases. COVID-19, influenza and RSV are all striking at once and experts urge people to stay safe. Dr. Linda Yancey, Infectious Disease Specialist, Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston warns, "We have two deadly viruses circulating this winter: flu and COVID. We have safe, effective vaccines for both. Get your flu shot and get your bivalent booster."
While there are vaccines for the flu and COVID there's not one yet for RSV, but that could change. David M. Souleles, MPH, Director of COVID-19 Response at the University of California, Irvine tells us, "In 1967, a clinical trial to test the efficacy of the RSV vaccine was given to children and the results were frequent hospitalizations and two deaths. The ramifications of this clinical trial halted research in developing an effective and safe RSV vaccine for decades. Now, with greater protections and standards on clinical trials researchers are getting closer to creating a RSV vaccine."
