Docs Should Start Getting Ready For Upcoming Respiratory Virus Season

Physicians should start preparing now for the upcoming respiratory virus season, according to the CDC in a webinar hosted by Bruce Scott, MD, president of the American Medical Association (AMA) on Tuesday.

The webinar focused on strategies for getting patients vaccinated for COVID-19 and flu and putting into action the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) updated RSV vaccination recommendations. The webinar can be viewed in its entirety here.

CDC director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, reviewed vaccine recommendations for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season. Everyone ages 6 months and older should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and updated influenza vaccine, Cohen said.

“We’re going to see an updated COVID-19 and flu vaccine here in just a few weeks,” she noted. “The flu [vaccine] is actually starting to be available right now, so you can be getting that into your practice … right now is a great time to pre-order.”

Cohen also discussed the updated adult RSV vaccination recommendations issued in June. All adults, ages 75 and older, and those ages 60 to 74 with risk factors that might lead to severe respiratory disease should get a one-time RSV vaccine (Arexvy, Abrysvo, mResvia).

“Particularly, I want to highlight those who are in a nursing home,” Cohen pointed out. “We are seeing more RSV circulating in nursing homes. We really want to make sure anyone who is residing in that group setting is protected from RSV going into this season.”

In a Q&A session, Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, addressed co-administration of the COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccines. “Bottom line is, that’s a best practice. Co-administering these vaccines is really critical, especially for people where you only have one shot,” for getting them vaccinated. “It is safe. We have a long history of COVID and flu [vaccine] co-administration. The data also support the co-administration of RSV vaccine at the same time.” Also, administering the vaccines simultaneously does not seem to blunt the immunologic response of any of the vaccines, he emphasized.

For infants, there are two options for RSV immunization. One option is for pregnant mothers to get the maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo only) between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation; it is usually given sometime between September through January. Another option is for infants under age 8 months, and children 8-19 months with risk factors, to receive the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab (Beyfortus). Nirsevimab is usually administered during the RSV season from October through March.

“Ordering and offering immunizations in your clinics is one of the most powerful ways to improve vaccine confidence and increase immunization rates,” Cohen said, because convenience is a top reason for patient acceptance and reduces missed opportunities for immunization. The CDC is now providing online immunization and vaccine product summaries, including ordering and availability information.

Cohen recommended that practices consider appointing a vaccine champion to streamline office vaccination protocols. “That really helps to make sure your office is set up and prepared for having conversations with patients about vaccination as well as not missing an opportunity to give out those doses,” she noted.” So every time someone walks into your office, it’s an opportunity both to have that conversation and to make sure you’re immunizing.”

For patients who get vaccines in pharmacies, Cohen emphasized that it’s important to “close the loop” by making sure pharmacists have all the patient information they need to administer vaccines — for example, when ordering RSV vaccines, physicians should be sure to provide risk factors for patients ages 60-74 and gestational age for patients who are pregnant.

To address vaccine cost barriers among children, Cohen recommended clinicians participate in Vaccines for Children program, which provides all ACIP-recommended vaccines to eligible individuals ages 18 and younger at no or low cost. For adults, Medicaid covers recommended vaccines without cost sharing. Medicare Part B covers flu and COVID-19 vaccines, she said. The RSV vaccine is covered under Medicare Part D, but patients need to get vaccinated at an in-network provider, as do those with Medicare Advantage plans and many of those who have private insurance.

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