Three vaccines for Covid, flu and RSV on market to prevent another 'tripledemic'

For the first time ever, there are three vaccines on the market to fight serious illness this Fall.

We’re talking about the Covid, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.

Experts believe the vaccines will help prevent a tripledemic, like the one we saw last year.

“There are millions of people alive because of vaccines and you can’t say that the other way,” Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease physician from UNC, said.

Here’s what you need to know about three vaccines:

Are these vaccines available? There are vaccines available for all three right now, the latest covid vaccine will be available any day now and should provide good protection against current variants.

Who should get vaccinated? Nearly anyone 6 months and older should get a covid and flu shot. RSV is best for young children and older adults at least 75 years of age. Women who receive the shot late in pregnancy will provide additional protection to newborns.

How often should you get vaccinated?
Flu and covid shots should be taken yearly. With RSV that’s not necessary.

“The good thing about the RSV vaccine is that it will probably last more than a year, so it may be something you may not need to take all the regularly,” Wohl said.

Can you take all three, safely at once? Yes.

“If you’re a really reliable person you might say, ‘You know what, I’m going to take one one week and one another week,'" Wohl said. "But if you’re not, you might say, ‘Just get me in both arms, get the flu, get the Covid.’

"If you’re an RSV person, get that. It’s not going to hurt you if you get all three it’s ok.”

Wohl suggests taking Tylenol after the shots.

To find these vaccines, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or local and state health departments.

Wohl adds that the Covid vaccine have been shown to prevent you from experiencing severe symptoms, passing the illness on to others, and people who are vaccinated are far less likely to experience long Covid.