The newest challenge we face is Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV. While the virus has been around for decades and typically just feels like a common cold, with new variants developing in 2022, a spike in hospitalizations in infants under 12 months of age and adults over the age of 60 has been seen for three years consecutively (CDC, 2014). Fortunately, or unfortunately, RSV also follows the same seasonality of influenza and COVID by typically starting in October and lasting through April (CDC, 2024b).
Image Source: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/research/rsv-net/dashboard.html So, what is our path forward? With Spring weather upon us, the best protection starts with simple handwashing, limiting how often you touch your face, staying warm, and using a humidifier. You can further reduce the impact of all three viruses by obtaining flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines. While none of these vaccines stop the viruses outright (think Polio vaccine), they all dramatically reduce the severity of the symptoms and significantly decrease your likely need for a hospital visit. What is also great is that, assuming you are in good overall health, you can obtain all three vaccines during the same
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