Across the U.S. and Texas, COVID-19 hospitalizations, emergency room visits and deaths have been steadily increasing this summer.
And flu season is quickly approaching as kids are now back at school.
Changes in federal guidelines to COVID-19 vaccines will create barriers for some folks looking to get the vaccine as cases rise. But medical experts say you should still try to get them for protection.
Here’s what you need to know about getting vaccinated and ways to steer clear of respiratory viruses this fall.
COVID-19
Locally and statewide, COVID-19 emergency room visits have gone up since July, according to data from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
Summer spikes in cases have become routine since the pandemic started in 2020. Unlike the flu and RSV, which gradually increase in the fall, COVID-19 infections spike during the summer months and then again during peak respiratory season, typically January or February, coinciding with flu and RSV peaks.
COVID-19 test results at University Health hospitals and clinics highlight the trend.
Federal health officials have changed who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on Aug. 27. Now it’s only recommended for people 65 and older, as well as those who have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk.
Such qualifying conditions include diabetes, asthma, pregnancy, mental health conditions, lack of physical activity and others that can be found here.
This will be the first fall that the shot will not available for anyone 6 months and older who wants it.
Earlier this week, on Sept. 4, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Senate Finance Committee that everyone can still get a COVID-19 vaccine if they wanted one. But that’s not true. Insurance companies only cover the cost of the shot if the government recommends it.
National medical groups have pushed back against these changes, arguing that although these populations are at greater risk from COVID-19, anyone can become dangerously ill from the virus.
Despite the federal recommendation, the American Academy Pediatrics still recommends COVID vaccines for all children 6 months to two years old.
Even if you don’t meet the qualifiers for the shot, you may still be able to get one after consulting with your doctor, since physicians can prescribe off-label treatments that fall outside of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines.
And in Texas currently, CVS and Walgreens only require that you check a box confirming that you have an underlying condition that puts you at greater risk from COVID to get the shot. But uncertainty remains around whether health insurers will cover the costs of the vaccine.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty,” said Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of San Antonio Metro Health. “Speak with your provider if you have one.”
University Health plans to administer COVID vaccines this fall. Requirements for proof of eligibility haven’t been finalized, as providers await further federal guidelines, according to the county hospital system’s vaccine coordinator Amber Bacak.
Influenza
Influenza kills tens of thousands of people every year in the U.S.
People 65 and older, pregnant women, children and those with chronic conditions are especially vulnerable to the flu and other respiratory diseases.
But experts advise that everyone, including young and healthy people, should get vaccinated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages annual flu shots for anyone 6 months and older — unless you have had a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction to the shot.
The ideal timeframe to get a flu shot is late September through October.
Almost all health insurers cover flu shots, so you can get them free of charge at your select pharmacy if you have insurance. Many doctor’s offices and clinics, urgent care centers and school health clinics also administer the vaccine.
The out-of-pocket cost for the COVID-19 vaccine is $225 at CVS, according to its website.
University Health is hosting free drive-thru flu vaccinations this month through the end of October in four different locations. You can register here.
Metro Health also offers flu shots to underinsured and uninsured residents at pop-up clinics across the city and at its main location at 210 North Mel Waiters Way.
