Respiratory virus season is upon us | News

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Believe it or not, respiratory virus season is just around the corner.

COVID cases are already increasing in the Mid-South, and the flu won't be long in coming.

Vaccines for COVID, flu and RSV are currently available at most pharmacies and doctor's offices.

Although the virus season typically peaks between December and March, doctors say now is the best time to get vaccinated.

“I got my flu shot, my pneumonia shot and my RSV shot. They say they've come out with another COVID booster shot and I'm going to get that,” said Rosemary Edwards of Memphis.

As the weather cools and virus season increases, Edwards isn't taking any chances.

“I have heart problems and high blood pressure, and when you're older you need it to protect yourself,” she said.

Although it's difficult to predict exactly how bad this respiratory season will be, infectious disease specialists including Dr. Shirin Mazumder of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis expects it will be comparable to last year.

According to the CDC, this led to at least 350,000 flu hospitalizations in the U.S. and killed at least 22,000 people.

At least 200 of them were children. Tennessee reported two pediatric flu deaths during the 2023-2024 flu season.

“It is a very significant virus. It can cause significant hospitalization and complications in people,” said Dr. Mazumder.

Dr. Mazumder said the best way to protect yourself from viral pathogens is through vaccination. Taking your shots in the fall can provide protection throughout the season.

“It takes a while for these vaccines to really work. “It takes about two weeks for these vaccines to really reach the best level of protection for people,” said Dr. Mazumder.

Dr. Mazumder offers some additional advice for staying healthy.

“We recommend people wash their hands regularly with soap and water if available, if not with hand sanitiser. We recommend people to cover their coughs, colds and sneezes and also avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth,” she said. “This is an entry point for viruses to get into the body.”

Others we spoke to say staying healthy is also important.

“I try to drink lots of fluids and lots of water and exercise two to three times a week,” said Luke Bird of Memphis.

Doctors said it's safe to get flu, COVID and RSV shots at the same time. A flu shot is recommended for everyone over the age of six months.

A higher dose of flu vaccination is available for people aged 65 and over.