CDC recommends updated COVID-19 and flu vaccinations ahead of fall and winter virus season

Katie Wiseman and Emily DeLetter, Indianapolis Star

Due to a recent uptick in reported cases and new variants of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending updated vaccines for both COVID and the flu ahead of the fall and winter virus season.

"Make a plan now for you and your family to get both updated flu and COVID vaccines this fall, ahead of the respiratory virus season," CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a statement on Thursday.

Are there new COVID variants?

Yes. The CDC is tracking the growth of multiple variants of COVID-19, including the KP.3 frontrunner and the rising LB.1, the newest variant circulating in the U.S. There was a 1.4% increase in test positivity as of June 22, according to data collected by the agency.

For a two-week period starting on June 9 and ending on June 22, the CDC's Nowcast data tracker showed the projections of COVID-19 variants, with the KP.3 variant accounting for 33.1% of positive infections, the KP.2 variant at 20.8% and the new variant LB.1 at 17.5% of infections. The JN.1 variant accounted for only 1.6% of positive infections, according to the data.

With the information the CDC has available right now, there’s no indication that the newest variant, LB.1, "causes more severe disease," CDC Spokesperson, Dave Daigle, previously told USA TODAY.

Should you get the updated COVID-19 vaccine?

The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older, with some exceptions, receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the disease, regardless of whether or not you have previously been vaccinated against the virus.

Of the almost 4 million people in Indiana who are fully vaccinated, only 994,456 of those are currently up to date, according the the state's COVID-19 vaccination dashboard.

For more information about the vaccine, you can visit coronavirus.in.gov.

From USA TODAY: Should you get the updated COVID-19 vaccine? See current guidelines from CDC.

Should you get the updated flu vaccine?

The agency also recommends the updated 2024-205 flu vaccines.

Most people only need one dose of flu vaccine each season, and September and October remain the best times for most people to be vaccinated.

Can you get the COVID and flu vaccine at the same time?

The CDC says it is safe to receive both the COVID-19 and the flu vaccines at the same visit.

How to schedule your updated vaccines

Your doctor's office is a great place to start when looking to schedule your updated vaccines as well as your local pharmacy.

If you're not sure where to go to get your vaccine, Vaccines.gov can help find a location near you.

It will pull up a list of locations near you, then you'll need to call or visit the provider’s website to make an appointment. You can also use the website to check if providers have the type of vaccine you want.

If you are an adult without health insurance or an adult whose insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs, use Vaccines.gov to search for providers participating in the Bridge Access Program to get a vaccine at no cost to you.

Indiana COVID dashboard

According to the Indiana COVID-19 dashboard, there has been a slow rise of reported cases since May. Marion County has the highest number for a 7-day-case-average (17), followed by Lake (10) and then Hamilton (7), according to the county breakdown.

You can find the latest data on the Indiana COVID-19 dashboard at coronavirus.in.gov.

Others are reading: Here are the changes coming to Indiana Medicaid programs for Hoosiers needing at-home care

What are the current symptoms of COVID-19?

There are a wide range of symptoms that could point to a COVID-19 infection, and may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms can include:

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

The CDC said you should seek medical attention if you have the following symptoms:

  • Trouble breathing

  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

  • New confusion

  • Inability to wake or stay awake

  • Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds

How do COVID and flu symptoms compare?

The flu and COVID-19 share some of the same signs, but flu symptoms will come on suddenly, the CDC says. People who have the flu often feel some or all of the following symptoms:

  • Fever or feeling feverish/chills

  • Cough

  • Sore throat

  • Runny or stuffy nose

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headaches

  • Fatigue

Some people may have vomiting or diarrhea, although the CDC says this is more common in children than adults.

Frontline healthcare workers receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020.
Frontline healthcare workers receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020.

What is the CDC's recommended isolation period for COVID-19?

The CDC's updated respiratory virus guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after there is no fever and their symptoms are getting better overall. This is a change from the previous guidance, which recommended a minimum isolation period of five days for COVID-19.

Instead, the CDC urges an added precaution over the next five days and using prevention strategies, including:

  • Taking steps for cleaner air

  • Enhancing hygiene practices

  • Wearing a well-fitting mask

  • Keeping distance from others

  • Getting tested for respiratory viruses

Katie Wiseman is a trending news intern at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: COVID-19 and flu vaccines are recommended by CDC amid uptick in cases

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