Ask Your Doctor
Vaccines give you the best chance of staying healthy this winter and enjoying the things you like to do. This page provides brief information on vaccinations recommended for this time of the year and links for more information.
Ask your doctor which vaccine is best for you!
Seasonal Influenza (Flu)
All persons 6 months of age and older, with rare exceptions, are recommended for annual flu vaccination. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications.
Different flu vaccines are approved for use in various age groups.
- Several flu shots are approved for use in people as young as 6 months old and older, and two are approved only for adults 65 years and older. Flu shots are also highly recommended for pregnant people and people with certain chronic health conditions.
- The nasal spray flu vaccine is approved for use in people 2 years through 49 years of age. People who are pregnant and people with certain medical conditions should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine.
There are many vaccine options to choose from.
- For people younger than 65 years, the CDC does not recommend any one flu vaccine over another.
- For adults 65 years and older, there are three flu vaccines that are preferentially recommended for people 65 years and older. These are Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, Flublok Quadrivalent Recombinant, and Fluad Quadrivalent. If none of the three flu vaccines preferentially recommended for people 65 and older is available during administration, people in this age group can get any other age-appropriate flu vaccine instead.
For more info, visit:
- ADPH Influenza Website
- Who Needs a Flu Vaccine
- Flu Vaccines Are Important for Children
- Flu & People 65 Years and Older
- Flu and Pregnancy
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization.
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an RSV vaccine for all adults over age 75, those from ages 60-74 with certain health conditions, and pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. RSV immunization is also recommended for all infants up to 9 months if the vaccine was not given during pregnancy, and some infants and children up to age 23 months. Visit Vaccines by Age to find out which vaccines are recommended for you and your family members based on your age.
Pneumonia
Pneumococcal disease can affect those of any age. However, young children and older adults are at risk of serious illness and death due to this disease. The CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all children younger than 5 years old and all adults 65 years or older. Even if you have received a pneumococcal vaccine in the past you may be due for an updated vaccine.
In the United States, there are 2 kinds of vaccines that help prevent pneumococcal disease:
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV13, PCV15, and PCV20)
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)
COVID-19
It is recommended that everyone 6 months and older get an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. Infants, children under age 5, and people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have specific recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
For more info, visit:
Get Vaccinated
Protect yourself against several infectious diseases. Schedule an appointment with your doctor or county health department today!
Contact your local county health department to see if they offer the RSV and pneumococcal vaccines. COVID-19 and flu vaccines are widely available at Alabama county health departments, select retail pharmacy locations, and other providers throughout the state. To find a vaccine clinic near you, text your zip code to 438829 or visit vaccines.gov.
Page last updated: October 9, 2024
