Protect Your Health This Respiratory Virus Season

Ohio, "The Heart of it All", is now in the heart of respiratory virus season.

"This is a time we expect to hear a few more sneezes and sniffles, but thankfully, we have protection against some of the viruses that might be causing them," said Dr. Mary DiOrio, medical director for the Ohio Department of Health. "Vaccines for RSV, flu, and COVID-19 are proven winners and they're readily available at most pharmacies. For older adults and those who are immunocompromised, however, it's best to consult your provider first to see which vaccines might be best and when to schedule them."

Whether you're new to Ohio winters, or you remember the Blizzard of 1978, here are a few seasonal reminders for everyone, including tips for managing asthma during the cold winter months.

RSV

RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, a common cause of lung and respiratory tract infections. Got an RSV vaccine last year? You're in the clear. You don't need this vaccine annually and it's only recommended for people at high risk for severe RSV: newborns, some young children, and older adults.

For older adults, a single-dose RSV vaccine is recommended for adults aged 50-74 with conditions that increase risk for severe RSV and all adults aged 75 and older.

There are two options to protect young children from RSV. The maternal RSV shot, given to mothers between weeks 32 and 36 of pregnancy, or the RSV antibody given to babies and some young children. Check with your healthcare provider to see which option works best for your family.

For information on whether you or your children should get vaccinated, and where to obtain vaccines locally, reach out to your healthcare provider, local pharmacy, or local health department.

Influenza

For protection against influenza, also known as "the flu," we recommend everyone aged 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine annually.

Americans have been safeguarding themselves against influenza since 1945, when the flu vaccine was first licensed for public use, according to the World Health Organization. Today, this vaccine is available to everyone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Vaccine Finder can help you find a local provider for flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines.

COVID-19

Got your COVID-19 vaccine last year? It's time for an updated 2025-2026 vaccine. Annual vaccination is the best protection from the strains currently circulating.

CDC recommends a 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 6 months and older based on individual-based decision-making. The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from severe illness, hospitalization, and death. It is especially important to get your 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine. Parents of children ages 6 months to 17 years should discuss the benefits of vaccination with a healthcare provider.

Visit the CDC's Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines page for comprehensive COVID-19 safety recommendations.

Most health insurance plans cover COVID-19 vaccines at no cost, and programs are available to help those who are uninsured and underinsured. Reach out to your local health department for more information.

How to Stop the Spread of Viruses

• Get vaccinated. COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccines may be administered during the same visit to save time. Talk with your healthcare provider about which options are best for you. It takes the body 10-14 days to build up the best protection after you get vaccinated, so plan ahead for gatherings and travel. For more information on vaccines, visit vaccines.gov.
• Wash your hands regularly. Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water keeps you healthy by sending illness-causing germs and bacteria down the drain. Use hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable. It's especially important to have clean hands while cooking and eating, while caring for someone who is sick, after using the restroom, and other key times outlined by the CDC.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.

Asthma

Cold weather, combined with cold and flu season, can bring its own challenges to people who have asthma.

Dry air that comes with cold weather can cause irritation and swelling in the airways of people who have asthma. And when the weather is cold, people are more likely to spend long periods of time indoors - which can mean a higher risk of exposure to indoor allergens, irritants, and respiratory viruses.

Despite these challenges, there are tips people can use to help manage their symptoms and prevent flare-ups:

• Take your asthma medications as directed and always have a quick-relief inhaler on hand.
• Avoid going outside on extremely cold weather days, but if you must go out, loosely wrap a scarf around your nose and mouth to warm the air before it goes into your lungs.
• Stay healthy during respiratory virus season by updating your vaccinations, washing your hands frequently, avoiding contact with people who are sick, and staying home when you are sick.

Visit our asthma program website for more information and resources, including access to a blank asthma action plan.