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NORTH GEORGIA – Now, adults aged 60 and above may receive a single dose of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine at the North Georgia Health District public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties.
RSV is a prevalent respiratory virus that is typically responsible for mild, cold-like symptoms; however, in infants and older adults, it has the potential to develop into a severe condition.
According to the CDC, people 60 or older should have a Shared Clinical Decision-Making (SCDM) conversation with their healthcare provider about the RSV vaccine. The healthcare provider might recommend RSV vaccination for them, especially if they have weakened immune systems due to illness (e.g., leukemia or HIV infection), are on certain medications (e.g., cancer treatment or organ transplants), have chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease, or are residing in a nursing home. Such individuals are at higher risk of severe RSV disease, and vaccination is a vital preventive measure.
Our health departments are especially urging people ages 65 and above to receive the vaccine since adults in this age group experience approximately 60,000-160,000 hospitalizations and 6,000-10,000 fatalities each year in the U.S. due to RSV.
The vaccination effectively averts future respiratory ailments, even for individuals with a prior RSV infection. While there is no specific waiting period after an RSV infection, if a person is experiencing moderate or severe illness, they should recover fully before receiving the RSV vaccine. People with minor ailments, such as colds, can receive the vaccine if they are eligible.
Most Medicare Part D plans cover the cost of the RSV vaccine.
For contact information, clinic hours, and address of a county health department in the North Georgia Health District, click HERE to our homepage, then click on the county name.
For more details about the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine, please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/index.html. Join us in taking proactive steps to protect our community's health.