COVID-19, Influenza & RSV

On this page:

This page undergoes regular review and was last comprehensively reviewed on November 28, 2022. Some sections may reflect more recent updates.

Overview

Influenza

CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine to help protect against flu and its potentially severe complications. Influenza vaccination is a critical tool to prevent potential severe complications. However, flu vaccine claims data suggest that uptake may be down so far this year compared with the same time last season.

In terms of influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine coadministration, CDC guidance states that routine administration of all age-appropriate doses of vaccines simultaneously is recommended for children, adolescents and adults for whom no specific contraindications exist at the time of the healthcare visit.

For individuals who are influenza-positive, evidence suggests that the administration of an influenza antiviral, such as oseltamivir or zanamivir, could help reduce the severity of symptoms and the length of symptoms. However, influenza antivirals are more effective if given as soon as possible after illness onset (up to 48 hours after illness onset) (Liu, August 2021).

CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report
Dashboard monitoring key metrics including outpatient influenza-like illness, hospitalizations and mortality.

CDC Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Resources for Health Professionals
Central CDC hub for clinical resources, public health information and epidemiological updates.

ACIP 2022-2023 Influenza Vaccine Recommendations Summary
Current clinical advice and guidance from CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Source: CDC FluView data accessed December 9, 2022. Data updates weekly on Fridays.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Pediatric hospitals across the country are experiencing a rise in the number of patients admitted with RSV. Infections due to RSV have shown a sharp increase and are appearing earlier than usual this year, according to CDC. Health care providers should consider RSV in patients with respiratory illness, particularly during the RSV season, and particularly among young children (under 5 years) and older adults (65 years and older).

Because RSV and influenza are both respiratory viruses that usually circulate during the winter and generally affect younger children and older adults with increased severity, there are substantial similarities in illness presentation, symptoms, populations affected and seasonality. This can make it challenging to differentiate between influenza and RSV without laboratory testing. However, wheezing is more common in children with RSV, compared to children with influenza infection, whereas high fever (>103 F) may be more common among individuals of all ages with influenza infections, compared to RSV infections.

Most RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two, and there is no specific treatment for RSV infection, though researchers are working to develop vaccines and antivirals. Healthy adults and infants infected with RSV do not usually need to be hospitalized. But some people with RSV infection, especially older adults and infants younger than 6 months of age, may need to be hospitalized if they are having trouble breathing or are dehydrated.

CDC RSV Surveillance Reports
Central CDC hub tracking national, state and regional RSV trends.

CDC Guidance for Health Care Professionals: RSV
Guidance for clinicians on RSV in children and adults including information about case definition, management, testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis.
(10/28/22)

Updated American Academy of Pediatrics Guidance: Use of Palivizumab Prophylaxis to Prevent Hospitalization from Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection During the 2022-2023 RSV Season
With the shift in seasonality noted in 2021 and the current regional variability in interseason RSV cases, the AAP continues to support the use of palivizumab in eligible infants in any region experiencing rates of RSV activity at any time in 2022 similar to a typical fall-winter season.
(8/26/22)

Multimedia