By james art 
CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Department of Health is reminding the public that compliance with seasonal vaccines is key to fighting viruses like the flu and COVID-19 that continue to be widespread.
“We recommend seasonal flu shots and updated COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older who have not already received them this fall,” said Dr. Alexia Harist, WDH state health officer and state epidemiologist. “These safe and important vaccines reduce and help prevent serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths and remain our most important strategy to protect against these respiratory viruses.”
“Wyoming should expect influenza, COVID-19 and other known respiratory viruses to be a threat in the coming months,” Harrist said. “We’re already starting to get sporadic reports of flu activity, and COVID-19 has never really gone away.”
Both the flu and COVID-19 are contagious respiratory illnesses. Symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, extreme fatigue, and muscle or body aches, depending on the virus and the person.
“Unfortunately, these are not ‘one-size-fits-all’ vaccines. They need changes over time to ensure the best possible match with currently circulating virus strains. Because these are truly seasonal vaccines, it’s important to stay up-to-date,” Harrist said.
Most healthy people recover from respiratory illnesses, but still experience discomfort that may mean missing work, school, or other activities.
“We also know that anyone can transmit a virus to other people who may be at high risk of serious complications and illness,” Harrist said.
Most people can get flu shots and updated COVID-19 shots at the same time.
Another vaccine that some people should consider is directed against respiratory syncytial virus. RSV does not usually cause severe illness in most people, but some people, especially older people and babies under 6 months of age, can become very ill and may need to be hospitalized. People over the age of 60 and expectant parents or parents of babies should ask the healthcare professional they see if the RSV vaccine is recommended for them.
Vaccines are available in many places, including local community nurses, workplaces, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and convenience stores, and are covered by most insurance plans. One way to help find flu or COVID-19 vaccines is to visit vaccines.gov. WDH recommends confirming vaccine availability before visiting a specific local office, clinic or pharmacy.
Harrist explained that it could take up to two weeks for the seasonal vaccine offering to fully kick in.
“We don’t want you to wait to get vaccinated until people around you get sick,” she said.
Wyoming’s public vaccine programs, offered by participating providers, help protect certain adults and children from vaccine-preventable diseases at little or no cost to eligible patients. Find a participating public vaccine program at health.wyo.gov/publichealth/immunization/wyoming-immunization-providers/.