What Caregivers Should Know:

• Viruses cause most respiratory illnesses. Runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, and coughing are often caused by viruses. Vaccines are the best protection from getting very sick from flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
• Prevention is the best option. Masks and handwashing can play an important role in protecting against the spread of respiratory viruses. Vaccines provide the best protection against severe disease from flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Vaccines boost the body’s natural defenses against germs that can make you sick.
• Older adults are at higher risk. If you help care for a family member or friend age 60 or older, make sure they know about their risk for getting very sick with flu, COVID-19, and RSV and that vaccines can help protect them.
• Vaccines protect pregnant people and newborns. Getting sick with flu or COVID-19 can be very dangerous for pregnant people and their babies. RSV is also a serious risk for newborns. When pregnant people get a vaccine for the flu, COVID-19, or RSV, their babies are protected in their first 6 months.
• Vaccines are tested. Vaccines go through a lot of testing—both in the lab and with volunteers—before they are available to the public. Although vaccines keep some people from getting the flu, COVID-19, or RSV, the thing they do best is to help keep symptoms mild to keep people out of the hospital if they get infected.
• Misinformation can have dangerous consequences. False and misleading information about vaccines causes people to make decisions that could be dangerous to their health. If friends or family share wrong information, listen to why they believe it, show you understand, and guide them to good sources that don’t make money or gain power from the information.
• Visit cdc.gov to learn more about flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines, or talk to a health care provider about which 2024–2025 vaccines are right for you.