Wisconsin health officials urge vaccinations as respiratory illness season approaches
CBS 58 WISCONSIN (CBS 58) — As Wisconsin moves deeper into fall, health officials are reminding residents to take precautions as respiratory illnesses become more common.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is urging people to stay up to date on vaccines for influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
New this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the nation's first mRNA-based flu vaccine, called M-Flusiva, for people 50 and older.
"mRNA vaccines were the main form of vaccines that was developed during the COVID-19 epidemic," said Dr. Ryan Westergaard with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. "Now the company Moderna has used that same platform to create an influenza vaccine, and the early data shows that it's pretty effective."
Westergaard said early research has also shown promising results when the vaccine is compared with more traditional flu shots.
"There's some head-to-head data showing that it's even more effective than traditional vaccines for people 50 years or older," Westergaard said.
Availability of M-Flusiva is expected to be limited this fall.
People interested in receiving the vaccine are encouraged to contact their health care provider to ask whether it is available and appropriate for them.
Health officials say vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of serious illness as flu, COVID-19 and RSV activity increases during the colder months.
