Increased risk of RSV in Salt Lake City: How older adults can help protect themselves

You may think you can avoid getting sick this winter, but environmental conditions in Salt Lake City make that challenging. Even if you lead an active, healthy lifestyle, viruses like RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) can affect anyone. RSV may just lead to cold-like symptoms, but if you’re 60 and older with certain medical conditions, you are at higher risk for severe illness from RSV. This can include having pneumonia or being hospitalized.

Poor Air Quality Can Increase RSV Risk

Air pollution already exacerbates rates of chronic diseases, but it can also lead to an increased risk of respiratory illnesses. Salt Lake City, with its doubling air pollution, saw a higher-than-normal number of cases of RSV, COVID-19, and the flu last year – sometimes referred to as a tripledemic.

RSV in Salt Lake City may be a real threat, but it’s not too late — now is the time to get educated about RSV and to see if an RSV vaccine is right for you — even if you’ve already received your flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

RSV in Older Adults: Risks and Prevention

Nowadays, we can’t help but feel nervous around people coughing and sneezing – we usually don’t know what kind of illness or virus they may have, or if it could be contagious. If it’s RSV, the virus is easily spread and can be dangerous for older adults, who are at higher risk for severe consequences from RSV. In fact, 100,000 to 160,000 older Americans are hospitalized from RSV each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Given the risk to certain older adults, the CDC recommends a single dose of an RSV vaccine for all adults 75 and older, and for adults 60 and older with certain chronic conditions like asthma, COPD, heart disease, or diabetes.

Weighing Options for RSV Vaccination

If you haven’t previously been vaccinated for RSV and are on the fence about whether to get protected, consider the following:

Practice prevention. When it comes to your health, your day-to-day actions can have a real impact on your chances of getting sick from RSV, a highly contagious virus. That’s why it’s important to: wash your hands frequently with soap and water, clean often-touched surfaces, avoid close contact with sick people, and follow local health advisories and guidelines. Practicing these measures and staying up to date on all vaccines you are eligible for are some of the best possible ways to safeguard your health.

Your time with loved ones is important. Whether it’s time spent together on a beach vacation or cozied up with a cup of hot chocolate while the snow falls, this time of year tends to be filled with family and winter fun. If you’re an older adult, you may be at risk for RSV and should consider vaccination to help protect yourself.

Recognize that there are no prescription treatments if you do get RSV. While some over-the-counter medications can help alleviate RSV symptoms, there are no prescription treatments for RSV for adults.

This winter season, you can help protect yourself against RSV. If you’re 75 or older, or 60 or older with a chronic condition like asthma, COPD, heart disease, or diabetes, an RSV vaccine may help protect you from RSV. Check your eligibility and schedule an RSV vaccine at VaxAssist.com today.