EZIZ

Health Education – LTC Talking Points

Respiratory infections like flu, COVID-19, and RSV are common during the fall and winter and can put long-term care residents at risk for serious illness.

  • Respiratory viruses can affect anyone, and those at higher risk for severe illness and even death include older adults, people with certain risk conditions, and people living in long-term care facilities.
  • During the 2024-25 flu season, flu caused up to an estimated 130,000 deaths and 1.3 million hospitalizations in the United States.
  • RSV causes an estimated 110,000-180,000 hospitalizations in adults 50 years and older each year.
  • More than 80% of COVID-19 deaths occur in people over age 65.

Flu: Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine.

  • Getting the flu vaccine every year is a safe and effective way to prevent serious illness and death. We are stronger when we are all protected!
  • High dose, recombinant or adjuvanted flu vaccines are preferencially recommended over standard flu vaccines for adults 65 years and older.
  • For most people, the flu vaccine should be given in September or October; however, getting the flu vaccine after October can still provide protection during the entire flu season.

COVID-19: Everyone 6 months and older should have access and the choice to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

  • COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for:
    • All young children (6-23 months)
    • All people younger than 65 years with risk factors
    • All adults 65 years and older
    • All who are in close contact with others with risk factors (including healthcare workers and residents of LTCFs)
    • All who choose protection
  • Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. Vaccination can also reduce the chances of suffering from long COVID.
  • COVID-19 vaccines are safe and hundreds of millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.
  • Individuals who are 65 years and older or immunocompromised are recommended for two doses of COVID-19 vaccine 6 months apart.

RSV: Those 50 years and older who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities should receive an RSV vaccine.

  • Everyone 75 years of age and older and those who are 50-74 years of age and at increased risk of severe RSV disease, including those living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities, should receive a dose of RSV vaccine.

For more information about RSV, visit CDC’s Clinical Overview of RSV and CDPH’s RSV FAQs.

The RSV vaccine is also recommended for pregnant people at 32 through 36 weeks of pregnancy during September through January to prevent RSV infections in infants.

  • Most infants will likely only need protection from either the prenatal RSV vaccine or infant immunization, but not both.
  • Pregnant people can receive the RSV vaccine on the same day as other vaccines recommended during pregnancy, including Tdap, flu, and COVID-19.

Staying up to date with immunizations is a simple action that long-term care staff, residents, and their families can take to protect each other from serious illness.

  • Older adults or those with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for complications. It is safe and convenient to get multiple vaccines at the same visit.
  • Flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccination will help lower the burden on the health care system by decreasing serious illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.
  • For staff, staying up to date with immunizations, including flu and COVID-19, means fewer sick visits to the doctor, less work absences, and staying healthy to care for your residents.
  • Keep your immune system up to date! Just like our phones and computers need to be updated to avoid viruses, our immune systems need updating too!
  • If you are unable to get vaccinated at your facility, call your doctor or pharmacy, or schedule your flu and COVID-19 vaccines today at myturn.ca.gov.

If you work in a health care setting, immunizing against common respiratory viruses is especially important.

  • Flu and COVID-19 vaccination is important for health care workers and others who live with or take care of vulnerable people to prevent spreading flu and COVID-19 to them.
  • Caregivers in long-term care facilities are in daily close contact with residents who are more vulnerable to serious flu and COVID-19 illness and death.
  • Need proof of having received your vaccines? Request a copy of your vaccine record from the California Digital Vaccine Record portal.

For vaccine guidance, education, and more, visit the LTCF resources page.