Public health officials recently urged Arkansas residents to get vaccinated now against COVID-19 and the flu. Julia Lothrop is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Acting Director of Region 6, which includes Arkansas. Speaking recently to Fayetteville station KUAF Public Radio, Lothrop said now is the perfect time to get immunized. “I know some people want to wait for a surge when people are getting sick. But if you wait to get your vaccination it can take up to two weeks to get full immunity, so you’re already putting yourself at risk by not already being vaccinated.”
As Nathan Treece with Little Rock Public Radio reports, Lothrop says anyone over six months of age should get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19. The RSV vaccine is recommended for anyone over 75 and anyone over 60 with conditions like heart or lung disease, obesity and diabetes. She also recommended that expecting mothers get vaccinated for RSV between the 32-36 weeks of pregnancy which will protect a baby for 6 after birth.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it is safe to receive COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time. Figures provided by the CDC show that in 2023 more than 75,500 people in the U.S. died from COVID-19, with more than 916,300 people hospitalized. The agency also reported that during the 2023-2024 flu season, more than 44,900 people are estimated to have died from flu complications.
