After two years of lockdowns, masking and social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the winter of 2022 to 2023 saw record numbers of respiratory illnesses — not just COVID cases, but a wave of hospitalizations for the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children as well.[1][2]
"Last year's tripledemic, as they called it, was hands down the worst cold and flu season that we've had on record," says Wendy Hasson, M.D., a pediatrician in Portland, Oregon, and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The surge of illness contributed to shortages of over-the-counter medications like children's Tylenol and Motrin.
"Everyone is hoping we'll have a less severe season this winter," Dr. Hasson says. "But I don't think anybody knows for sure."
The good news is that there are ways to help keep your family safe this cold and flu season. Here are eight of them to try.
1. Get flu shots for the whole family
Flu season starts in early fall, with cases spiking during December, January and February. Still, it pays to get your flu shot early: It takes about two weeks for your body to start producing antibodies that defend against the influenza virus and a month for full protection to develop, says Jonathan Miller, M.D., chief of primary care at Nemours Children's Health.
"The flu vaccine prevents people from getting flu and spreading flu," he explains, and it's "very effective at preventing severe complications from the flu." Children under the age of 5 — and especially those under the age of 2 — are particularly at risk from flu complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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This year's flu vaccine is available now, and it's recommended for nearly everyone over the age of 6 months.
If your baby is under the age of 6 months, it's especially important to get everyone in your family vaccinated: "Grandparents, parents, siblings — everybody should be trying to get the flu vaccine so they create a ring of protection around the baby who can't get the vaccine yet," Dr. Miller says. (If you were recently pregnant and got the flu shot, your baby should have some immunity for the first few months after birth.)[3]
2. Ask older adults and pregnant moms to get immunized against RSV
Both infants and older adults are particularly at risk for RSV-related complications. That's why the FDA approved new RSV vaccines for pregnant women (who pass on the protection to their newborns) and adults aged 60 and older. These single shots are rolling out this fall.[4]
"Older adults should get it for themselves, but they should also get it because it's going to help prevent the spread of RSV in their family," Dr. Miller says.
3. Stay up-to-date on COVID shots
This September, the CDC okayed an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Like an annual flu shot that adapts to new threats, this year's booster protects against the latest variants making people sick.[5]
You should get it if you haven't received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past two months, the CDC advises.
If someone in your family has already gotten COVID — even if they've gotten it more than once — they should still keep up with their vaccines, adds Michael Chang, M.D., a pediatric infectious disease expert with UTHealth Houston and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.
"Getting immunized will still provide additional benefits in reducing the risk of serious illness and hospitalization," he says.
Visit vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233.
4. Talk to the pediatrician about the new RSV antibody
Another drug to keep on your radar is Beyfortus, a new RSV antibody that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved in July 2023. Beyfortus is for infants entering their first RSV season (which typically starts in the fall) or children up to age 2 who are particularly vulnerable to the virus, including premature babies or those born with lung conditions.[6]
Beyfortus isn't exactly a vaccine — it's technically a monoclonal antibody — but it is a form of immunization delivered as a shot, Dr. Chang says. (Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that mimic the body's natural immune defenses.)
"Essentially, we're giving people a medication that helps fight or neutralize the virus," he explains.
Ask the pediatrician whether your baby is eligible for this antibody treatment — it should offer protection for at least five months, Dr. Chang says.[7]
5. Wash your hands — and ask everyone else to do the same
Do you have a child in school or day care where they hang out with more kids (and more germs)? As soon as they come home, ask them to wash their hands — especially if you also have a young baby, Dr. Hasson says.
The flu, RSV and COVID all spread through droplets generated by coughing and sneezing, Dr. Chang says, so washing your hands regularly can help slow the transmission of these illnesses.
Teach children to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, he says. Make sure they really rub their hands, which is what really lift the germs off the skin.[8] "It's the friction, or rubbing, that's important," he says.
6. Use hand sanitizer
There's a reason why hand sanitizer flies off the shelves during cold and flu season: It killing respiratory viruses very effectively. But for it to work, you need to use it correctly — and that means applying it to your fingertips and not just your palms.
"When you think about what touches your face, what you put in your mouth, what you rub your eyes with — it's your fingertips," Dr. Chang says.
The CDC recommends using an hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Once you apply the hand sanitizer to your hands, let it fully dry; if you wipe it off before then, it may not fight germs as well.
7. Have some fever-reducing medication at home
Children's acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin) were in short supply during last year's tripledemic, so double-check whether you have a bottle or two of fever reducers in your medicine cabinet already. (Generic and alternative brands like Genexa work just as well.)
"Make sure you have it on hand so you aren't having to hunt for it later on," Dr. Chang says. Just don't hoard the stuff (that'll only make the supply issues worse).
8. Don't feel bad about saying no
You don't have to accept every toddler birthday party invitation this winter — especially to crowded indoor venues like aquariums and gymnastic centers.
"I tell parents with young infants to feel empowered to say no to things during the cough and cold season," Dr. Hasson says, "particularly if they have an infant under 6 months of age, who is most at risk of becoming seriously ill with these cold viruses."
"It's hard to say no," she adds, "but the only person who's going to protect your child is you."
FAQ
Is it best to space out flu and COVID shots?
"I would not recommend doing that," says Jonathan Miller, M.D., Chief of Primary Care at Nemours Children's Health. "Spreading them out is only increasing the chance that a child will get the vaccine-preventable disease."
Can you get the COVID and flu vaccines at the same time?
Children and adults can get the COVID and flu vaccines at the same time.
Can you get the RSV vaccine at the same time as other shots?
The RSV vaccine for adults can be given at the same time as other shots. The monoclonal antibody for children can also be given at the same time as other shots.
Yes 
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