A monthly exploration of the many benefits available to you through your TRICARE health plan.
The Doctor Is In offers tools, information and resources focused on topics that are trending and may be affecting you and your family. Your TRICARE health benefit is robust – and we want to make sure you take advantage of everything your benefit has to offer.
September 2024
Written by Dr. Joyce Grissom, HNFS Chief Medical Officer
What goes with back to school, cooler temperatures, turning leaves, and pumpkin spice lattes? Updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines, of course! Flu vaccines can be given at the same time as COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccination in late September and October provide the best benefit of protection through the winter months.
Last year’s COVID-19 vaccine is probably not doing much for you lately. This is because vaccines become less effective over time. Additionally, there has been a genetic drift in the virus itself, and the variant that last year’s vaccine targeted is not the same that’s circulating today. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved updated COVID-19 vaccines. Everyone 6 months and older is eligible for the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about which vaccine might be right for you and your family members.
Keeping your vaccine status up to date helps keep you and your friends and loved ones healthy to enjoy the festivities of the season together. It also reduces your risk of severe disease, hospitalization or death in the event you do contract COVID-19 and minimizes your risk of developing long COVID. The antibodies triggered from either a vaccination or an infection generally last for three to four months. This is part of the reason why infection rates for COVID-19 increase during summer months. Fortunately, while the current variants are more transmissible, we are not seeing them associated with more severe clinical disease.
If you are visually motivated, you can follow COVID-19 activity in your state based on waste water monitoring at COVID-19 Wastewater Data – Current Levels | NWSS | CDC.
As you put away those summer shorts and dresses and pull out the scarves and sweaters it is time to plan for Fall virus prevention. Additional information on the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines can be found on the CDC website at Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines | COVID-19 | CDC.
