Respiratory virus season has arrived. What to know about getting this year’s vaccines

There are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting seriously ill with respiratory viruses this year – and vaccination plays a key role. Rebecca Blackwell/AP

It’s that time of year when the leaves are turning golden, there’s a chill in the air and the threat of respiratory viruses like Covid-19, influenza or RSV looms across the country.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects the 2025-26 fall and winter respiratory disease season to have a similar number of peak hospitalizations due to Covid-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus as there were last season.

But there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting seriously ill with any of those circulating viruses this year – and vaccination plays a key role.

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