3 Dangerous Respiratory Viruses, 3 Robust Vaccines, 3 Shots at Broad Protection This Year

"I'm gonna go for it. I'm going for all 3," said family physician Chuck Vega, MD, referring to the 3 vaccines that will be available against the potential "tripledemic" viruses in the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season: SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytical virus (RSV), and influenza.

Vega practices in Irvine, CA, where many of his patients are frail older adults with "7 or 8 chronic illnesses," and endless medication lists, he told Patient Care^® recently. The good news is that this is also a population that historically is not resistant to vaccination. While the shared decision making that will accompany a recommendation for the RSV shot may take some extra time, Vega is all in, as he explains in this short video.

William Schaffner, MD, is professor of infectious disease and preventive medicine in the Department of Health Policy, and professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN.

Charles Vega, MD is health sciences clinical professor and associate dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the UC Irvine School of Medicine where he also serves as executive director for the UC Irvine Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community.

For other conversations in our series with Drs William Schaffner and Chuck Vega:

Keep the Vaccination Conversation Going—and Cheerlead, Too

The Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine for Older Adults: The New Shot on the Block

The State of Vaccine Willingness in the US: A Primary Care and an Infectious Disease Physician Discuss

Respiratory Virus Season 2023-2024 is Shaping Up to be a Transitional One: Expert Interview