Every year, respiratory viruses such as flu, Covid and RSV make millions of people get sick and thousands of people die.
You can reduce your risk to vaccinating.
Did you know?
People over 65 and those who are immunocompromised should obtain a second COVID vaccine 6 months after their first dose.
Who is at risk of respiratory infections?
All run the risk of respiratory infections, but some people have a higher risk of serious diseases or hospitalization.
It is considered a high risk of a serious case of flu or covid if:
-
They are 65 years or more
-
They are pregnant
-
Have a weakened immune system
-
Have certain health conditions, such as:
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Heart disease
-
Obesity
-
Asthma
It is considered a high risk of a serious case of RSV if:
-
They are 75 years or more
-
They are 60-74 years and live in a long-term care center
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Have certain health conditions, such as:
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Heart and renal heart disease
-
Obesity
-
Diabetes
-
Asthma
How can the difference between these infections notice?
The flu, Covid and RSV cause similar symptoms that can vary from mild to mortal.
Common symptoms of these 3 viruses include:
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Fever
-
Cough
-
Headache
-
Nose that falls or nose
Other symptoms are more common in certain viruses than others.
|
Flu |
COVID-19 |
RSV |
|
|
Muscle pain/body pains |
Often |
Sometimes |
Hardly ever |
|
Difficulty breathing |
Hardly ever |
Often |
Sometimes |
|
Fatigue or weakness |
Often |
Often |
Hardly ever |
|
Fever |
Often (it can be high, up to 103 or 104) |
Sometimes (slight fever of 99 or 100) |
Sometimes (slight fever of 99 or 100) |
|
Loss of flavor or smell |
Hardly ever |
Sometimes |
Hardly ever |
|
Sore throat |
Sometimes |
Often |
Hardly ever |
|
Sibilant |
Hardly ever |
Hardly ever |
Often |
|
Shivers |
Often |
Often |
Hardly ever |
|
Sneeze |
Sometimes |
Sometimes |
Sometimes |
|
Diarrhea/vomiting |
Sometimes |
Sometimes |
Hardly ever |
One way to help you discover which virus is how quickly the symptoms come on.
-
The flu comes quickly and feels throughout the body
-
Covid and RSV often start slowly with sniffles, followed the next day or two by cough and head
The only way of knowing with certainty is to test.
Vaccines to protect it from flu, covid and RSV
Vaccines can help maintain soft symptoms and help prevent serious diseases and hospitalization.
Flu and Covid vaccines are recommended for:
-
All 6 months onwards
It is especially important to get vaccinated if you are 65 years old or more or have a high risk of serious diseases.
RSV vaccine for adults is recommended:
-
75 years or more
-
Over 60 years in nursing homes or with certain health conditions
-
32 – 36 weeks of pregnancy during the RSV season
This educational resource was created with the support of Novavax, a member of the Corporate Advisory Council of Greetings.
