October in Alabama is football, fairs, and family—and the start of respiratory season. In my practice, I see the same pattern every year: a trickle of coughs and fevers becomes a wave by late fall, and too many Alabamians end up in emergency rooms for illnesses we can often prevent or blunt. My message is simple and urgent: talk with your doctor now about a personal plan to get through flu, COVID-19, and RSV season safely.
Prevention isn’t about fear; it’s about stewardship—of your health, your family, and our hospitals. A short visit with your physician can sort out which vaccines are right for you, the timing that makes the most sense, and what to do if you get sick anyway. That plan may include an annual flu shot, an updated COVID-19 vaccine, and—depending on your age and medical history—an RSV vaccine. It should also cover practical layers like ventilation at home, a couple of home COVID tests in the cabinet, and knowing when to call for antivirals if you develop symptoms.
Why does this matter in Alabama? Because these viruses quietly strain our communities every year. History shows how respiratory illnesses rise as temperatures drop, and county weekly influenza-like-illness reports are a reminder that what looks “quiet” in early fall can surge quickly as we move into the holidays. Even modest increases translate into crowded ERs, missed work, and avoidable complications—especially for older adults and people with heart, lung, kidney, or immune conditions.
Vaccines aren’t perfect shields, but they consistently cut the risks that send people to the hospital. This season’s flu shots have been updated and, like last year, are trivalent – built to cover the strains experts expect to circulate. The COVID-19 vaccines get an update each fall, too, tuned to the variants we’re actually seeing. And RSV—long overlooked in adults—now has a one-dose vaccine option that protects those most likely to get seriously ill. If you’re 75 or older, or if you’re 50–74 with conditions like chronic heart or lung disease, diabetes, or compromised immunity, ask about it. If you’re a caregiver or grandparent around young infants, protecting yourself also helps protect them.
I know some folks prefer to “just tough it out,” or they worry about cost and access. That’s exactly why your doctor is the right first call. We can tell you which shots you truly need (and which you don’t), line up options that fit your insurance, and map the timing so you’re covered before virus activity climbs. For many high-risk patients, we’ll also outline an antiviral plan in advance—because medications for flu and COVID-19 work best when started early.
If it’s been a while since you received any vaccine, or you’ve had a recent infection, don’t assume you’re already protected for the season. Immunity wanes. Viruses change. Your medical history, medications, and even the timing of your last dose matter. A 15-minute conversation can replace guesswork with a concrete plan.
To make this easy, here’s what I want every adult in Alabama to do in the next two weeks:
- Call your primary care office and ask, “What’s my plan for flu, COVID-19, and RSV this fall?”
- Schedule your flu shot. If you’re 65+, ask whether a higher-dose or adjuvanted flu shot is right for you.
- Ask when the updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2025–26 season will be available and whether you should receive it.
- If you’re 75+, or 50–74 with health conditions that raise your risk, ask whether you should get the RSV vaccine.
- If you get sick: test, call early, and ask about treatment. Don’t “wait it out” if you’re high-risk.
Prevention is the quiet work of medicine. When it succeeds, nothing dramatic happens—you simply keep living your life. As a physician and as an Alabamian, that’s what I want for you and your family this fall.
See your doctor. Make a plan. Protect your season.
