PA Doctors Ready Families for Healthier Fall Season

Pennsylvania doctors are gearing up for fall with a clear message: this year's updated vaccines can keep families healthier during the season ahead.

Pediatrician Dr. Toni Richards-Rowley has seen too many healthy kids end up in intensive care with preventable illnesses. Now she's spreading the word that simple vaccines can protect children and adults from flu, COVID-19, and RSV as school starts and holidays approach.

The timing matters because September and October give people time to build antibodies before they're exposed. Updated vaccines matching this year's circulating strains are rolling out now at pharmacies and doctor's offices across Pennsylvania.

Dr. Andrew Lutzkanin, a family medicine physician in Middletown, reminds patients that getting vaccinated helps protect vulnerable people around them. When healthy young people get immunized, they create a shield for those with chronic conditions who face serious complications.

The Ripple Effect

The impact of recent vaccine advances shows what's possible when families stay protected. Since RSV vaccines for pregnant women and antibody treatments for babies became available in 2023, hospitalizations among newborns have dropped significantly.

Richards-Rowley calls it "one of those medical miracles that protects these super, super young infants." Thousands of young children used to be hospitalized for RSV every year, but that number is falling thanks to the new preventive treatments.

The vaccines work for everyone six months and older. Some children and adults 65 and older may need two doses depending on their health status, while most people need just one shot for each respiratory illness.

Richards-Rowley knows life gets busy, so her advice is simple: get vaccinated as soon as you see the opportunity. Walking through CVS and seeing the sign? Go get it now before November arrives and you're stuck with a high fever wishing you'd remembered.

This fall, families have powerful tools to stay healthy and protect the people they love.