How to Help Families and Friends Prevent Respiratory Illnesses This Holiday Season

(BPT) - By Sanofi

The holiday season is upon us - along with the many in-person gatherings that come along with it. This time of year, it's important to know how to help keep your family protected from illnesses like the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and whooping cough.

In the winter months, we often see a rise in cases of the flu and RSV.^[1] But there are several preventive actions we can take to help avoid getting sick this holiday season. Avoiding gatherings when you are not feeling well, covering your mouth when you cough, and washing your hands can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses.^[2] Immunizations can also be key to helping avoid serious complications from respiratory illness. Some immunizations can help to keep your family and friends protected.^[3]

"As we enter the holiday season, it's critical to ensure that all eligible members of your family are up to date on their immunizations, particularly as illnesses can spread through close contact during holiday gatherings," said Dr. Sean X. Leng, geriatric medicine and infectious disease expert.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maintaining a routine immunization schedule is one of the best ways to help protect against certain respiratory illnesses.^[4] If you are headed to your healthcare provider or pharmacy for an annual flu vaccine, it can be a good time to ensure eligible members of your family are also up to date on other immunizations.

The Risk of Complications of the Flu in Vulnerable Populations

Flu vaccinations can help reduce the burden of illness and hospitalization - especially for people who are at higher risk of developing serious complications, such as older adults or people with chronic conditions like lung or heart disease.^[5]

Anyone can catch the flu, but people 65 years and older bear the greatest burden of severe illness and flu-related hospitalizations.^[6] The CDC estimates that 70% to 85% of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in people of this age group, making them a high priority for receiving vaccination.^[6]

Several vaccines are available for more vulnerable, older adult populations including Sanofi's Fluzone^® High-Dose (Influenza Vaccine) and Flublok^® (Influenza Vaccine).^[7],[8] Flublok and Fluzone High-Dose are vaccines indicated for the prevention of disease caused by influenza A and B strains contained in (or in the case of Flublok represented by antigens contained in) the vaccine.^[7],[8] Flublok is given to people 18 years of age and older.^[8] Fluzone High-Dose is given to people 65 years of age and older.^[7] Flublok or Fluzone High-Dose should not be given to anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine (including egg or egg products for Fluzone High-Dose).^[7],[8] In addition, Fluzone High-Dose should not be given to anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of any influenza vaccine.^[7] See below for additional Important Safety Information about Flublok and Fluzone High-Dose.

Helping to Protect Babies from Serious Lung Infection Caused by RSV

It is equally important to help provide protection for babies who are at risk of developing a serious lung infection caused by RSV.^[9],[10] The holiday season can bring an increase in cases, as RSV can be spread from a kiss or touching a shared toy.^[11]

"RSV is a highly contagious virus that can progress from mild cold-like symptoms to hospitalization in less than a week.^[12] While hospitalization is uncommon, it is the most common cause of hospitalization in babies, with a staggering two out of three getting RSV by age 1,"^[9] said Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins, Board-Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB-GYN).

There is an immunization to help prevent serious lung infection caused by RSV.^[13] Beyfortus^® (nirsevimab-alip) 50mg and 100mg Injection is a preventative antibody that helps provide an extra layer of protection against serious RSV lung infections for babies under 1 born during or entering their first RSV season, and certain kids up to 24 months.^[13] Your child should not take Beyfortus if your child has a history of serious allergic reactions to nirsevimab-alip or any of the ingredients in Beyfortus. Beyfortus may not protect all children.^[13] See below for additional Important Safety Information about Beyfortus.

Continuing the Conversation About Immunizations

And while respiratory illnesses are top of mind, it's a good time to ensure that eligible members of the family are up to date with a Tdap vaccine, such as Adacel^® (Tdap vaccine), to help combat the risk of whooping cough (pertussis). In addition to whooping cough, Tdap vaccines help prevent diphtheria and tetanus.^[14] Adacel is indicated for:

• active booster immunization against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Adacel is approved for use in persons 10 through 64 years of age.^[14]
• immunization during the third trimester of pregnancy to prevent pertussis in infants younger than 2 months of age.^[14]

You should not take Adacel if you've had severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of Adacel or any other diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and pertussis antigen-containing vaccine.^[14] See below for additional Important Safety Information about Adacel.

Whooping cough also poses a serious risk for babies and young children.^[15] The bacterial infection, also known as pertussis, can cause uncontrollable and violent coughing.^[15] It can be extremely serious and even deadly for babies and young children.^[15]

While infection rates had been falling in previous years, the United States is beginning to return to pre-pandemic patterns.^[16]

Be a Health Advocate This Season

Immunizations are a great tool to help protect eligible members of your family during times of peak illness and throughout the year.^[1],[3] Talk to your healthcare provider to learn more about options that may be right for you or your loved ones this holiday season.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR FLUBLOK^® (INFLUENZA VACCINE) AND FLUZONE^® HIGH-DOSE (INFLUENZA VACCINE)

Flublok or Fluzone High-Dose should not be given to anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine (including egg or egg products for Fluzone High-Dose). In addition, Fluzone High-Dose should not be given to anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of any influenza vaccine.

Tell your health care provider if you have ever had Guillain-Barré syndrome (severe muscle weakness) after a previous influenza vaccination.

If Flublok or Fluzone High-Dose are given to people with a compromised immune system, including those receiving therapies that suppress the immune system, the immune response may be lower than expected.

Vaccination with Flublok or Fluzone High-Dose may not protect all people who receive the vaccine.

Fainting has occurred following vaccination with Flublok and Fluzone High-Dose. Procedures should be in place to avoid injury from fainting.

For Flublok, in adults 18 through 64 years of age, the most common side effects were pain where you got the shot, headache, tiredness, and muscle pain. In adults 65 years of age and older the most common side effects were pain where you got the shot, tiredness and headache.

For Fluzone High-Dose, in adults 65 years of age and older, the most common side effects were pain where you got the shot, muscle pain, tiredness, and headache.

For Flublok and Fluzone High-Dose, other side effects may occur.

Before administration, please see the full Prescribing Information for Flublok, or Fluzone High-Dose. Also, please see complete Patient Information for Fluzone High-Dose.

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BEYFORTUS (nirsevimab-alip) 50mg and 100mg Injection INDICATION

Beyfortus is a prescription medicine used to help prevent a serious lung disease caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in:

• Newborns and babies under 1 year of age born during or entering their first RSV season.
• Children up to 24 months of age who remain at risk of severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Your child should not take Beyfortus if your child has a history of serious allergic reactions to nirsevimab-alip or any of the ingredients in Beyfortus.

Before your child receives Beyfortus, tell your healthcare provider about all of your child's medical conditions, including if your child:

• has ever had a reaction to Beyfortus.
• has bleeding or bruising problems. If your child has a problem with bleeding or bruises easily, an injection could cause a problem.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines your child takes, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Your infant should not receive a medicine called palivizumab if they have already received Beyfortus in the same RSV season.

Serious allergic reactions have happened with Beyfortus. Get medical help right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms of a serious allergic reaction:

• swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• unresponsiveness
• bluish color of skin, lips, or under fingernails
• muscle weakness
• severe rash, hives, or itching

The most common side effects of Beyfortus include rash and pain, swelling, or hardness at the site of your child's injection. These are not all the possible side effects of Beyfortus. Call your healthcare provider if you have questions about side effects.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, for more details.

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ADACEL (Tdap vaccine) INDICATION

Adacel is a vaccine indicated for:

• active booster immunization against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Adacel is approved for use in persons 10 through 64 years of age.

• immunization during the third trimester of pregnancy to prevent pertussis in infants younger than 2 months of age.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Adacel is contraindicated in persons who have had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any other tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, or pertussis containing vaccine, or to any component of Adacel; or encephalopathy within 7 days of a previous dose of a pertussis containing vaccine with no other identifiable cause.

Epinephrine hydrochloride solution (1:1,000) and other appropriate agents and equipment must be available for immediate use in case an anaphylactic or acute hypersensitivity reaction occurs.

If Guillain-Barré syndrome or brachial neuritis has occurred within 6 weeks following previous vaccination with a tetanus toxoid or if progressive or unstable neurologic disorders exist, the decision to give Adacel should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks.

Persons who experienced an Arthus-type hypersensitivity reaction following a prior dose of tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine should not receive Adacel unless at least 10 years have elapsed since the last dose of tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine.

Some individuals with altered immunocompetence, including receiving immunosuppressant therapy, may have reduced immune responses to Adacel.

Syncope can occur in association with administration of injectable vaccines, including Adacel. Procedures should be in place to prevent falling injury and manage syncopal reactions.

After the first and second dose of Adacel, the most frequently reported solicited reactions were pain, swelling, and erythema at the injection site; headache, body ache or muscle weakness, tiredness, myalgia, and malaise.

Other adverse reactions may occur. Vaccination with Adacel may not protect all individuals.

Please click to see full Prescribing Information.

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