HONOLULU — With the 2024-2025 flu and COVID-19 vaccines now updated, the Hawaii Department of Health recommends people 6 months of age and older get immunized.

What You Need To Know

  • DOH recommends RSV immunizations for adults 75 and older and adults 60 to 74 who have chronic medical conditions as well as for infants to protect them against RSV infection and severe disease

  • RSV is also recommended for pregnant persons as it will provide protection to the newborn at birth

  • COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines can be taken at the same time but if you want to get vaccinated at separate visits, there is no minimum waiting period between vaccines

In addition, DOH recommends the respiratory syncytial virus immunization for newborns and infants, those who are pregnant, adults over 75 and those 60 to 74 who may have certain chronic medical conditions.

“Getting the updated 2024-2025 flu and COVID-19 vaccines as well as RSV immunization are important steps in staying safe from respiratory viruses and helping minimize the impacts of these diseases in our communities,” said State Health Director Dr. Kenneth S. Fink in a news release. “This is especially important as we approach the holiday season.”

Starting Sept. 23, households will also be able to request four free COVID-19 self-test kits.

According to DOH, the updated seasonal flu vaccine is a trivalent formulation that protects against H1N1, H3N2 and B/Victoria Flu strains that may be likely to circulate. The updated COVID-19 vaccine addresses recent strains of the Omicron variant and includes the mRNA vaccine produced by Pfizer and Moderna, as well as the “protein antigen-based vaccine” produced by Novarax.

DOH recommends RSV immunizations for adults 75 and older and adults 60 to 74 who have chronic medical conditions as well as for infants to protect them against RSV infection and severe disease. The DOH says that without an immunization, almost all children by 2 years of age will develop an RSV infection, which even in healthy infants and children often causes difficulty breathing and hospitalization. RSV is also recommended for pregnant persons as it will provide protection to the newborn at birth.

COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines can be taken at the same time, but if you want to get vaccinated at separate visits, there is no minimum waiting period between vaccines. If you are sick, DOH suggests waiting until full recovery before being vaccinated.

Though vaccination providers have been begun receiving the updated vaccines, not all will have them available at the same time. Contact your provider to ask about availability.