After the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the RSV vaccine following decades of attempts, there are now vaccines for COVID-19, RSV and the flu for the first time.

As winter approaches, thinking about sickness and how it could affect her family can be scary, Tina Zgura said.

“I have to be healthy in order to take care of them as much as I can," said Zgura, who is a grandmother of two.

Zgura recently received a flu shot and RSV vaccine. Over the last few months, the FDA approved the first RSV vaccine for infants and adults 60 and over.

“For the kids who are younger, under 6 months and especially under 3 months, it’s the size of their airways — they’re the ones more prone to those bad outcomes for RSV. From the standpoint of adults ... over 60-65, they’re more prone to inflammation that occurs in the airway," said Dr. Harry Miller, a pediatrician at Four Seasons Pediatrics in Clifton Park.

The introduction of the vaccine is important with a potentially challenging viral season ahead, Miller said.

“With kids back to school we’re already seeing COVID. As far as flu, it goes to the Southern Hemisphere first, and it was rough in the Southern Hemisphere, so I would anticipate a rough flu season this year. In terms of RSV, we’re anticipating a significant season there too," Miller said.

But there’s also the concern of accessibility with the introduction of new vaccines like RSV.

“Because it got approved and recommended late, how fast will the insurance companies turn this around, get it approved to get it reimbursed and have it available?” Miller said. “Some of the hospitals are showing some reluctance in stocking it because they’re worried about the timeline. We may see RSV — and we probably will see RSV — before it becomes mainstream for everybody.”

New York state isn’t involved in distributing supplies to pharmacies and won’t help them secure the RSV vaccine, a Department of Health public information officer said.

While accessibility issues and other concerns might make some hesitant about receiving the vaccine, Zgura said to her, it’s about protecting her family and friends.

“Once you get old, everything comes with it, it’s not like when you’re young. After 60, I recommend going and do any vaccine possible — whatever it is," Zgura said.