BUFFALO, N.Y. — As the cold weather creeps in, so do your chances of getting sick.

"We have yet to see a lot of flu in our community, but we anticipate with the upcoming respiratory winter virus season, which starts sometime in November, December," said Thomas Russo, professor and chief of infectious disease for the University at Buffalo.

Health officials remind people that both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are now available.

What You Need To Know

  • Flu season begins around November, but COVID-19 doesn't stick to a particular season and people are at risk all year

  • Health officials urge people 6 months and older to get their flu vaccine by Halloween

  • Vaccines lose their effectiveness after a few months, meaning if you haven't gotten a booster lately, you are still vulnerable

"These vaccines have been updated to best match the circulating variants. So we anticipate increased efficacy both in preventing infections and more importantly preventing serious disease hospitalizations," Russo said.

People six months and older are encouraged to get the flu vaccine before Halloween, but when it comes to the COVID vaccine, it is a little more complicated.

"If you’ve been infected within the last three months or if you’ve had an older formulation of the COVID vaccine in the last two months you need to go ahead and wait," said Russo. 

If you haven’t recently been infected or gotten a COVID vaccine in the last two months and you fall into the high risk category, you should get the vaccine. But officials also urge young and healthy people to get vaccinated as well.

"Data shows now that the best way to minimize the likelihood of developing long COVID is to get vaccinated. In fact, vaccination may decrease the likelihood of developing long COVID by as much as 70%," Russo said.

Old vaccinations also lose their effectiveness, meaning if you haven’t gotten a booster in a while, you’re still vulnerable. The updated COVID vaccine was created to fight newer strands of the coronavirus.

"By getting vaccinated you will protect your loved ones and those you interact with on a regular basis as well," Russo said.