The last few years have brought a new autumn ritual. Starting in September, drug stores and supermarkets run promotions for flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines. Customers who get jabbed at the in-store pharmacy earn a $10 off coupon or maybe a gift card. Both vaccines can be given at once, and for some people, a Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine might also be recommended.
Is this the new vaccine normal for COVID-19? An annual shot along with others to protect against seasonal viruses?
Some epidemiologists say people should get used to rolling up their sleeves every autumn because an annual COVID-19 shot is indeed the new normal.
How Often Should You Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?
In the foreseeable future, many scientists think a COVID-19 vaccine will be an annual event, just like the flu shot. Every year, scientists analyze flu strains and base the flu shot formula on the most prominent strains.