MDH: Time to Talk to Patients about Immunizations

August 8, 2024

With August being National Immunization Awareness Month, it’s time to begin recommending vaccination for the 2024-25 respiratory season, says the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).  

MDH is asking physicians to recommend the seasonal influenza vaccine and the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to all people 6 months of age and older. In addition, MDH is recommending that all infants are protected by either maternal RSV vaccination or infant nirsevimab immunization for the 2024-25 RSV season. Older adults should be protected from RSV by following the ACIP recommendation to immunize people 75 years of age and older and 60-74 years of age who are at risk of severe RSV disease. 

Here is additional background information from MDH: 

RSV vaccines may be co-administered with other vaccines.  

• Data showed that nirsevimab was up to 98% effective in preventing hospitalization in infants during the 2023-2024 season. 

• The influenza vaccine will be a trivalent formulation with the B/Yamagata vaccine component removed since influenza B/Yamagata viruses have not been detected since March 2020. 

• Providers should prepare to offer the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine year-round according to ACIP recommendations, as it is not considered a seasonal vaccine at this time. 

• ACIP recommends high-dose and adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccines as acceptable options for people 18 through 64 years of age who have had a solid organ transplant. 

• MDH is promoting seasonal influenza vaccine for farm workers who also may be at risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, H5N1 to decrease possible co-infections. 

MDH can address clinical vaccination questions through its health.vaccineSME@state.mn.us inbox.