COVID, RSV, flu and whooping cough vaccines available now

Sanford Health encourages everyone to make sure your vaccinations are up to date

COVID, RSV, flu and whooping cough vaccines available now

Sanford Health is now administering COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccine for eligible patients at its clinic locations across its footprint in North Dakota, South Dakota, Northwest Iowa, Minnesota and Northeast Nebraska.

The health care system is also encouraging everyone to make sure they are up to date on their pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine.

Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine

It’s recommended children receive their first dose of pertussis vaccine (DTaP) at 2 months old, receiving a total of five doses by age 6. Preteens should receive one dose of the pertussis vaccine (Tdap) between the ages of 11 and 12. Adults should receive an updated Tdap vaccine every 10 years, and pregnant people should get the vaccine around 20 weeks of pregnancy to provide protection for their baby.

If a patient believes they or a loved one may have whooping cough, they are encouraged to visit one of Sanford Health’s urgent care clinics or schedule an appointment with their primary care provider. Early testing is key to providing treatment for whooping cough, to ease symptoms and reduce spread of the disease to others.

COVID-19/influenza vaccines

COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are available for patients 6 months and older, especially those at higher risk of complications including pregnant people, older adults and young children. Vaccine protection decreases over time, so it’s important for patients to stay up to date with annual vaccinations such as flu and COVID-19.

Like the flu vaccine, the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine is updated to give patients the best protection from currently circulating strains of the virus. People who are up to date with their vaccines have a lower risk of severe illness if they contract the virus.

RSV vaccine

Sanford Health is also administering RSV vaccine for adults 75 and older, or those 60 through 74 years who have chronic underlying health conditions, such as:

  • Heart or lung disease
  • Weakened immune systems
  • Living in skilled nursing or long-term care facilities

These recommendations are for adults who did not get an RSV vaccine last year. The RSV vaccine is currently not an annual vaccine, which means those who already received the vaccine do not need an additional dose this year.

In addition, pregnant people in their third trimester are encouraged to get a single dose of the RSV vaccine during weeks 32-36 of their pregnancy, between September and January.

Infants born during RSV season should receive a single dose of the RSV immunization within one week after birth if the mother was not vaccinated with the RSV vaccine during the third trimester of pregnancy. Parents should talk with their child’s pediatrician for further guidance about the infant RSV immunization.

Patients can receive vaccines at their primary care clinic or by scheduling an appointment through My Sanford Chart.

Learn more

Posted In COVID-19, Family Medicine, Flu, Healthy Living, Immunizations, Internal Medicine