REGIONAL — With respiratory illnesses climbing as Minnesotans gather for holiday celebrations, state health officials are urging eligible residents to get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19 and RSV. Vaccination helps prevent infection and reduces the risk of hospitalization or death.
“These viruses spread easily and can make people very sick,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham. She encouraged people to get vaccinated now rather than risk missing gatherings or infecting loved ones.
Flu hospitalizations have more than doubled since Thanksgiving.
It is still too early to know the dominant flu strain or how severe the season will be, but early signs indicate increasing activity statewide.
Health officials have reported the rise of a new strain of influenza virus that is helping to fuel outbreaks worldwide that may be resistant to vaccinations. People are urged to get the vaccine to lessen the severity of flu caused by the new strain.
Officials are also tracking a rise in COVID-19 and RSV, including growing reports of respiratory illness outbreaks in schools. As of Dec. 19, the Centers for Disease Control reported that COVID cases in Minnesota were “not changing,” while increases were being seen in Wisconsin and North Dakota. However, northeast Minnesota has seen recent upticks in both hospital cases of COVID and viral load in wastewater testing.
Infants and young children, adults 65 and older, pregnant people and those with conditions such as diabetes, heart or lung disease, or weakened immune systems face higher risk from flu, COVID-19 and RSV.
Current recommendations for the 2025-26 season:
• Flu: Everyone 6 months and older
• COVID-19: Everyone six months and older, with high priority for people under two years old, pregnant individuals, those 65 and older, and people at higher risk
• RSV: Infants, pregnant people and older adults who have not previously received an RSV immunization
These recommendations align with national medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Vaccinations are available through clinics, pharmacies, public health agencies, and community clinics. Most insurance plans cover vaccines. Free or low-cost options exist through Minnesota Vaccines for Children and the Uninsured and Underinsured Adult Vaccine programs.
In addition to vaccination, health officials recommend common preventive steps: wash hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, stay home when sick, and consider wearing a mask in public if feeling unwell.
More information, including vaccine guidance and current respiratory illness data, is available on the Minnesota Department of Health website.