Covid-19 levels in the United States are high and rising, flu season is approaching quickly, and RSV cases are already starting to tick up.

Forecasts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that this respiratory disease season will be similar to last year’s — which brought more than 20 hospitalizations for every 100,000 people in one week at its peak — and far worse than in pre-pandemic years.

There’s a chance that the burden of disease could be lower, however, and vaccination rates will be a key factor in that trajectory.

Last year was the first year that the US had vaccines available to protect against all three major respiratory viruses — Covid-19, flu and RSV — but vaccine uptake was low for the season.

“Our top recommendation for protecting yourself and your loved ones from respiratory illness is to get vaccinated,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a statement. “Make a plan now for you and your family to get both updated flu and COVID vaccines this fall, ahead of the respiratory virus season.”

Here’s what to know about the vaccines available to protect yourself this season.

Covid-19 vaccines

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older receive a Covid-19 vaccine this season to stay up to date. The virus is continuously evolving, and newer versions of the vaccine could offer better protection against severe disease by targeting newer variants.

There are multiple options available; mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer were updated to target KP.2, one of the so-called FLiRT variants that have been dominant in the US since May. Those vaccines are for people 6 months and older. A more traditional protein vaccine from Novavax is also available, but it targets JN.1, a variant that is still circulating but less prominently than a few months ago. The Novavax vaccine is approved only for those ages 12 and up.

We don’t know how effective these vaccines will be in practice. But the Covid-19 vaccines provided 54% protection against symptomatic infection last season, CDC data shows, despite new variants that cropped up.

The updated Covid-19 vaccines are available now, but ideal timing for getting the shot may differ based on individual circumstances.

Tracking Covid-19 levels in wastewater

Health officials monitor wastewater for signs of Covid-19, an early warning system about the viral activity level nationwide. The most recent data as of September 7 shows that the level in the United States increased over the previous week and is categorized by the CDC as "high." Select a state to compare it with the national trend.