Self Management/Education - Community Family Practice

09/2025 Seasonal Vaccine Updates

We recommend getting the COVID and Flu vaccines in late September or early October. If you've recently had COVID or received the vaccine, it's best to wait 6 months before COVID vaccination.You can receive the Flu vaccine at the same time or separately.

In addition, we recommend seasonal RSV vaccination in adults ages 75 or older and adults ages 50-74 with high risk medical conditions who have not previously received the vaccine. If you received the RSV vaccine in 2023 or 2024, you don't need another dose.

The RSV vaccine is also recommended during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. There is a monoclonal antibody injection available for newborns if mom did not receive the vaccine.

You may receive any of these vaccines at our office during your regular visits, or you may schedule a vaccine-only appointment. You can also receive these at most local pharmacies, but be aware that most pharmacies now require a prescription from our office in order for you to receive the COVID vaccine. We will have COVID vaccine orders available for pick-up in our front office.

COVID Vaccine Update

We expect to have the 2025-2026 Covid vaccine in Mid-September. This will be an updated version from last year's vaccine. We will have Pfizer vaccines for ages 5 - adult, and Moderna for children 6months - 4 years of age.

The FDA recently approved these updated vaccines for people over age 65 AND those aged 6 months-64 years with a condition that puts them at risk for more severe disease based on the CDC's list of risk factors: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/clinical-care/underlying-conditions.html. This list is extensive and includes obesity, smoking, and mental health diagnoses.

In addition, physicians are able to recommend vaccines "off-label" and can administer vaccines to those who don't meet the FDA criteria. Taking vaccines off-label may incur a charge applied by your insurance company.

Finally, many professional organizations are recommending more inclusive vaccination criteria: all children under age 2 regardless of risk factors, anyone living with a high risk individual, all pregnant people, any adult who requests vaccination, and any child whose parent/guardian requests vaccination. Our practice plans to follow the more inclusive criteria.

In late September, it is possible the CDC/ACIP organizations may limit the list of severe COVID risk factors, or otherwise limit their recommendation for who should receive the COVID vaccine.

If that occurs, our providers are still able to recommend/administer vaccines to patients who don't meet the strict criteria. However, it remains to be seen if insurance companies will continue to cover the vaccine for those who don't meet the CDC/ACIP's criteria.

If there are limits on insurance coverage in the future, then patients can choose to receive the vaccine and pay out of pocket. Our current cost for the COVID vaccines is up to $105 per dose. We will provide more information as we know more, but encourage you to contact your insurance company before scheduling a vaccine appointment.

7.2025 CFP Vaccine Statement

As of the end of June, North Carolina is the 37th state to report a case of measles since January. This case does not appear to be related to the current outbreak originating out of Texas, but at present we are on course to have nearly 10 times the number of US cases as in 2024, and the most cases in a calendar year in 33 years. At the same time, and not by coincidence, cases of pertussis (whooping cough) are currently occurring daily in Buncombe county. Much suffering, worry, and caregiver burden will occur as a result of these entirely preventable outbreaks.

We want to take this opportunity to implore our patients to protect themselves and their families by making certain they have up to date immunizations against these highly contagious infections.Please consult our office if you have had close contact with someone suspected of, or confirmed to have, either of these infections regardless of your vaccine status. While vaccination protects against serious infection, it may still be necessary to take action if exposed. For the health of others, please do not enter any public or private shared space, including our office, if you are concerned you may have been exposed to, or have symptoms of, one of these infections. We will make every attempt to make a proper assessment of you without exposing our other patients and staff.

In this moment we would also like to make it very clear to our patients that our providers unambiguously and enthusiastically recommend each of the vaccines in the current US adult and childhood immunization schedules: not only for the recipient’s health but for the protection of our other patients, our providers and staff, our own families, and the community at large. While our practice has chosen not to exclude patients and families based on vaccination uptake, this is not to be mistaken for ambivalence on the topic or lack of concern about the increasing frequency of undervaccination in our community. We maintain open doors in a spirit of openness and outreach, but understand through the same training and experience for which you seek our advice on other health matters that immunizations are the least intrusive, most efficacious method of preventing infection, reducing severity and duration of illness, and reducing spread of disease in communities for which basic sanitation measures are presumed. As with any widely applied health measure, there have been rare but real adverse effects from vaccines. Yet it remains abundantly clear from hard data and experience that there is no vaccine-preventable illness that is not many, many times riskier than the currently available vaccine that prevents it.

Click the link below or copy and paste into your browser to read more on measles and pertussis. Please contact our office if you or your family need to update your vaccinations. We offer convenient vaccine-only appointments with a staff member, or we can schedule an appointment with your regular provider if you have questions about these vaccines.

For Information about Measles Infection

About Measles

For Detailed Information about Measles Vaccination

Measles Vaccine Recommendations

For Information about Pertussis Infection

About Whooping Cough

For Detailed information about Pertussis Vaccination

Pertussis Vaccination Recommendations | Whooping Cough | CDC

Additional Resources:

familydoctor.orgHealth Information and Patient Handouts for the whole family, from the American Academy of Family Physicians

Eat Smart - Move More NCSimple solutions on how you can prevent and fight obesity with better nutrition and exercise

American Heart Association

American Diabetes Association

National Cancer InstituteComprehensive cancer resource website

Lab Tests OnlineA public resource on clinical lab testing and how to interpret results

USDA National Nutrient DatabaseSearch for nutritional information by food type

HealthFinder.govFederal website containing prevention and wellness info and other health resources

Mayo ClinicExtensive collection of patient handouts on thousands of health topics

Helpful Patient Resources