Doctor’s Note – December 2025
Southcoast Health 
Help Protect Your Health this Holiday Season
As we settle into another New England winter, Chief Clinical and Academic Officer Dani Hackner, MD shares the single most effective way to protect yourself and the people you love from illness: staying up to date on your vaccines. This year, that means the flu vaccine, the updated COVID-19 vaccine, and – for many – the RSV vaccine.
Why your flu shot matters
The flu is more than a tough week in bed. Every year, it leads to hospitalizations and complications, especially for older adults, young children, pregnant women and those with chronic conditions. This season’s flu vaccine is designed to match the viral strains most likely to circulate this season; but even when it’s not a perfect match, it can dramatically reduce the risk of severe illness. It is recommended that all adults age 19 and older get their flu shot every year.
RSV: New protection for adults and infants
If you’re 60 or older, pregnant, or 18+ and have certain underlying health conditions, you may be eligible for the RSV vaccine. RSV can cause serious lung infections in older adults, and for the first time, we have vaccines that provide meaningful protection. If you qualify, this is a conversation worth having with your healthcare provider. The current recommendations include:
- Individuals 60 years of age and older
- Individuals 18 through 59 years of age who are at increased risk due to chronic conditions
- Pregnant individuals at 32 through 36 weeks gestation
- Infants from birth through 6 months of age
Boost your protection with an updated COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 continues to evolve, and so do we. The latest COVID vaccine is updated to better target the variants circulating this fall and winter. Immunity from past doses and infections fades with time, so getting your updated shot is an easy, important way to stay protected and minimize the risk of hospitalization and long-term complications – particularly for people 65 and older and anyone with chronic health conditions who are at higher risk for severe illness.
Southcoast Health makes it easy
It can be confusing to know which vaccines are right for you based on your age, overall health and risk for severe illness. Your primary care provider (PCP) can help you make the right choices. If you have an upcoming appointment, it’s the perfect opportunity to ask about recommended vaccines.
Whether you have a PCP or not, Southcoast Health makes it easy to schedule an appointment and get the vaccines you and your family need, offering Clínicas de vacunación at convenient locations throughout southeastern New England.
The CDC also offers a guide to help you stay up to day on vaccines, as well as other resources and information:
Lo esencial
In the colder months – when people gather indoors and viruses spread more easily – vaccines are an essential part of your personal preventive health plan. Seasonal vaccines are safe, effective and one of the most reliable tools we have to prevent serious illness. If you haven’t yet scheduled your flu shot, updated COVID vaccine, or discussed RSV protection with your provider, now is the perfect time.
Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday season,
Dani Hackner, MD MBA
Chief Clinical and Academic Officer
ABIM Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Critical Care
Ronald Goodspeed Chair for Quality and Safety
