Across the U.S. and Texas, COVID-19 hospitalizations, emergency room visits and deaths have been steadily increasing this summer.

And flu season is quickly approaching as kids are now back at school.

Changes in federal guidelines to COVID-19 vaccines will create barriers for some folks looking to get the vaccine as cases rise. But medical experts say you should still try to get them for protection.

Here’s what you need to know about getting vaccinated and ways to steer clear of respiratory viruses this fall.

COVID-19

Locally and statewide, COVID-19 emergency room visits have gone up since July, according to data from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

Summer spikes in cases have become routine since the pandemic started in 2020. Unlike the flu and RSV, which gradual

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