MARSHALL — It’s not just flu season that Minnesota health care providers are preparing for this fall. In September, vaccines that protect against the latest variant of COVID-19 started becoming available in Minnesota. Both local physicians and state health officials say it’s a good idea to get vaccinated.

“We encourage everyone to get it,” said Dr. Timothy Mok, a physician at Avera Marshall.

Marshall area residents can get COVID boosters, as well as flu vaccines, through pharmacies or by talking to their health care providers.

“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 remains one of the best tools in our toolbox to fight COVID-19 and keep Minnesotans safe. The newly authorized, updated vaccines are an even more effective tool, targeting the variants we know are in our communities right now,” Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham said in a Sept. 13 statement.

Updated COVID vaccines for 2023-24 were approved by the Food and Drug Administration last month. The new vaccines most closely target a COVID subvariant called XBB.1.5. Mok said this version of the virus came from the omicron variant of COVID-19.

“The virus is always changing,” said Avera Marshall physician Dr. Kylie Bossuyt. Getting an updated COVID vaccination helps prevent a person’s immunity from declining over time, she said. Getting vaccinated also helps prevent severe symptoms if you do get COVID, she said.

“Anyone six months and older can get it,” Bossuyt said of the updated COVID shots. Vaccinations are especially important for people who are at higher risk for COVID, like senior citizens, people with weakened immune systems and people with certain medical conditions.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of COVID hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. rose during August and September.

Area residents can get the updated COVID vaccines through pharmacies. In late September, Hy-Vee announced that updated 2023-24 COVID vaccines would be available at Hy-Vee pharmacy locations across the Midwest. The updated vaccines would be available to people ages 12 and older. Hy-Vee also said individuals could schedule appointments online to get COVID and flu vaccines, by visiting www.hy-vee.com/covidvaccine.

People could get both their flu and COVID shots at the same time, Hy-Vee’s announcement said. It was also recommended that individuals age 60 and older get vaccinated for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Walmart’s website also allows people to schedule updated COVID and flu vaccinations online, and look for a pharmacy location where specific vaccines are currently available.

Sandy Murphy, pharmacist at GuidePoint Pharmacy in Marshall, said the pharmacy had gone through its first round of updated COVID vaccines, and more vaccine doses were arriving this week. People could get COVID and flu vaccines at GuidePoint either by calling or visiting the pharmacy, Murphy said.

The updated 2023-24 COVID vaccines are the first ones that have become commercially available after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic health emergency. However, the Minnesota Department of Health said the new vaccines will still be free for most Americans through their health insurance plans. Mok said there are also options available for people who are uninsured.

“The CDC came out with the Bridge Access Program, which is a wonderful thing,” Mok said.

The CDC’s Bridge Access Program provides no-cost COVID vaccines to adults without health insurance, and adults whose insurance doesn’t cover all COVID vaccine costs. No-cost vaccines will be available through the program until Dec. 31, 2024. People can visit vaccines.gov to find providers that are offering no-cost COVID vaccines through the Bridge Access Program.

Bossuyt said she has seen interest from patients in getting COVID vaccines.

“There’s been a lot of people asking, ‘I’m getting a flu vaccine, can I also get a COVID vaccine?'” she said. CDC guidance says it’s all right to get a seasonal flu shot and a COVID vaccine at the same appointment.

If people have any questions about getting a COVID vaccine, Mok encouraged them to talk to their doctor. “When in doubt, it’s always great to speak to your physician first,” he said. However, Mok and Bossuyt said it’s better to bring up questions or get vaccinated sooner, rather than waiting until your next checkup.

Mok also encouraged people showing signs of respiratory illness to either get tested for COVID or test at home.