With cold and flu season starting, COVID-19 is on every healthcare and school professional’s mind. Clinicians need to carry an extra awareness to help others stay healthy from common illnesses, such as coronavirus, influenza, and other respiratory infections. These highly contagious conditions become more prevalent in the fall and winter, but proper precautions and preparations can help students, patients, and professionals stay healthy.
If you’re a nurse, healthcare professional, or work in schools, read on to learn more about the latest COVID-19 trends for 2025-2026. We’ll cover vaccine guidance, current variant information, prevention practices, and more.
The Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance
Emergency department visits have increased in the U.S. by just over 15 percent this summer, with about a tenth of those visits being COVID–19–related. Early September data shows that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely to grow in 24 states. There is also some confusion about current COVID-19 guidance regarding vaccine recommendations and availability. The CDC maintains an updated immunization schedule that shows which vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, are recommended based on age and other factors. Top advisors are meeting next week to discuss vaccine recommendations.
Who is eligible and/or advised to receive the COVID-19 vaccine this fall?
Currently, the CDC recommends a 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults ages 18 and older. The vaccine is available for children ages 6 months to 17, and parents should discuss the benefits of that vaccination with their family healthcare provider. The FDA recently imposed new eligibility restrictions on the vaccine and limited updated shots to those who are at the highest risk for serious complications (those over 65 or who have preexisting health conditions). Young healthy adults and children can still get the shots with a doctor’s approval and out-of-pocket expense. Some states are pushing back on federal policies regarding COVID-19 vaccinations, which means vaccine availability may differ depending on location.
What are the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect individuals from severe illness, hospitalization due to COVID, and death. These protections are particularly beneficial for adults who are 65 or older, or anyone who is at high risk for severe cases of COVID-19. The vaccine is particularly effective for those who have never been vaccinated before. The vaccine can also lower the risk of getting Long COVID.
Should those who have had COVID-19 before still receive a vaccine?
Those who have had a recent case of COVID-19 may delay getting the vaccine for 3 months after symptoms, or 3 months since a positive COVID-19 test.
What COVID-19 vaccines are available?
The 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccines target the Omicron variant and the strains that come from that lineage. The current vaccines available include:
- 2025–2026 Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (for anyone 6 months or older)
- 2025–2026 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (for anyone 6 months or older)
- 2025–2026 Noravax COVID-19 Vaccine (for anyone 12 years or older)
Understanding New COVID-19 Variants
Since 2020, COVID-19 has been observed to peak twice per year. The virus peaks in the winter and drops in the spring, then peaks again in the summer during travel times and as people seek indoor, air-conditioned spaces.
The virus’s ability to mutate is what contributes to higher spread and baseline infection rates. A variant of the virus is a mutation that is better at evading immunity. The most widely known variant of COVID-19 last year was omicron, but there are now subvariants of that strain that are circulating. The “Nimbus” variant was common last summer, including reports of its “razor sore throat,” but now a new variant has spread.
“Stratus” variant
The common term for the variant that is currently spreading rapidly in the United States is known as “Stratus,” or the XFG COVID-19 variant. This variant is spreading more quickly as fall approaches. This particular variant was first detected in March in the United States and is just now surpassing the “Nimbus” variant in case numbers.
Symptoms of the “Stratus” variant
The “Stratus” variant appears to be more transmissible than previous versions of the virus and has unique spike mutations. That means the virus can evade COVID-19 antibodies of earlier vaccinations or previous contractions of the infection itself. The symptoms of the “Stratus” strain are similar to those of other Omicron subvariants:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Runny nose
- Headaches
- Body aches
How to recognize COVID-19 vs. the common cold
While many of those symptoms can also occur with a common cold, not all of them overlap. Headaches and fevers are rare with a common cold, and fatigue or shortness of breath is typically much worse with COVID-19. Symptoms of COVID-19 usually start 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus, but the common cold can begin causing symptoms as early as 1 to 3 days after exposure.
The only way to truly know if symptoms are from COVID-19 or not is to use a test kit or be tested by a healthcare professional.
Best Prevention Practices for COVID-19
Even with the prevalence of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, adopting healthy habits and preventive practices can help maintain good health. Here are a few steps that help with staying healthy:
Get vaccinated
A yearly COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to lower the risk of death or serious illness from the virus. Even those who have been previously vaccinated or have contracted the virus can benefit from the updated yearly vaccine. The vaccine can be administered as either a shot or a nasal spray.
Hand hygiene
Hand-washing may seem simple, but this small habit is a crucial way to help prevent the spread of germs that cause illness. This includes thoroughly scrubbing with soap for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Sneezing into an elbow and avoiding any touching of one’s eyes, nose, or mouth will also help to minimize the spread of germs.
Conscious in crowds
Germs spread easily in indoor public spaces, and maintaining a distance from others when possible can help prevent the spread of viruses. Other helpful practices in crowded areas include wearing a mask and opening windows to increase ventilation.
Disinfect often
Areas that are frequently touched should be consistently disinfected to prevent the spread of viruses. This includes doorknobs, phones, counters, light switches, and other devices. A simple disinfectant wipe or spray can help minimize germ growth and spread, especially when considering that many people can spread COVID-19 before they even know they have it.
Best COVID-19 Practices for School Professionals
School professionals can take proactive measures to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 through personal habits and classroom practices. The school setting will always be a high-risk environment for germ sharing due to close contact with others, poor ventilation, inadequate student hygiene, and other factors.
These are a few steps that school professionals can take to help keep staff and students healthy:
- Sanitize and disinfect surfaces often
- Encourage proper hand washing
- Teach respiratory etiquette
- Provide clear benchmarks about when to keep students home
- Have cleaning supplies readily available
While none of these measures can guarantee total prevention of viral spread, investing effort in these areas can help minimize the occurrence and spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
SHC Prioritizes Health and Safety
As one of the largest healthcare and school staffing companies in the country, Supplemental Health Care (SHC) understands the importance of keeping both providers and patients safe and healthy. We support limiting the spread of COVID-19 by protecting health professionals and patients, and by supporting public health partners who work to provide research and guidance in healthcare.
search content