Don’t Guess the Virus: Why Early Testing and Treatment Matters
Flu, COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory illnesses often begin with similar symptoms. Knowing the differences, getting tested, and starting treatment early can help prevent what may seem like a mild illness from becoming more serious.
Last Updated04/08/2026
Don’t Guess the Virus: Why Early Testing and Treatment Matters
Pediatrician Dr. David Hill highlights how vaccines can teach children’s immune systems how to safely fight off infectious diseases before they even encounter them.
Randy Rutta, CEO of the National Health Council, discusses the importance of investing in community health through preventive measures such as vaccination.
Content on this page is being updated to reflect the FDA’s August 27 approval of the 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccine formula. Please check back soon.
Immunization is the best protection against many infectious respiratory illnesses. Learn more about the timelines for vaccination against infectious respiratory diseases for different groups of individuals.
This respiratory illness season, families in communities around the country face vaccine-preventable diseases that can cause serious illness in children — from the flu, COVID-19, whooping cough, pneumococcal disease, and RSV, to measles. Meanwhile, recent data show that vaccination rates in children continue to decline, leaving them more vulnerable and susceptible to severe illness.
Given this landscape, many parents and caregivers have questions about pediatric vaccines, including access through the federal Vaccines for Children program. This is a critical moment for vaccine champions to reinforce focus on pediatric vaccine uptake and strategies that help protect against severe respiratory illness.
Experts in pediatric care, public health, and vaccine policy discussed the critical role that respiratory vaccines play in keeping children safe and practical tools for supporting childhood vaccination during respiratory illness season and beyond.
Panelists included:
Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP, Chief Medical Officer, Association of Immunization Managers (AIM)
James Campbell, MD, MS, Vice Chair, Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Moderator: Stacy Buchanan, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, Chair, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Immunization Special Interest Group
Content on this site is being updated to reflect the FDA’s August 27 approval of the 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccine formula. Please check back soon.
