What will virus season look like in Washington state this year?

Washington state is once again heading into respiratory virus season.

Last year, the triple threat of Covid-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) put a strain on an already fragile health-care system.

This year however, health officials say the state is in a different place.

“We’ve got a lot of new tools this season,” said state epidemiologist, Dr. Scott Lindquist, during a media briefing Friday.

Those tools include new treatments, surveillance methods, and vaccines.

“For the first time we have a vaccine against all three of these diseases,” said state secretary of health, Dr. Umair Shah, “which is just amazing.”

An updated Covid-19 vaccine was recently approved and recommended by federal regulators for everyone aged 6 months and older.

The seasonal flu vaccine remains recommended for those 6 months and older as well.