What you need to know about respiratory illnesses

Let’s explore your preventive options and answer some frequently asked questions about respiratory illnesses.

What are respiratory illnesses?

A respiratory illness is a condition that affects your pulmonary system—your lungs, nose and throat. Mild respiratory illnesses can make it hard to breathe when you’re sick, which can lead to other issues or even more serious illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis.

Even healthy people can contract these illnesses and become severely ill. In fact, the CDC estimates that at least 1 million people were hospitalized, and 70,000 more died from a viral respiratory illness in 2024. These illnesses, which can be caused by a virus or bacteria, are very common, and most people have experienced at least one of them throughout their lives. 

Respiratory illnesses include:

• Flu (viral)
• COVID-19 (viral)
• RSV (viral)
• Adenovirus (viral)
• Rhinovirus/the common cold (viral)
• Parainfluenza (viral)
• Parvovirus B19 (viral)
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae (bacterial)
• Pneumococcal disease (bacterial)

What prevents respiratory diseases

A virus is a nonliving collection of molecules that can only reproduce inside a host—your body. Once inside you, they enter your cells and use them to produce, making more of the virus. That multiplication is what makes you sick. 

Viruses are different from bacteria, which are living organisms that can live and multiply inside you or on surfaces. Bacteria can be killed with antibacterial medicines, but viruses can’t be killed. You can only prevent viruses, not destroy them. Antivirals can be effective, but they can only stop viral replication, not eliminate it, and unfortunately, most viruses have become resistant to them. 

The body’s immune system can also try to resist the virus. This response is significantly reduced in people with a compromised immune system due to other issues, such as cancer. The uncontrollable multiplication of viral material increases your contagion—and can get the people around you sick as your cells start to produce the virus.

This is where vaccinations come in.

If your immune system is like a team of secret agents tasked with stopping a virus from reproducing, a vaccine is your team’s handler. Vaccines train your body to respond to a virus—to recognize the threat and identify what it needs to attack. By doing this, you can have a natural yet powerful response to viruses that enter your body or attempt to multiply. 

How are vaccines made?

A vaccine can be developed in different ways to combat specific viruses, helping your body respond as effectively as possible. The four main types are:

• A weakened form of the virus
• An inactive version of the virus
• A part of the virus or bacteria
• A part of the virus’s genetic code, like mRNA or DNA

Some of these may sound unsettling, but they are routine ways to train your immune response, just like how sports teams need to play scrimmages—fake games—to practice their strategies in action. By using these weakened, inert versions of a virus, your immune system can practice against a viral or bacterial invader. By practicing in a safe environment, your immune system learns exactly what it needs to do when you encounter a virus in the real world.

Are vaccines safe for older adults?

Yes, vaccines are safe, and they can keep you from getting seriously sick with life-threatening illnesses or symptoms. The most common side effects of vaccines are mild immune responses as your body starts “practicing.” These side effects can include things like mild fever, pain and swelling of the area where you got the shot. For most vaccines, it can take about two weeks to become fully effective.

Getting vaccinated is also a way to protect your loved ones. Remember, a virus is more contagious when it’s multiplying. A well-trained immune system can limit that reproduction, keeping your contagion level down, which means, even if you do contract an illness after being vaccinated, you are less likely to pass it on. This is especially important around young children and immunocompromised people, like those with cancer or other autoimmune disorders.

In some cases, vaccines may not be recommended for immunocompromised people, whose bodies may not produce enough “fighters” to be coached by the vaccine. It’s essential to be vaccinated when you’re around these people, since they can’t protect themselves.

What vaccines are available and covered by Medicare?

Vaccines are available for a number of respiratory viruses and infections, and many are covered by Medicare under your preventive care coverage. These can be for:

• COVID-19
• Flu
• RSV
• And others

Your plan will outline, specifically, what’s available and, generally, at little to no cost to you. We’re proud to say that our BSW SeniorCare Advantage Plans cover several vaccines for respiratory illnesses as preventive care for our members.

Vaccines are a regular part of preventive healthcare and can save you from significant discomfort and serious complications. Your doctor can help you decide whether vaccination is right for you. If you’re worried about side effects or the effectiveness of a shot, your doctor will be able to discuss it with you in detail. For more information on how you can utilize preventive care services with a Medicare Advantage plan or to learn about Baylor Scott & White Health Plan Medicare Advantage plans, call 1.800.782.5068 (TTY: 711).