New York’s Department of Health is updating a standing order to allow pharmacists to administer RSV vaccines to older people and pregnant people without a prescription.

The department encourages all who are eligible to receive the vaccine now as RSV season in New York most often occurs between September through January.

The RSV disease in adults can cause pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and can exacerbate underlying chronic lung disease.

Aside from staying up-to-date on vaccines, health officials encourage washing hands, often with soap and hot water for least 20 seconds, to coughing or sneezing into hands and staying home when sick.