What the CDC Forecast Means for This Virus Season
By Dr. Paul Bernitt
TriVita Director of Wellness Services
Board-Certified Doctor of Holistic Health
The CDC projects a coming increase in illness among adults over 60. It’s time to prepare for Virus Season.
The CDC’s Latest Forecast
In August 2025, the CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) released new projections for the upcoming Virus Season—and the data deserves your attention. The report forecasted two peaks in COVID-19 activity: one in late summer 2025 and another, larger wave expected in early 2026.
The most concerning part? The majority of hospitalizations and deaths are expected to occur in adults over 60. For many, this forecast brings back uneasy memories of past seasons filled with worry and uncertainty. But this time, you don’t have to wait and wonder what might happen… You can take steps now to prepare your body for what’s coming.
The truth is, your immune system is your first line of defense, and the choices you make today can determine how well you handle the challenges of tomorrow.
Preparation Brings Confidence
When you’re prepared, you don’t have to live in fear. You can move through Virus Season with greater peace of mind—knowing your immune system has what it needs to stay strong.
That’s where TriVita’s Vital Four Immunity Plan comes in. This simple, daily plan combines four essential nutrients—elderberry, zinc and vitamins C and D—to synergistically reinforce your immune system function. Each one has a unique and scientifically supported role in helping your body activate, respond, recover and restore balance when exposed to seasonal threats.
Vitamin D – Activates the Commanders of Immunity
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in activating T-cells, specialized immune cells that recognize and attack harmful invaders. Without enough vitamin D, these cells remain sluggish and unresponsive—leaving your body’s defenses uncoordinated.
Research shows that adults with low vitamin D levels are more likely to experience frequent infections, particularly respiratory infections, and slower recovery.1
Supplementing with vitamin D helps your immune system recognize threats faster and respond more effectively, while also supporting bone and muscle strength for overall resilience.
When your immune commanders are trained and active, your defenses stay sharp.
Elderberry – Helps Block Viruses from Spreading
Elderberry is rich in anthocyanins and flavonoids, powerful plant compounds that support respiratory health and help prevent viruses from replicating in the body.
By supporting the upper respiratory tract—where most viruses enter and multiply—elderberry helps reduce the severity and duration of colds and flu-like symptoms.2 During times when viral exposure is high, this can mean fewer sick days, faster recovery and better overall comfort.
In short, elderberry helps keep viruses from gaining the upper hand.
Zinc – Fuels Your Frontline Defenders
Your immune system’s first responders are neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells—the cells that rush to attack invaders as soon as they’re detected. These immunity warriors depend on zinc to function properly.
Zinc not only supports faster response times during infection but also plays a vital role in tissue repair, wound healing, and maintaining the senses of taste and smell, which are linked to immune health.3
Without zinc, your immune troops move more slowly and attack with less power. With zinc, they’re fueled and focused, ready to protect you when it matters most.
Vitamin C – Protects and Energizes Immune Cells
Your white blood cells are the immune system’s tireless defenders, but during infection they come under attack from free radicals—unstable molecules that damage cells and weaken defenses.
Vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant, shielding immune cells from oxidative stress and keeping them strong under pressure. It also supports collagen production, which strengthens the skin—your body’s first physical barrier against infection—and promotes faster recovery after illness.
Vitamin C helps ensure your immune cells stay energized, resilient and ready for action when you need them most.
The Power of Synergy
Each of these nutrients plays a distinct role, but together in the Vital Four Immunity Plan they form a synergistic system of defense:
- Essential D™ activates the immune response.
- Elderberry helps block viral replication.
- Zinc fuels immune cell performance.
- Vital C helps protect and energize immune cells.
Combined with healthy daily habits—balanced nutrition, regular movement, restorative sleep and stress management—TriVita’s Vital Four Immunity Plan supports your immune system to function at its best, so you’re ready when you need it the most.
This is not just about supplements—it’s about preparation, protection and peace of mind.
Your Season of Readiness
You can’t control what happens around you—but you can control how you prepare. When you strengthen your immune system before the surge, you give yourself the best chance to stay active, healthy and confident all season long.
This year, let’s move from worry to readiness. Support your immune system daily with the Vital Four Immunity Plan, and give your immune system the power to face this Virus Season with strength and resilience.
Your Call to Action
The CDC says a surge is coming—but you can be ready. Don’t wait for illness to remind you how important your health is. Prepare now.
Fuel your immune system. Strengthen your defenses. Experience the peace of mind that comes with TriVita’s Vital Four Immunity Plan—your body’s daily reinforcement for a healthier, more confident season ahead.
REFERENCES
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3756814/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4848651/
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/