Health officials make urgent push for flu and COVID shots as hospitals feel the strain.
Various signs are posted outside the emergency room entrance at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif., Nov. 1, 2022. Orange County's health officer has declared a local health emergency in response to increases in respiratory illnesses and an onslaught of the quickly spreading RSV, a respiratory virus that is most dangerous in young children.This year’s flu vaccine, as well as the updated COVID booster, have been formulated to better protect against currently circulating strains.
“You can get both [flu and COVID] vaccines at the same time. I know everyone's tired of getting shots. We all have booster fatigue. But understand, you could get really, really sick this year and ruin your holiday celebrations if you don't get vaccinated,” said Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, board chair of the American Medical Association during the CDC telebriefing.
Those who have received the updated COVID booster have a 15 times lower risk of death from the disease, according to. Those over the age of 5 are currently eligible for the shot, while Pfizer and BioNTech have just submitted an application to the FDA to authorize the shot as a booster in children 6 months through 4 years of age, according to aCOVID hospitalizations are beginning to trend upwards again as well, with those over the age of 70 seeing a nearly 28% increase in the past week.
While there are vaccines available for flu and COVID, RSV is another threatening virus that has especially impacted pediatric hospitals – a virus with no vaccine currently authorized in the U.S.If you do get diagnosed with flu and COVID, there are antivirals available that can reduce the impact of symptoms as well as the possibility of severe illness and death.
“There are specific antivirals for flu and specific antivirals for COVID. But flu antivirals don't work for COVID and vice versa. And the only way to know for sure what you have is to get tested,” said Fryhofer.“Please stay home when you're sick. Share your love by not sharing your sickness. This holiday season, please get vaccinated, it's the best way to protect yourself, it’s the best way to protect your loved ones and it's the best way to protect your community,” said Dr.
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