As winter virus activity picks up, CDC warns of urgent need’ to boost vaccine coverage – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Not enough Americans are being vaccinated against Covid, the flu and RSV to stem rising numbers of the respiratory illnesses, theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

The agency issued a health alert to doctors across the country, warning that low vaccination rates amid "ongoing increases in national and international respiratory disease activity" could strain U.S. health care systems in the coming weeks, and called on doctors to encourage their patients toget the shots immediatelyto protect them for the remainder of the season.

"In the past 4 weeks, hospitalizations among all age groups increased by200% for influenza,51% for Covid-19, and60% for RSV," the CDC said in its health alert. "Currently, the highest respiratory disease activity in the United States is occurring across the southern half of the country, with increasing activity in northern states."

As of Dec. 8, just17.2% of adultshad received the updated Covid shot, according to the CDC. About 40% of children and adults have gotten this year's flu shot. And 15.9% of older adults eligible for the RSV vaccine have received it.

Scientists have found clear differences in the blood of those who recover from Covid and those who dont.

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As winter virus activity picks up, CDC warns of urgent need' to boost vaccine coverage - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth